Last week, before the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox series took centerstage, the Arizona Diamondbacks were delivered some awful injury news. Star pitcher Corbin Burnes will need Tommy John surgery and won’t be back until late 2026.
This is the first year of Burnes’ $210 million contract he signed in the offseason. Shortly after Christmas, the two sides struck the historic deal, and Yankees fans were wondering why the Bombers weren’t in on the right-hander if that was the price.
After all, at the time, many believed they “overpaid” for Max Fried when they gave the left-hander $218 million. Burnes technically was the better choice if you looked at it through the lens of age, durability and contract details, when all was said and done.
But Burnes took the deal with the D-backs because of his family’s situation. And don’t forget, he settled for “less” in Arizona because of the tax situation. New York has to pay more for premier free agents because of that.
Either way, even before Burnes’ injury, Fried was better. So there’s that. And Fried now has the inside track to perform better through the life of the contract since Burnes won’t pitch another full season until 2027.
Arizona Diamondbacks starter Corbin Burnes will undergo Tommy John surgery. Brutal loss for the D-backs in his first year of a six-year, $210 million contract.
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Here’s how Corbin Burnes’ injury affects the New York Yankees in 2025
More importantly, however, is that the Diamondbacks losing a player of Burnes’ caliber in a tight (and loaded) NL West may already telegraph their plans at the trade deadline. After getting swept by the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend, Arizona is now three games below .500, with the SF Giants, Padres and Dodgers all comfortably ahead of them in the division race.
The Yankees very much need help at the trade deadline, and it’s possible Arizona is a worthwhile partner. Eugenio Suarez is a slugging third baseman on an expiring contract that could fetch the D-backs some value (and help New York at the hot corner, which might be their top need right now).
Going further down the list, all of Zac Gallen (SP), Merrill Kelly (SP), Josh Naylor (1B/DH), Shelby Miller (RP) and Jalen Beeks (RP) are on expiring contracts as well. The Yankees have needs all across the pitching staff, and who knows if Naylor could fit into the picture depending upon what happens with performance and/or injuries leading up to the deadline. If the D-backs don’t have plans to keep those guys beyond 2025 while they continue to fall out of contention, they will surely be executing a fire sale of sorts as we approach the end of July.
The Diamondbacks aren’t out of it by any means, but they’re in a precarious position as their grip on a playoff spot continues to slip after they lost their best starter.
