Another major MLB free agent has made waves by finding a new team. Former Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes has opted to bring his talents to the National League West—but not with the heavily favored San Francisco Giants.
Early Saturday morning, MLB insider Jon Heyman revealed the stunning news: Burnes has inked a lucrative deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“Breaking: Corbin Burnes to Diamondbacks, $210M, 6 years. Opt out after 2 years,” Heyman reported.
This unexpected twist in Burnes’ free agency journey caught many off guard, as the four-time All-Star was strongly linked to both the San Francisco Giants and the Toronto Blue Jays. However, Burnes ultimately chose Arizona, with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale highlighting that the state’s favorable tax policies played a key role in his decision.
The 30-year-old pitcher, who spent his first six MLB seasons with the Brewers before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in early 2024, had an impressive 2024 season. Burnes posted a 15-9 record with a 2.92 ERA and a 3.55 FIP across 32 starts for Baltimore.
Fans React to Burnes’ Blockbuster Deal
Social media erupted with reactions to the news:
- “The Orioles stockpiled prospects just to lose Burnes—and now their rotation is in shambles.”
- “Burnes and his wife just had twins and wanted to settle in Arizona. Shocking, but it’s awesome to see the D-backs going all in despite RSN uncertainty.”
- “I can’t remember the last time a free agent move genuinely shocked me. Burnes to the D-backs? Didn’t see it coming at all.”
- “OH MY GOD! The D-Backs landed Burnes?! LET’S GOOOOO!”
- “The Burnes-Greinke comparison arc is not something I ever anticipated.”
Burnes’ decision marks a bold new chapter for both him and the Diamondbacks, who are clearly positioning themselves as serious contenders in the competitive NL West.
