Just days after the Arizona Diamondbacks traded for Josh Naylor, most fans thought they’d settle down for a little bit. Maybe even try to get a meeting with Roki Sasaki. But that wasn’t the plan in Arizona. In the middle of the night, while most MLB fans were asleep, the Diamondbacks came out of nowhere, signing Corbin Burnes to a $210 million contract for 6 years, which he can opt out of after 2 years.

The top pitcher that was available in this free agency is coming to Arizona. Corbin Burnes has lived in Arizona for the past couple of years. He and his wife also welcomed twins back in June. Which more than likely influenced the move for Burnes. Despite the Blue Jays and the Giants offering him more money than the Diamondbacks did.

This is the largest contract that the Diamondbacks have ever handed out, surpassing Zack Greinke’s 206.5m, six-year contract back on December 4th, 2015. Now, just 9 years later, the Diamondbacks welcome Corbin Burnes with open arms and more than likely into the ace position.

Burnes who is from Bakersfield, California, was born on October 22, 1994. He is 30 years old, and if he stays the full 6 years with the Arizona Diamondbacks, will be 37 by the time the contract is up. Corbin Burnes in his senior year at Centennial High School had a 2.23 ERA and a 9-4 record in 22 appearances. Then in his junior year of college, he posted a 9-2 W-L record, with a 2.48 ERA in 16 appearances. After the season was over, Corbin Burnes received that coveted call from the Milwaukee Brewers. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB draft.

Corbin Burnes made his MILB debut with the Arizona League Brewers, with very impressive starts with the ALB, he was promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He posted a 3-0 record with a 2.02 ERA between both leagues in 35 2/3 IP.

In 2017, the Brewers named him their minor league pitcher of the year, and was ranked by MLB.com as the #2 ranked prospect going into the 2018 season. In 2017, he had an 8-3 record with a 1.67 ERA between the High-A team and the Double-A team. He pitched 145.2 innings and had 140 strikeouts.

Then on July 8th, 2018. he was called up by the Brewers. At the time, Burnes was 3-4 and had a 5.15 ERA over 19 games and in 13 starts. He had 78.2 innings pitched and 54 strikeouts. He appeared in his first game just two days later. He had one strikeout in 2.0 innings and didn’t allow any runs, hits, or walks.

Corbin Burnes finished the 2018 season as a relief pitcher but finished it with a 2.61 ERA, 35 K’s, and 11 runs allowed in 38.0 innings pitched.

Then in 2019, the Brewers attempted to put Corbin Burnes as a starter, in his first game against the Cardinals, he pitched 5 innings, and allowed 4 runs, with 12 strikeouts. He finished the day with a 7.20 ERA and earned a no-decision in his first MLB start.

Then his second start, just 6 days after his first start, Corbin Burnes went out to face the Cubs and took the loss. In five innings pitched, he allowed 7 runs with 6 strikeouts and ended the day with a 9.90 season ERA. In his following two starts, he allowed 10 runs in two appearances with 5 HRs allowed, bringing his season ERA to a 10.70.

Corbin Burnes was then sent back to the bullpen by the Brewers and unfortunately continued to struggle. Then on July 15th, Corbin Burnes was placed on the injured list with shoulder discomfort. Fans speculated that Burnes was faking the injury due to the tough season that he was having. Craig Counsell, the manager for the Brewers at the time, spoke on Corbin Burnes on July 14th, after he allowed four hits, and four runs and couldn’t get an out.

“We’re not having success. It’s not working, the stuff is there but at some point, we’re losing execution. We’re making mistakes, we’re getting ahead in the count and making mistakes. We have to address things with Corbin”

Corbin Burnes didn’t return until September 20th, when he appeared in two games and pitched in 3 innings, allowing 4 hits, and 2 runs, with 3 strikeouts and 1 HR allowed.

