In their hunt for a starting pitcher, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been linked to a number of elite arms on the trade market, including Corbin Burnes, the ace of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The 29-year-old has one more chance to qualify for wage arbitration before turning into a free agent following the 2024 campaign. Burnes, who received a $10 million salary this year, is expected to receive a significant raise.
That might make a small-market club—like the Brewers—think twice before dealing their ace. In order to recover as much value as possible, Milwaukee would be wise to sell the right-hander this offseason if they chose to do so.
The Dodgers will make a serious effort to get Burnes, according to David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports during a recent episode of “Dodger Talk.”
“The Dodgers will be very aggressive, and the Brewers know they can get more for him now than they can at the trade deadline.”
Burnes is coming off of a season in which he started 32 games and finished 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA, 3.81 FIP, and 1.07 WHIP. He tied for fifth place in innings pitched (193.2), led National League pitchers in WHIP, and was selected for the All-Star Game for the third time in a row.
With over 500 innings pitched since 2021, Burnes leads all starting pitchers in WHIP (0.99), strikeouts (677), ERA (2.94), and batting average allowed (.198). Along with allowing the fewest hits (408), earned runs (184), and strikeouts to walks (75.8%), he finished fourth in this category.
When Walker Buehler returns from Tommy John surgery, Burnes will offer the Dodgers another ace to complement him in the rotation.
The Dodgers possess the financial freedom to sign Burnes to a contract extension and the prospect resources to acquire him.
Corbin Burnes and further Dodgers trade candidatesThe Dodgers have also been linked to Tyler Glasnow of the Tampa Bay Rays and Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox this summer, in addition to Burnes.
L.A. has expressed interest in free agents Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Lucas Giolito, among others.