Corbin Burnes will opt into Diamondbacks contract, per report

Starting pitcher Corbin Burnes plans to opt into the final four seasons of his contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, which run through 2030, reports USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.

Burnes signed a six-year, franchise-record $210 million contract with the D-backs after the 2024 season, a surprising move given the lack of smoke as Arizona wanted to push back into contention after an 89-win campaign. It edged out the Zack Greinke contract ($206.5 million), another stunner of a move back in 2015.

Burnes is a four-time All-Star who won the NL Cy Young award in 2021, and he entered this partnership with a reputation as someone who never misses starts.

Since signing with the D-backs, Burnes has made 14 starts in two years, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2025 and dealt with shoulder issues as he ramped up this past season. With a normal offseason, Burnes and the D-backs have expressed optimism in his ability to bounce back next year.

The Diamondbacks must hope for an Eduardo Rodriguez arc, as the first two years of his deal were injury-marred and disappointing before he lived up to the contract during his All-Star campaign in 2026.

Burnes will be 32 years old when next season begins, entering Year 10 in Major League Baseball.

He owns a 14-team no-trade list, as his full no-trade clause only lasted two years into the deal.

“Just kind of a normal offseason. I didn’t have one last year,” Burnes said during locker cleanout day at the end of the season. “It’s been essentially almost two years of kind of non-stop arm care, throwing, whatever may be coming out of the surgery. So shoulder was just basically telling me we’re running on empty here. So go in, have a normal offseason and hopefully we ramp up again in November, December, whenever we kind of step on it again, hopefully everything’s calmed down and should be good to go.”

The right-hander has a career 3.20 ERA in 213 appearances, a 2.86 ERA from 2020-25. He made three starts this past season and allowed nine runs in 10.1 innings, as his velocity was inconsistent and he could not find a rhythm with his cutter.

With Burnes back in the mix, the Diamondbacks can roll out the following rotation:

• Corbin Burnes
• Eduardo Rodriguez
• Merrill Kelly
• Brandon Pfaadt
• Ryne Nelson

Michael Soroka has a $10 million mutual option and can re-enter free agency, while the D-backs have a group of younger arms to provide depth, such as Mitch Bratt and Jose Cabrera.

There is $96 million left on the deal plus $11 million per year deferred.

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