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 another pitching swaps instantly on the horizon.
In response to 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 probably “spend the approaching days fielding calls from groups nonetheless within the hunt for starters, together with those who have been in on Burnes.” The D’Backs aren’t in any explicit 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 absolute 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 vital time with accidents final season, so there may be 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 chance, as a way to preserve everybody wholesome and contemporary for what the D’Backs hope could be an prolonged run by the playoffs.
Given how the Burnes deal reportedly got here collectively simply throughout 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 drag off, although the Diamondbacks have 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 staff that was seemingly already set for beginning pitching provides GM Mike Hazen much more leverage in purchasing his hurlers. Such recognized 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 in the marketplace that weren’t keen or in a position to meet Burnes’ asking value.
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 staff supply instructed Piecoro that the staff’s focus in on “attempting to place the most effective staff on the sphere in 2025.” Nelson is managed by the 2027 season and Pfaadt by the 2029 season, so the Diamondbacks would most likely solely transfer both if a longer-term asset (probably a place participant) might obtained in return. The D’Backs may not thoughts transferring the $66MM remaining on Rodriguez’s contract, however the membership will surely need to 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 $22.5MM 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 means, and affords for Montgomery may enhance if different groups turn out to be more and more determined so as to add pitching.
