The Brewers Would Be Foolish To Keep Corbin Burnes

The Milwaukee Brewers need to trade Corbin Burnes now. He has one controllable year left on his contract before he is eligible for free agency. The team is unlikely to re-sign him when he becomes a free agent next year. They aren’t doing themselves any good by sending mixed signals on his availability this offseason. The Brewers are heading into a transition year as a franchise in 2024 and probably aren’t going to the postseason. Milwaukee would be foolish to open the season with Burnes and should try to maximize their return.

Corbin Burnes Has Been One Of The Best Pitchers In Baseball

For the past three seasons, Corbin Burnes has arguably been one of the best pitchers in baseball. During that span, he’s gone 33-21 with an ERA of 2.95, 677 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 0.994. He also won a Cy Young award and appeared in three straight all-star games. As a team, the Brewers won the NL Central in two of those seasons. Anyone who puts up those numbers and whose team has had success deserves to be well paid.

Burnes Is Way Out Of Milwaukee’s Price Range Now

Last offseason after losing his arbitration hearing, Burnes tabbed notorious baseball villain Scott Boras as his agent. This signaled that his days in Milwaukee were numbered and that he expected to become a free agent. While Burnes didn’t have as good of a year as he did in 2021 and 2022; he still appeared in his third consecutive all-star game. He also struck out over 200 batters for the third year in a row as well. He also helped the Brewers win their third NL Central crown in six years.

The Brewers Are Entering A Transition Period

Corbin Burnes has one year of team control left before he is eligible for free agency. The Milwaukee Brewers look like a team that is headed toward a transition year next season. Second-half hero Mark Canha was traded to the Tigers, Craig Counsell departed to be the Chicago Cubs manager, and Brandon Woodruff was non-tendered effectively ending his time with the team. For the past two seasons, Milwaukee has been calling up their top prospects to ease the adjustment period at the major league level. With the Brewers seemingly retooling and Burnes becoming a free agent after next season, Milwaukee should have all the motivation in the world to try to maximize the return.

Milwaukee Needs To Maximize The Return Now

Milwaukee would be making a mistake to begin the 2024 season with Corbin Burnes on the roster. Burnes is set on testing the market regardless of what happens this season. The Brewers won’t be re-signing him after next season anyway. There are plenty of teams who need starting pitching help and might even overpay to acquire someone like Corbin Burnes. Milwaukee is better off trading him right now. If the Brewers wait, they’ll greatly hinder the return they’d get back for him since Burnes would then be just a rental player at the trade deadline. Rentals don’t yield nearly the return as players whose teams would have for a full season.

Milwaukee Is Only Hurting Themselves The Longer They Keep Burnes

With Corbin Burnes hitting free agency next and Milwaukee not re-signing him and the team heading into a transition period; it makes too much sense to trade him now. Holding on to him for the 2024 season would be a mistake. It would only damage the return the team would receive, and Milwaukee would lose their leverage in negotiations. There are plenty of teams this offseason in need of starting rotation help and might even overpay to land Burnes.

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