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Report: The Blue Jays thought signing Corbin Burnes was “a done deal”
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Photo credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Jan 12, 2025, 17:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 12, 2025, 16:45 EST
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Remember when the Toronto Blue Jays were the front-runner for Corbin Burnes?
As has been the case with many free agents the past two off-seasons, the Blue Jays had heavy interest in a free agent, just for that player to sign with another team. In this case, they were “front-runners” for Corbin Burnes, with the ace eventually signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks in late December.
The fallout brings unfortunate news for Blue Jays fans, as TSN’s Scott Mitchell reports:
The Jays came oh-so-close to landing Corbin Burnes recently, with the club at one point believing it was close to a done deal, before family considerations turned them towards Arizona.
Burnes eventually signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks due to family reasons. It was believed that the Blue Jays had the highest offer for the righty, while the San Francisco Giants seemed like an ideal fit as he hails from the Bay Area.
The Blue Jays rotation is still questionable heading into the 2025 season. Last season, it sat middle of the pack with a 3.95 ERA (14th) and a 4.15 FIP (19th). After finishing third in American League Cy Young voting in 2023, Gausman had his worst season as a Blue Jay, as did Chris Bassitt. On the opposite side of the spectrum, José Berríos pitched well and Bowden Francis’ emergence is promising.
Still, the team would rather have Yariel Rodríguez pitching out of the bullpen, and signing an ace like Burnes would’ve not just made the rotation significantly better, but also pushed Rodríguez to a place where he has a better chance to excel.
If the Blue Jays still wish to add a starting pitcher, which is ideal, Jack Flaherty remains one of the best starting pitchers on the market. He doesn’t have a qualifying offer attached and is coming off a World Series win with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 
Another starter who could be an option for the Jays is Nick Pivetta, a Canadian righty who recently pitched for the Boston Red Sox. However, if the Blue Jays were to sign him, they’d forfeit $500,000 in bonus pool money for the 2026 International Free Agency period, as well as a second-round pick in the 2026 draft.
As the off-season continues, hopefully the Jays can add a starter and a power bat to their lineup. Still, it stings missing out on one of the best free agents available.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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