The sweepstakes concluded on Friday, with the former Cy Young Award winner landing in the National League West—but not with the San Francisco Giants.
Despite being considered the frontrunners to sign Him, a California native, the Giants will now face him as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the next six years.
Reports indicate He agreed to a $210 million deal with the Diamondbacks, including an opt-out after the second year. The D-backs, who made the World Series in 2023 but missed the playoffs in 2024, have added Burnes to an already solid rotation featuring Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, and Ryne Nelson.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported Burnes’ agreement with Arizona, while Mark Feinsand of MLB.com noted the $35 million average annual value ranks as the sixth-highest for a starting pitcher. Burnes reportedly sought a $245 million contract that would rival Stephen Strasburg’s deal as one of the largest ever for a pitcher.
The Giants, who had extended an offer to Burnes, were left empty-handed. Burnes, who grew up in Bakersfield and pitched collegiately in the Bay Area, held out for a more lucrative deal before committing to Arizona.
Burnes, 30, had a stellar 2024 season with the Baltimore Orioles, going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts. A four-time All-Star and the 2021 NL Cy Young winner with the Milwaukee Brewers, he declined a qualifying offer in November, meaning Arizona will forfeit a 2025 draft pick when his deal becomes official. Across seven seasons with the Brewers and Orioles, Burnes boasts a career record of 60-36 with a 3.19 ERA in 199 games (138 starts).
As Burnes joins an already competitive NL West, the Giants are rumored to be exploring alternatives. They’ve reportedly met with representatives for Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, who is expected to sign with an MLB team in 2025. Sasaki, 23, had a standout 2024 season with Japan’s Chiba Lotte Marines, going 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 111 innings. However, Sasaki cannot sign until the 2025 international signing period opens on January 15.
With Burnes now a divisional rival, the Giants face mounting pressure to make a significant move in free agency to keep pace in the NL West, home to the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the 2024 division runner-up San Diego Padres.
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