According to a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, teams around Major League Baseball don’t anticipate the Milwaukee Brewers trading their star pitcher, Corbin Burnes, during this offseason. The prevailing belief is that the Brewers intend to reassess their decision when the trade deadline approaches later this summer.
Despite Burnes being a sought-after target for teams in need of top-tier starting pitching, like the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and San Francisco Giants, it’s noted that Burnes could become available for trade discussions at the trade deadline. While Burnes is set to become a free agent in the upcoming winter, it’s worth mentioning that the Los Angeles Dodgers recently acquired and extended another pending free agent pitcher, Tyler Glasnow, earlier in the offseason.
In a December interview on Foul Territory, Burnes expressed that he would require a compelling contract offer to consider an extension over testing free agency. Even if a potential trade hinges on his willingness to sign an extension, Burnes emphasized the need to be genuinely impressed by the terms.
Since joining the Brewers’ rotation in 2020, Burnes has consistently been among the best pitchers in baseball, earning top-eight finishes in NL Cy Young voting each year. Notably, he clinched the award in 2021 after leading the league in various statistical categories, including a 2.43 ERA, 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings, and a 6.88 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Over the past four seasons, Burnes boasts a record of 37-22 with a 2.86 ERA, a 0.996 WHIP, 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings, and a 14.9 WAR. Although he posted a 10-8 record with a 3.39 ERA and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 2023, he continued to showcase his dominance, leading the NL with a 1.069 WHIP.
Currently, it seems likely that Burnes will remain part of Milwaukee’s rotation at the start of the 2024 season, alongside reliable veterans Freddy Peralta and Wade Miley. However, with manager Craig Counsell joining the Chicago Cubs and the non-tendering of former All-Star Brandon Woodruff due to injury concerns, the competitiveness of the defending NL Central champion Brewers in 2024 remains uncertain.
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