Breaking: Corbin Burnes to Diamondbacks, $210M, 6 years. opt out after 2 years.
The Diamondbacks sign Corbin Burnes to a six-year deal
Photo credit: © Tommy Gilligan - USA Today
Dec 28, 2024, 06:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 28, 2024, 02:03 EST
Ladies and gentlemen, the Toronto Blue Jays may have a second straight terrible off-season.
Numerous sources reported that the Arizona Diamondbacks have signed Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210 million deal with an opt-out after the second year.
Of course, Toronto’s interest in Burnes was well-known, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Jays (and the San Francisco Giants) offered more money than the Diamondbacks, but the difference was the tax benefits in the state of Arizona.
Corbin Burnes was offered more by the Giants and Blue Jays but big tax difference in Arizona
Burnes was undeniably the best starting pitcher on the market last season. He finished the 2024 season with a 2.92 ERA and a 3.55 FIP in 194.1 innings pitched with the Baltimore Orioles, along with a 23.1 K% and a 6.1 BB%.
His best season was in 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he had a 2.43 ERA and a 1.63 FIP in 167 innings pitched, along with a 35.6 K% and a 5.2 BB%, winning that season’s National League Cy Young Award.
Top free agents have continued to sign, with the Blue Jays swinging and missing on every single one of them. Earlier this off-season, they missed out on Juan Soto, could not reunite with Teoscar Hernández, and didn’t offer Max Fried a deal. They’re seen as the front-runners to land Anthony Santander, but after missing out on so many free agents this season, I wouldn’t hold your breath.
The most imperative thing to do for the Jays this off-season is extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He’s stated before he wants to re-sign and recently said that he and the Jays weren’t close to a deal. However, he’ll give them until the start of Spring Training to match what he wants and will sign immediately if the Jays raise their offer.
Toronto still needs to add a bat or two, and they may add a backend of the rotation starter like Spencer Turnbull, but the future of the franchise is in peril.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
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