After going 10 and 8 with a 3.39 ERA and 200 strikeouts, Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes seems to be on the trading block as his current team eyes a rebuild.
Though Burnes is a three-time All Star and holds the National League Cy Young Award from 2021, the 29-year-old is set to become a free agent after the 2024 season and if the Milwaukee Brewers are able to trade him now, they won’t face the choice of a hefty extension or losing their ace without netting a significant return.
That’s part of the reason why baseball analyst Jim Bowden now says Corbin Burnes, along with Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames, is more likely to be traded than to stick with the franchise that drafted him in 2016.
“I think they both will get traded this offseason,” Bowden wrote. “If you want a probability, I’d say there’s a 35 percent chance they stay until the trade deadline and 65 percent chance they get dealt this winter.”
Trade Destinations for Milwaukee Brewers Cy Young Pitcher Corbin Burnes
There is no shortage of interest for Corbin Burnes as dependable starting pitchers continue to be major league baseball’s most valuable commodity. But two of the most likely destinations at this point in the offseason could get fans a little riled up.
Bowen noted that National League Central Division rival St. Louis Cardinals could snag the right-hander as the team seeks to outbid others for a top free-agent starter, buoyed by the depth of its roster and farm system as tradable assets. But the St. Louis Cardinals have already signed Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Sonny Gray, so the acquisition of Corbin Burnes may be gilding a lily.
Another likely trade destination could get Milwaukee Brewers fans even more heated, as the Chicago Cubs have emerged as a potential suitor following manager Craig Counsell’s own defection to the windy city.
“The Brewers might not be interested in dealing with the Cubs after Craig Counsell departed Milwaukee for Chicago in a shocking move earlier this season,” as one recent report noted. “However, the Cubs have a strong pipeline which would help bring in a good return for the Brewers if they truly are looking to rebuild… As far as the Cubs side of things goes, Burnes would immediately step into their rotation and become their ace.”
Other compelling destinations include the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and New York Mets, which might represent the MLB’s three leaders for blockbuster acquisitions in recent years.
What Will the Milwaukee Brewers Get in Return for a Corbin Burnes Trade?
Replacing Corbin Burnes’ production at the top of the Milwaukee Brewers rotation is a nearly impossible task and dealing the former Cy Young winner would be a clear sign that the team is more focused on building back stronger in the future than on competing in the near term.
But the trade of such a dependable starter could net some big assets in return. For instance, MLB.com suggested Corbin Burnes could be the center of one of Hot Stove season’s most compelling blockbusters, going to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Willy Adames in return for former first-round pick Gavin Lux and touted 24-year-old righty Emmet Sheehan.
“The Dodgers need pedigree in their ravaged rotation and a surer solution at shortstop, and a Brew Crew club in transition has both of those things to offer,” MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince wrote. “The only question is the return. What I’ve submitted here are two controllable Major League pieces that could help the Brewers remain competitive.”
With Corbin Burnes now more likely to leave the Milwaukee Brewers than stay for the 2024 campaign, it’s clear there are plenty of potential trades to be made. But no matter how the rumors move forward from here, if the all-star pitcher is dealt, it seems clear that his former team is thinking more about the future than the present.
1 Comment
Just because some guy gave those odds doesn’t mean it’s true. Which you kind of implied to open the last paragraph.
I think they keep him until at least the break. This team is fairly well constructed right now, and a couple of the right pieces could put them near the top (and the more likely trade will be from the depth at OF).