The Milwaukee Brewers have successfully avoided arbitration with their ace, right-hander Corbin Burnes, striking a one-year deal valued at $15.637 million for the upcoming 2024 season. This agreement was confirmed by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Burnes, at the age of 29, displayed his pitching prowess during the 2023 season, boasting a solid 3.39 ERA while making 193 2/3 appearances on the mound. His exceptional performance not only earned him his third consecutive All-Star selection but also secured an impressive eighth-place finish in the NL Cy Young award voting. Remarkably, this marked his fourth consecutive season ranking in the top eight or higher for this prestigious award.
While Burnes continued to excel, the 2023 campaign did reveal slight fluctuations in his performance metrics. Despite maintaining his streak of punching out 200 batters for the third consecutive season, his strikeout rate dipped to 25.5%, marking the lowest point in his career since his brief 38-inning stint in the Milwaukee bullpen back in 2018. Additionally, Burnes allowed free passes at an 8.4% rate, a noticeable increase from his career 6.7% walk rate at the season’s outset.
Nonetheless, despite these concerns, Burnes undeniably stood as one of the league’s premier pitchers in the past season, amassing a 3.4 fWAR that ranked him 19th among qualified starters. His performance placed him in the same category as pitching stalwarts like Luis Castillo and Kodai Senga.
This salary agreement slightly exceeds the $15.1 million projection put forth by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz in October. The decision to reach a deal rather than resort to an arbitration hearing holds particular significance, given Burnes’s past comments following a contentious arbitration hearing loss to the club concerning his 2023 salary, where the difference was a mere $750,000.
While Burnes has been at the center of numerous trade rumors this offseason due to his contractual status and the Brewers’ earlier decision to non-tender Brandon Woodruff, General Manager Matt Arnold has conveyed the team’s intention for Burnes to take the mound as the Opening Day starter. Nevertheless, as the offseason unfolds, circumstances may evolve.
It’s important to note that regardless of whether Burnes is traded before the season commences, he has publicly expressed reluctance to sign an extension this winter, with his sights set on exploring free agency in November. In the meantime, Burnes is poised to lead the Brewers’ rotation, which includes Freddy Peralta, Wade Miley, Colin Rea, and Joe Ross.