Dodgers Offseason move: Los Angeles Dodgers expected to sign Corbin Burnes in a…

The Los Angeles Dodgers made good on their World Series aspirations as the presumptive favorite from season’s beginning to end.

After the most expensive offseason in Major League Baseball, the team marched its way to a championship with one of the deepest and most talented rosters in history. And now they have the chance to do it all again.

Forecasting the biggest headlines for the baseball offseason, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter predicted that the Dodgers will add Corbin Burnes, the best pitcher on the market, in an effort to repeat as the presumptive favorite and ultimate World Series champion in 2025.

“Given all of the injuries they have endured on the pitching side of things in recent years, durability could be at the top of the traits they are looking for in an outside addition, which moves Corbin Burnes to the top of their shopping list,” per Reuter. “His next contract is expected to exceed $200 million as he makes his first foray into free agency. There is no better way for the Dodgers to spend that kind of money than on a true ace of the staff.”

If the Dodgers had any weakness in their latest playoff run, it was in the pitching staff. Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, Clayton Kershaw and several other starters were unavailable due to injury and the team cobbled together enough starts from Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler and its bullpen. 

The team can hope for healthier results in 2025, particularly with Shohei Ohtani returning to the mound, but they might have learned their lesson in 2024. Adding Burnes would certainly provide some innings-eating insurance.

Burnes has made at least 28 starts in each of his last four seasons. He has a career 3.19 ERA, four All-Star nods and a Cy Young Award to his name. As one of the most durable frontline starters of recent years, he would certainly reinforce the Dodgers’ staff against more late-season injury problems.

“The 2021 Cy Young winner has started 33, 32 and 32 games over the past three seasons, ranking third in the majors with 590 innings pitched during that span while posting a 3.08 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and earning an All-Star selection each year,” Reuter added.

It would require once again breaking the bank, but the Dodgers could kick off a championship repeat by adding Burnes this winter.