The Brewers and right-hander Corbin Burnes have agreed to a one-year deal worth $15.637MM for the 2024 campaign to avoid arbitration, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Burnes, 29, put together a strong season in 2023 with a 3.39 ERA in 193 2/3 trips to the plate. That performance earned him a third consecutive All Star appearance and and eighth-place finish in NL Cy Young award voting, his fourth consecutive season placing in the top eight or higher. That being said, the 2023 campaign did see Burnes take some small steps back as well. Though he punched out 200 batters for the third straight season, the right-hander’s 25.5% strikeout rate was the lowest of his career since a 38-inning cup of coffee out of the Milwaukee bullpen back in 2018. Meanwhile, Burnes allowed free passes at an 8.4% clip after entering the season with a career 6.7% walk rate.
Despite those concerns, Burnes was nonetheless among the best pitchers in the league last season, with a 3.4 fWAR that ranked 19th among qualified starters last season alongside the likes of Luis Castillo and Kodai Senga. That earned Burnes a salary slightly above the $15.1MM projection put forth by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz back in October. It’s perhaps particularly noteworthy for Burnes and the Brewers to agree to a deal rather than head to an arbitration hearing given the right-hander’s comments last February on the heels of his loss in a hearing against the club regarding his 2023 salary, where the sides were apart by just $750K. Given the contentious hearing the sides went through last year, it’s hardly surprising that both sides would prefer to avoid a similar situation this winter, Burnes’s final before hitting free agency next offseason.
Burnes has been the subject of plenty of trade rumors this offseason. While that’s hardly a surprise given his contractual status and Milwaukee’s decision to non-tender co-ace Brandon Woodruff earlier this winter, comments from GM Matt Arnold have indicated that the Brewers still plan on Burnes taking the ball for the club on Opening Day. That, of course, could change as the offseason continues to progress. It’s worth noting that, whether or not Burnes ends up traded before the season begins, he’s publicly made clear that he’s unlikely to sign an extension this winter and looks forward to hitting the open market come November. In the meantime, however, the right-hander projects at the front of a Brewers rotation that also features Freddy Peralta, Wade Miley, Colin Rea, and Joe Ross.
But will he be traded before opening day, or do we have to wait until the deadline?
Probably neither. Milwaukee will be okay with just getting the comp pick since they want to maximize its postseason chances this year…….unless of course a club comes begging with a crazy offer.
The one pitcher the Yankees could offer top prospect Spencer Jones for in a package. Jones, Chase Hampton, and George Lombard for Corbin Burnes and a 6 or 7 year extension included.
burnes has already publicly stated he intends to test free agency, and as a boras client, extention seems unlikely…
Boras will get at least 30M a year on the open market for burnes. He’ll want what DeGrom got in terms of Average value
Aloha, I believe Burnes is a CAA client, not Boras. Mahalo
Hello, Burnes changed from CAA to Boras last year.
Thank you
What a difference a year makes. Last year the Brewers took him to arbitration to save 20 bucks, This year they figure it out and don’t P*ss him off. Huh
He’s in his walk year and will be dealt by all star break if the brewers aren’t competing. So it’s imperative he does well this season more so than last….
His arb numbers seem so low. He’s making a million more than Gleyber, crazy
Gleyber is a Super 2 – in his 4th year of arbitration. Burnes is in his third year of arbitration. That’s why it is low in comparison.
If he’d be willing to workout an extension along with a trade (something he’s said he wouldn’t do), the Giants could make the Brewers very happy. And Giants fans would be thrilled.
But unless Corbin changes his mind . . .
I see him going to the giants too, not sure what the brewers would want though. Luciano is currently the starting ss. Maybe a package of black, Bart, and whisenhunt?
Bart may be a bust, but you’re a troll. At least contribute to the conversation
I agreed with him clown. Nice retort though, just like the other troll
Haha, you’re funny
@pete’s view.
If Burnes was willing to sign extension, most teams would be after him. Why single out SF?
Cool, now trade him to a team that has a chance to be good….have a nice long 3rd place summer Brewer fans
You’re confusing crew/cubs….
Lucriano , Bart plus 2 or 3 minor league pitchers for Ademes and Burnes
If Milwaukee is so inclined to dump salary they can include Yelich for Yaz as well
Brewers should keep him this year and ride him for over 200 innings. The Comp pick is better than nothing unless a package too tough to turn down arises. They aren’t going to trade him to a large market team just to make a trade. Gotta love East/West Coast armchair GMs that think every fly over team is just waiting to fill your roster for nothing in return.
Unless the wheels completely fall of by July, Brewers aren’t trading him. I agree that they’ll take the comp pick, same with Adames most likely.
Burnes, 29, put together a strong season in 2023 with a 3.39 ERA in 193 2/3 trips to the plate.
Just bringing attention.
We must have posted at the same time, I thought it was odd phrasing to say the least…
So, on that 2/3 of a trip to the plate, did he not take a bat? Ha. Obviously, it’s innings pitched. I love watching Burnes pitch, so it’ll be painful to see him no longer a Brewer. Tough to lose Woody, too.
Angel hernandez called him out on strikes after 2 pitches.
“193 2/3 trips to the plate”
???
I’ve only heard and used “trips to the plate” for hitters, am I offbase?