In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the baseball world, the Arizona Diamondbacks have signed star right-hander Corbin Burnes to a gargantuan six-year, $210 million contract. The deal, first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, marks a major coup for the D-backs as they look to vault into contention in the hyper-competitive NL West.
Landing an Ace
By inking the 30-year-old Burnes, Arizona has secured one of the most coveted arms on the free agent market. The 2021 NL Cy Young winner has firmly established himself as a bona fide ace, posting elite numbers year in and year out:
- 2.88 ERA (2nd in MLB) since becoming a full-time starter in 2020
- 946 strikeouts (2nd) over that same span
- Allowed just 0.8 HR/9 (6th-best rate)
- 21.7 fWAR and 18.6 bWAR both rank top 5 among all pitchers since 2020
Perhaps most impressively, Burnes has proven incredibly durable, logging the 3rd-most innings in baseball over the past four seasons. That combination of top-shelf production and workhorse reliability is exceedingly rare – and immensely valuable.
Burnes is everything teams want in a starting pitcher. His consistent excellence and ability to shoulder a heavy workload put him in truly elite company.
– Anonymous MLB executive
Changing the NL West Equation
With Burnes now fronting their rotation, the Diamondbacks suddenly look like a much more formidable threat in a division that has been dominated by the free-spending Dodgers and ascendant Padres in recent years. His presence atop the staff should have a ripple effect:
- Takes pressure off the rest of the rotation
- Limits bullpen exposure by consistently working deep into games
- Changes opposing game-planning
- Provides a stopper to halt losing streaks
Of course, it remains to be seen if the D-backs have enough firepower around Burnes to seriously challenge for a playoff spot, let alone the division crown. But there’s no question that adding a pitcher of his caliber significantly raises both their floor and ceiling.
Final Thoughts
While the baseball industry continues to digest the magnitude of this deal, a few key takeaways are already apparent:
- The D-backs are serious about winning now
- Burnes’ contract sets a new bar for elite pitchers, with potential ripple effects for future free agent classes
- The NL West just got even more interesting – and competitive
No matter how this ultimately plays out, there’s no denying that Arizona has made an emphatic statement with this signing. By backing up the Brink’s truck for Burnes, they’ve signaled they intend to be a major player moving forward – in their division and in the sport as a whole.
