Report: Diamondbacks, Burnes agree to 6-year, $210M pact

The Arizona Diamondbacks and former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes agreed to a six-year, $210-million contract that includes an opt-out after two seasons, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Burnes, 30, was the top free-agent pitcher available. The right-hander is coming off a strong season with the Baltimore Orioles, authoring a 2.92 ERA and 3.55 FIP over 194 1/3 innings to place fifth in AL Cy Young voting.

The San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays offered Burnes more money, but Arizona's lower tax rates evened the monetary playing field, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, who adds the deal includes a full no-trade clause through 2026 prior to his opt-out.

Family also influenced Burnes' decision, as he and his wife wanted to stay where they currently live in Arizona after she recently gave birth to twins, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

The contract is the most lucrative in Diamondbacks franchise history, eclipsing the six-year, $206.5-million deal the club gave starting pitcher Zack Greinke during the 2015 offseason.

Despite his K/9 dropping for the fourth straight season, Burnes remained effective at generating swings and misses in 2024. He ranked in the 89th percentile for chase rate and 74th for whiff rate.

Prior to last year, the four-time All-Star spent six seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, winning the 2021 NL Cy Young award.

Burnes has a 3.19 ERA and 3.21 FIP over his seven-year career, making 138 starts and 61 relief appearances.

He strengthens an Arizona rotation anchored by incumbent ace Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, and Jordan Montgomery will likely compete for the final starting spot.

The Diamondbacks failed to make the 2024 postseason despite winning five more regular-season games than the 2023 club that won the NL pennant.