MLB News: Corbin Burnes Turned Down Massive Offer From Orioles

Corbin Burnes turned down one of the richest offers ever made to a pitcher when he chose the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Baltimore Orioles this offseason. 

The Orioles reportedly offered Burnes a four-year, $180 million contract — an eye-popping average of $45 million per year, which would have made him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball by annual salary. 

Despite that aggressive push, Burnes ultimately signed a six-year, $210 million deal with Arizona, a contract that included $64 million in deferred money and a player opt-out after the 2026 season.

Corbin Burnes' final offer from Orioles was for 4 years, $180M, per @masnRoch.

He signed with the Diamondbacks for 6 years, $210M.

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) April 8, 2025

The Orioles’ offer was competitive in value but lacked the long-term security Burnes sought. “We just didn’t match up on the years it was going to take to get to a dollar amount for me to stay there,” Burnes said. 

Orioles owner David Rubenstein later explained the team’s reluctance to offer a longer deal: “If you get a pitcher who’s 30 years old and he wants an eight-year contract, how many pitchers pitching at 38 are that good?”

While Rubenstein insisted money wasn't the issue — and Burnes confirmed the Orioles were “kind of set” on four years — the deal didn’t align with the pitcher’s priorities, which included location and family.

So help me out here. Corbin Burnes signed for 35 million a year after the Orioles offered 45 a year but I am supposed to be mad at the Orioles? Sounds to me like the Birds made a great offer.

— Josh Sroka (@joshsroka) April 8, 2025

Burnes’ decision stings for Baltimore, which saw him anchor its rotation during a 2024 playoff run. It also leaves questions about whether the franchise is ready to go all-in on long-term deals for top-tier talent. 

General manager Mike Elias has yet to sign a player to a contract longer than three years, and the Burnes negotiations showed that annual value alone may not be enough to land elite players. 

“To sign No. 1 pitchers, you’re going to have to give length of contract,” said agent Scott Boras, who represents Burnes. In the end, proximity to his home in Scottsdale and the longer deal made Arizona the clear choice.

Photo Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images