Dodgers link Cy Young Pitcher as potential free agent

At the end of each season, a new set of free agents becomes available to teams. According to Jim Bowden of The AthleticThe Dodgers are linked to four-time MLB All-Star pitcher Corbin Burns.

Burns earned a salary of $15.64 million in 2024. Bowden believes Burns could get a contract of the same level or more than Stephen Strasburg (7 years, $254 million), Jacob deGrom (5 years, $185 million) and Aaron Nola (7 years, $172 million). Bowden projects Burns’ contract to be seven years and $247 million.

Burns, 29, is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. He spent his first six seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he transitioned from a designated hitter to a starter between 2020 and 2021. In his first season as a full-time starting pitcher, Burns won the 2021 National League Cy Young Award with a 2.43 earned run average. ERA with 234 strikeouts in 28 starts.

Since making the switch to starting pitcher, Burns has kept his ERA below 3.00 every season except 2023, when he posted a 3.39 ERA. Although Burns has only won once, this season will be the fifth straight year that Burns has finished in the top eight in Cy Young Award voting. Through 138 career starts, Burns is 60-39 with a 3.19 ERA.

In September, Burns received his second career Pitcher of the Month award. He was named American League Pitcher of the Month, becoming the first Orioles pitcher to win the award since July 2007. longest streak without a pitcher of the month by any MLB franchise. He is also the first right-handed pitcher from Baltimore to win since April 1994.

In February, the Brewers traded Burns to the Orioles in exchange for shortstop Joey Ortiz, left-handed pitcher D.L. Hall and considerations for the future. While in Milwaukee, Burns was the Brewers’ Pitcher of the Year all three seasons he was a starting pitcher (2021-23). In 2020, he was named the Brewers Most Valuable Player as a relief pitcher. These honors reflect Burns’ versatility in the rotation and bullpen.

Burns also has durability that has been lacking in the Dodgers’ starting rotation this season. The 2021 All-MLB first team has pitched at least 167 innings in each of the last four seasons.

Given these factors, Burns will likely be a top free agent target this offseason. If the Dodgers are unable to acquire Burns, Bowden named the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox as potential suitors. Another option Bowden floated was for Burns to remain with the Orioles.