He finished the 2019 campaign with an 8.82 ERA, 48 earned runs in 49 innings pitched with 70 strikeouts. Corbin Burnes had some rough outings in 2019, but those first four games he started messed up his ERA and made that an impossible hill to climb. I hope when fans look at his 2019 stats, that they look deeper into them. For example, from May 4th to May 14th, Corbin Burnes was able to lower his ERA from 10.98 to 8.10. He allowed only 4 hits, no runs, and 11 strikeouts during that period.

Then in 2020, Corbin Burned was moved into the starting pitcher position. In his first start of the 2020 campaign. He had 3.1 innings pitched, allowed 2 hits with 6 strikeouts, and only allowed one run. He then later saw 3 games where he came out of the bullpen. In those 3 games, he pitched 12.2 innings, allowed 6 hits, 5 runs, 1 HR and had 18 strikeouts. After those three games, he officially moved into the starting position, where he finished the shortened 2020 season with 59.2 innings pitched, only allowing 37 hits, 15 runs, 2 home runs, and striking out 88 batters. He finished the season with a 2.11 ERA. Unfortunately on his final start, the right-handed strained his left oblique. Throwing out any chance that the Brewers might be able to use him in the postseason.

Burnes said he had “no regrets at all” for trying to pitch through the tightness, which first popped up on September 19th. 5 days before his final start of the season. He said he felt like he was close to 100 hundred percent to make his start after undergoing treatment and throwing a bullpen session.

In 2021, Corbin Burnes finally saw his first full season in the rotation. Burnes had a very impressive 2021 season, as he didn’t lose a game from June 6th till the end of the regular season. Burnes had 8 games go over 10 strikeouts and finished the 2021 campaign with a 2.43 ERA in 167.0 innings pitched with 123 hits allowed, 47 runs allowed, and only 7 HRs allowed. He finished with 234 K’s as well. His 2021 campaign was solid enough to earn him his first career All-Star appearance, and his first Cy Young. He also finished 15th in MLB voting.

In 2022, Burnes allowed a bit more HR’s than we had been used to the past couple of years but regardless. In 202.0 innings pitched, he allowed 144 hits, 73 runs, and 23 home runs. But he led the league in strikeouts with 243. He finished 7th in Cy Young voting but earned his second career straight All-Star Appearance.

In 2023, Corbin Burnes started 32 games and finished with a 3.39 ERA, he pitched 193.2 innings, allowed 141 hits, 77 runs, and 22 home runs, and finished with exactly 200 strikeouts. Then in 2024, the Baltimore Orioles and the Brewers agreed to a trade. Sending SS Joey Ortiz and LHP DL Hall, as well as a competitive balance draft pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Burnes who was looming free agency, finished the 2024 campaign with a 2.92 ERA, he pitched 194.1 innings and allowed 165 hits, 76 runs, and 22 home runs. For the first time, in three seasons, Burnes finished below 200 strikeouts with 181.

Now fast forward to today, Corbin Burnes and the Diamondbacks have agreed to terms to bring him to Arizona. In a move that will most certainly open the door for the Diamondbacks to trade Jordan Montgomery. The potential rotation currently sees about 6-8 starters who can take the mound.

But despite the very quiet offseason, the Diamondbacks bring the top pitcher to Arizona. Burnes is a power pitcher who in his career has thrown six different pitches. In 2020, he pretty much abandoned the four-seamer, after finding more success using his cutter. Then in 2024, Burnes broke out a second curveball from his arsenal, which was about 5 mph faster than players were used to. He mainly used this pitch in strikeout situations or batters who were likely to sit back on the first pitch.

Despite the potential way bigger offers that the Blue Jays and the Giants offered. Burnes opted to stay with his family for far less money than anticipated. But Burnes will get a fan base who is ready to welcome him and his family with open arms and cheer him on for the next six years. I know this because, at 11:30 PM, the realsports.io Diamondbacks group was imploding with excitement about this move.

Congratulation to Corbin Burnes and his wife on the twins and the newest contract!

Welcome to the Diamondbacks!