The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation has been one of the weakest parts of their team in 2024. While injuries have played a role in that, the group could use upgrades in 2025.
The Dodgers should be getting Shohei Ohtani back into the rotation next season but may still be in the market for a frontline pitcher. Corbin Burnes will be a free agent for the first time in his career and could make sense for the Dodgers.
Burnes is projected to sign a six-year, $180 million deal according to Spotrac. Burnes has been an All-Star for the last four seasons and won the National League Cy Young Award in 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was traded from Milwaukee to the Baltimore Orioles last offseason.
In his first year with the Orioles, he made 32 regular season starts and pitched to a 2.92 ERA with 181 strikeouts. He went eight innings, allowing just one earned run in the Orioles' first postseason game. In a contract year, Burnes has set himself up for a nice payday.
The Dodgers rotation next season is headlined by Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani. After that, there are some question marks. Bobby Miller took a step back this season and Walker Buehler, who will be a free agent this winter, had the worst year of his career this season. Signing Burnes would give the Dodgers another elite arm they can rely on.
Burnes was born in California, and the Dodgers have deep pockets. Bringing Burnes back to his home state should be a move the Dodgers look into this offseason.
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