Corbin Burnes, the 2021 Cy Young Award winner, has secured a significant six-year, $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, including an opt-out clause after two seasons. This move comes after a single season with the Baltimore Orioles, where Burnes served as their ace following a trade from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Despite his brief time in Baltimore, Burnes consistently performed at a high level, demonstrating why the Orioles sought his acquisition. He delivered impactful performances both in the regular season and the playoffs. However, with his free agency arrival, his contract demands exceeded what the Orioles were willing to pay. Due to Burnes declining a qualifying offer, Baltimore will receive draft pick compensation from the Diamondbacks.
Over the past five years, Burnes has established himself as one of the premier pitchers in Major League Baseball, ranking highly in innings pitched, ERA, strikeouts, and overall value. His performance is a remarkable turnaround from a challenging 2019 season. The introduction of his signature cutter was pivotal to this career resurgence.
While Burnes has remained a formidable pitcher, some metrics suggest a potential decline. His whiff rates have dipped in the past two seasons. Furthermore, his in-zone contact rate saw an increase this past year, and strikeout rates declined to less impressive levels compared to his earlier seasons. Some advanced metrics also indicate a slight downturn in performance over the past two years.
Nevertheless, Burnes' consistent delivery of results remains undeniable. He is a significant addition to the Diamondbacks’ roster and would strengthen any team. The Arizona Diamondbacks are clearly confident in his ability to maintain a high level of performance and are betting his trend will shift.
