Diamondbacks surprise signing corbyn burns Adding a new front line unit to a rotation that was already in the red on paper. Burns joins Zach Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery, Brandon Pfattand Ryan Nelsongiving the Snakes an enviable starting pitching lineup. The D’backs were attracting trade interest from the group even before Burns joined, but Nick Piccolo of the Arizona Republic said Burns’ signing wasn’t immediately available in exchange for any other pitchers.
According to Piccolo, there are no “other deals” [are] Arizona pitchers will be “lined up and even close” as the Diamondbacks continue to take a cautious approach to the market. A source told Piccolo that the D’Backs will likely “receive calls in the coming days from teams still looking for a starter, including those in Burns.” The D’Backs are in no rush. Get the deal done as quickly as possible, as a full rotation is completed before New Year’s Eve, giving the club plenty of time to figure out the best offer.
It’s not entirely impossible for the Diamondbacks to keep their starters unchanged, especially if a starter gets injured during offseason workouts or spring training. Kelly, Rodriguez and Montgomery all missed significant time last season with injuries, so there’s obviously value in having extra pitchers if more health issues create holes in the rotation. A six-man rotation is also a possibility in order to keep everyone healthy and fresh for the D’Backs hoping to carry over into the playoffs.
The Burns deal reportedly came together last week when Burns personally approached the DeBacks, so it’s no surprise that the signing wasn’t part of an immediate plan to reshape the pitching staff. Such two-step deals are typically difficult to pull off, though the Diamondbacks were part of a flurry of moves by the Guardians last week — Arizona acquired Josh Naylor from the Guards, then signed by Cleveland Carlos Santana That same day, he immediately filled Naylor’s spot as the everyday first baseman.
The fact that Burns signed with a team that appears to have a starting pitching ready gives general manager Mike Hazen more leverage when shopping for pitchers. A prominent Burns suitor like the Orioles, Blue Jays or Giants would still need pitching, not to mention the many other starter-needy clubs in the market unwilling or unable to meet Burns’ asking price.
There doesn’t appear to be any change in the status of starters in Arizona’s trade block. Gallen and Kelly are both free agents next winter but appear unlikely to be traded, with the team’s focus being “trying to put the best team on the field in 2025,” as one team source told Piecoro. Nelson is controlled through the 2027 season and Pfallat is controlled through the 2029 season, so the Diamondbacks may only move either if they can get a long-term asset (possibly a position player) in return. The D’Backs probably wouldn’t mind moving the $66MM remaining on Rodriguez’s contract, but after an injury-plagued year for E-Rod, the club will certainly have to sell low and eat some of that money.
That leaves Montgomery still the leading candidate to be dealt before Opening Day. Montgomery’s trade value is at a low point after a rough first year in Arizona, with a salary of $22.5MM through the 2025 season. Owner Ken Kendrick’s public criticism of Montgomery after the season only increased the likelihood that the left-hander would pitch elsewhere next year, and Burns’ signing once again gives the DeBackers some flexibility in that regard. Technically, rattlesnakes are not have Montgomery could be traded if they receive an offer for another starter that’s acceptable, and Montgomery’s offer could increase if other teams become increasingly eager to add pitching.
