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 line 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 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 12 months’s Eve provides the membership loads of time to determine the very best provide.
It additionally isn’t completely out of the query that the Diamondbacks stand pat on their starters, particularly if an damage 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 chance, with a purpose to preserve everybody wholesome and contemporary for what the D’Backs hope could be an prolonged run via 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 right away plan to re-model the pitching workers. Such two-step transactions are often exhausting to tug 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 instantly 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 procuring 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 worth.
Nothing appears to have modified when it comes to which starters are most prominently on Arizona’s commerce block. Gallen and Kelly are each free brokers subsequent winter however don’t appear prone to be dealt, as a staff supply advised Piecoro that the staff’s focus in on “attempting to place the perfect staff on the sector in 2025.” Nelson is managed via the 2027 season and Pfaadt via the 2029 season, so the Diamondbacks would most likely solely transfer both if a longer-term asset (seemingly a place participant) may obtained in return. The D’Backs won’t thoughts shifting the $66MM remaining on Rodriguez’s contract, however the membership would definitely should promote low and eat a few of that cash within the wake of E-Rod’s injury-plagued down 12 months.
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 12 months 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 chance that the left-hander could be pitching elsewhere subsequent 12 months, 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 an additional starter comes their manner, and presents for Montgomery would possibly enhance if different groups grow to be more and more determined so as to add pitching.
