Orioles, Blue Jays discuss record-setting franchise contract with Corbin Burns
Perhaps the most surprising trade of the offseason came late last night when the Diamondbacks and right-hander corbyn burns Burns reportedly reached a six-year deal that guarantees $210 in earnings. According to Nick Piccolo of The Arizona Republic , the deal came together quickly after Burns’ camp expressed a desire for the right-hander to pitch in the desert. Before Burns transferred to Arizona, the three teams most frequently linked to the right-hander were the incumbent Orioles, their division rivals the Blue Jays and the Diamondbacks’ own division rivals the Giants.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale previously reported that both the Jaybirds and Giants offered Burns more than he ultimately received from the Diamondbacks, but subsequent reports revealed more The offers Burns received before signing, specifically from Baltimore and Toronto. The Orioles made a “competitive offer” for Burns, but it ultimately didn’t come close to the level of the deal he signed in Arizona, according to Danielle Arentak of the Baltimore Standard. The specifics of the club’s offer to Burns aren’t entirely clear, but it’s worth noting that Nightengale later reported that both the Orioles and Blue Jays discussed a record-setting contract with Burns, while adding that an AL East club offered Burns a seven-year, $250MM contract with no opt-out. Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of the New York Post described the Blue Jays, Orioles and another team in the Eastern Division as the three top bidders for Burns. That report is consistent with Nightengale’s report, but conflicts with Aaron Tucker’s, as Heyman seemed to suggest the Orioles outbid the Diamondbacks for Burns’ services.
It’s unclear which AL East team Nightengale mentioned made the $250MM offer, and it’s worth noting that both the Yankees and Red Sox were thought to be Burns before switching from the right-hander to land. A strong competitor for services. Max Fried and Garrett Crochet respectively. Neither the Orioles nor the Blue Jays would have to spend anywhere near the $250MM level to offer Burns the largest contract in franchise history; Toronto’s current guaranteed record is the six-year, $15MM deal they offered the outfielder George Springerand the Orioles’ current record is held by the former first baseman Chris Davis and his seven-year, $16MM contract. These relatively low benchmarks make offering Burns a franchise-record guarantee an obvious step for any club if they really want to pursue the right-hander, as there was strong expectation that he would deliver even from the outset. Deals in the $200 range come in the offseason before the hot starting pitching market takes center stage over the winter.
Regardless of how competitive the offers Burns ultimately receives from Baltimore and Toronto, both clubs will now have to turn their attention to other options as they look to bolster their rotations. The Blue Jays’ first priority will certainly be trying to reach a contract extension with their star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. That will keep him in town after the 2025 season, when he is currently scheduled to become a free agent. Beyond that, however, the club has expressed a desire to bolster the starting rotation while also bringing in a reliable hitter to help protect Guerrero in the lineup. In terms of rotation, club reportedly showed interest in right-hander Nick Pivettabut another possibility for the club could be to focus on adding a bat like this Anthony Santander or Jurikson Profal Then focus on lower level rotation signings e.g. Michael Lorenson or Spencer Turnbull.
As for the Orioles, the team has landed Tyler O’Neal and Gary Sanchez were in the lineup earlier this winter, and are expected to focus on replacing Burnes in the rotation going forward. Reunion with Jack FlahertyHe struggled with the club in 2023 but was much better with the Tigers and Dodgers last season, and he has been floated as a possible backup plan in the past. It’s also not hard to imagine the club choosing to explore the trade market, as they did last winter when they first landed Burns. padres righty Dylan Seth Could serve as a potential rental ace, similar to last year’s acquisition of Burns, but the Orioles might prefer to bring in a more controllable player like the Mariners’ right-hander Luis CastilloThey have reportedly already made inquiries with a number of teams beyond this winter.
