UPDATE TRADE: Corbin Burnes Defines Durability Amid Pursuit Of $200 Million Contract

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Corbin Burnes throws in the third inning during Game 1 of an AL … [+

Corbin Burnes is arguably the best free agent starting pitcher on the market this offseason and is generating sincere interest from the likes of the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.

A workhorse by nature who personifies the ethos of a starting pitcher from a previous generation, Burnes’ excellence has manifested itself in statistics such as games started, innings pitched and strikeouts.

Over the past four seasons, the right-handed pitcher has averaged 31 starts with 215 strikeouts in 189 innings according to Baseball-Reference.

The 30-year-old Burnes is expected to command a long-term contract of $200 million with an average annual value of $30 million after rejecting a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Orioles. Curiosity surrounds the free agency of Burnes given how his agent Scott Boras embraces creativity while maximizing average annual value in contract negotiations.

A fourth-round selection of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2016 draft out of St. Mary’s College of California, Burnes received a $536,400 signing bonus according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

In seven major league seasons, Burnes has started 138 ball games over 199 appearances. After three seasons (2018-2020) on the Brewers’ major league roster where he spent a significant amount of time in the bullpen, Burnes became a full-time starting pitcher in 2021 during his age-26 season and won the National League’s Cy Young Award. In February 2023, Burnes lost his arbitration hearing with the Brewers over a $650,000 difference in salary on a one-year contract which essentially damaged the relationship between ball club and pitcher.

In January 2024, Burnes avoided arbitration in his final year of eligibility and agreed to a one-year contract worth $15,637,500 and then was traded to the Orioles where he exhibited several endearing qualities that accompany an elite starting pitcher.

Corbin Burnes’ Value Amid Pitching Health Concerns

Burnes embodies all the characteristics that are attractive to large market franchises in dire need of an elite starting pitcher, but how will they properly assess his value given current health concerns regarding the position?

As the well-being of pitchers is under close examination by the Major League Baseball Players Association amid a proliferation of injuries, the structure of contracts for starting pitchers is a topic of great interest given how their prominence has diminished in the modern game.

Burnes shared his opinions on the matter this past summer and expressed concerns regarding recovery time for pitchers since the implementation of pitch clocks at the outset of the 2023 season.