The Los Angeles Dodgers have been linked to several top-tier arms on the trade market in their search for starting pitching, including Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes.
The 29-year-old is eligible for salary arbitration a final time before becoming a free agent after the 2024 season. Burnes is in line for a sizable increase after earning a $10 million salary this year.
That could prompt a small-market team like the Brewers to consider trading their ace. If Milwaukee decides to deal the right-hander, it would behoove them to do so this offseason in order to recoup as much value as possible.
During a recent episode of “Dodger Talk,” David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports said the Dodgers will make a strong push to acquire Burnes:
“The Brewers know they can get more for him now than they can at the trade deadline, and the Dodgers will be very aggressive.”
Burnes is coming off a season in which he went 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA, 3.81 FIP and 1.07 WHIP in 32 starts. He led National League pitchers in WHIP, tied for fifth in innings pitched (193.2) and earned a third consecutive All-Star Game selection.
Among starting pitchers with more than 500 innings since 2021, Burnes ranks No. 1 in ERA (2.94), strikeouts (677), WHIP (0.99) and batting average allowed (.198). He’s also allowed the fewest earned runs (184) and hits (408) while finishing fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 75.8%.
Burnes would instantly bolster the Dodgers rotation and give them another ace to pair with Walker Buehler when he returns from Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers have the prospect capital to acquire Burnes and the financial flexibility to sign him to a contract extension.
Corbin Burnes and other trade options for Dodgers
In addition to Burnes, the Dodgers have been connected to Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tyler Glasnow this offseason.
In terms of free agents, L.A. has shown interest in the likes of Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Lucas Giolito.
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