The Diamondbacks’ shock signing of Corbin Burnes added a brand new frontline arm to a rotation that was already working at a surplus on paper. Burnes joins Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jordan Montgomery, Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson, giving the Snakes an enviably deep group of beginning pitchers. The D’backs had already been drawing commerce curiosity on this group even earlier than Burnes was added, however Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic sports activities that the Burnes signing wasn’t made with every other pitching swaps instantly on the horizon.
In keeping with Piecoro, no “different offers [are] lined up and even shut” involving Arizona’s pitchers, because the Diamondbacks will proceed to take a measured view of the market. A supply tells Piecoro that the D’Backs will seemingly “spend the approaching days fielding calls from groups nonetheless within the hunt for starters, together with people who had been in on Burnes.” The D’Backs aren’t in any specific rush to finish a commerce any time quickly, as having greater than a full rotation in place earlier than New Yr’s Eve provides the membership loads of time to determine the very best provide.
It additionally isn’t solely out of the query that the Diamondbacks stand pat on their starters, particularly if an harm emerges to a starter throughout their offseason coaching, or throughout spring coaching. Kelly, Rodriguez, and Montgomery all missed important time with accidents final season, so there’s apparent worth in having further pitchers available ought to any extra well being points create openings within the rotation. Working with a six-man rotation can be a risk, in an effort to maintain everybody wholesome and contemporary for what the D’Backs hope might be an prolonged run by means of the playoffs.
Given how the Burnes deal reportedly got here collectively simply inside the final week when Burnes himself approached the D’Backs, it isn’t stunning that the signing wasn’t a part of a direct plan to re-model the pitching workers. Such two-step transactions are often exhausting to tug off, although the Diamondbacks had been a part of such a set of strikes from the Guardians simply final week — Arizona acquired Josh Naylor from the Guards, and Cleveland then signed
Carlos Santana that very same day to right away fill Naylor’s spot because the on a regular basis first baseman.
The truth that Burnes signed with a workforce that was seemingly already set for beginning pitching provides GM Mike Hazen much more leverage in buying his hurlers. Such identified Burnes suitors just like the Orioles, Blue Jays or Giants are nonetheless in want of pitching, to say nothing of the various different starter-needy golf equipment available on the market that weren’t prepared or in a position to meet Burnes’ asking worth.
Nothing appears to have modified by way of which starters are most prominently on Arizona’s commerce block. Gallen and Kelly are each free brokers subsequent winter however don’t appear more likely to be dealt, as a workforce supply informed Piecoro that the workforce’s focus in on “attempting to place one of the best workforce on the sector in 2025.” Nelson is managed by means of the 2027 season and Pfaadt by means of the 2029 season, so the Diamondbacks would in all probability solely transfer both if a longer-term asset (seemingly a place participant) may obtained in return. The D’Backs won’t thoughts transferring the $66M remaining on Rodriguez’s contract, however the membership would definitely must promote low and eat a few of that cash within the wake of E-Rod’s injury-plagued down yr.
That leaves Montgomery as nonetheless the chief candidate to be dealt earlier than Opening Day. Montgomery’s commerce worth can be at a low ebb after his tough first yr in Arizona and his $22.5M wage for the 2025 season. Proprietor Ken Kendrick’s public criticism of Montgomery following the season solely elevated the likelihood that the left-hander could be pitching elsewhere subsequent yr; but once more, the Burnes signing provides the D’Backs some flexibility on this regard. The Diamondbacks technically don’t have to commerce Montgomery if a suitable provide for one more starter comes their method, and affords for Montgomery would possibly enhance if different groups develop into more and more determined so as to add pitching.
