The New York Yankees are in pursuit of several marquee outfielders and pitchers this offseason and one new name has been proposed as a viable link to the franchise.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic named Milwaukee Brewers’ starting pitcher Corbin Burnes as a prime candidate for the Yankees to consider.
Can The Yankees Pull off a Trade for Corbin Burnes?
Burnes is an elite ace who was one of only 17 pitchers to throw 200 or more strikeouts in 2023. Burnes posted a .339 ERA and led the National League with a 1.069 WHIP. This was the first time Burnes sported an ERA above 3.00 since his anomaly of a 2019 season.
It goes without saying the element he would bring to the Yankees’ pitching staff, especially next to reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. New York is in hot pursuit of Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto and has also been linked to Texas Rangers’ Jordan Montgomery and San Diego Padres star Blake Snell.
Burnes’ name belongs right there with his peers. Logistically, the Yankees would have to make the dollars and cents work to acquire the former 2021 NL Cy Young winner. He lost his arbitration case ahead of the 2023 campaign and made roughly $10 million this past season. He’s slated for unrestricted free agency in 2025.
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Will the Brewers Entertain Offers for Burns?
The Yankees have a strong pitching staff that suffered many injuries this past year. When healthy, they have the manpower to hold the Yankees up and deliver wins. Nonetheless, having another surefire ace on the team, especially at the price he comes at, would surely make New York’s staff one of if not the best in the entire MLB.
Brewers management came out earlier this year and said that they expect to bring Burns back for 2024, but as the offseason plays out, anything can happen.
