Welp?
The Corbin Burnes sweepstakes are officially over. The San Francisco Giants did not win those sweepstakes. And, for the first time in a while, the famous Mystery Team has swooped in to snag a high-profile free agent.
Unfortunately, that mystery team happens to play in the same division as the Giants. With nary a report nor a rumor preceding their motion, the Arizona Diamondbacks waited until well after midnight on the east coast to agree to terms with Burnes on a six-year deal that will pay him $210 million, with an opt-out after the second year. The news was first reported by Jon Heyman of the NY Post, and quickly confirmed by Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Earlier in the day, Bryan had speculated as to what the Giants — considered by many to be the favorites for Burnes — had offered. He landed at eight years and between $225 and $236 million. And he might have been right.
As is usually the case, money talks. Despite being linked to the Giants — Burnes played collegiately at St. Mary’s and many reports stated that he would like to play for San Francisco — Burnes ultimately chose the desert (where, admittedly, he has an offseason home). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that both the Giants and Toronto Blue Jays offered more money than the Diamondbacks, but hinted that the large difference in taxes might have moved the needle for Burnes. That said, while San Francisco’s deal was surely larger in total dollars, the years and opt-out situation might have been as big — or bigger — of a deal than the post-tax price.
Burnes will now get a whopping $35 million AAV, and while I commend the Diamondbacks for spending, that sure is a massive chunk of change for a 30-year old whose strikeout rate has declined four years running. Arizona has made a habit of swooping in with big deals for front-line pitchers, and they’ll hope that this one goes a little better than it went with Zack Greinke, and a lot better than it went with Madison Bumgarner.
And now the Giants move on. They still need a starting pitcher, but barring a shocking signing of Rōki Sasaki, they’re probably out of options for an ace.