Dodgers Rumors: Brewers Not Expected To Trade Corbin Burnes, Says USA Today Insider
With Shohei Ohtani signed, the Dodgers’ front office quickly moved on to addressing their top roster priority: starting pitching. The team reached a trade agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Tyler Glasnow, and extended him shortly after on a five-year deal.
However, the team did lose a starting pitcher in the deal in Ryan Pepiot, and still have a need for more starting pitching help this offseason.
One of the more heavily linked players to the Dodgers this offseason has been Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes. With Burnes entering the final year of his contract, many believe the Brewers could look to move him during what could be a rebuilding year for the franchise.
The Dodgers might have to look elsewhere, though. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported it’s unlikely the Brewers move Burnes this offseason.
“The Milwaukee Brewers are now expected to retain Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes instead of trading him, still wanting to compete for the NL Central title.”
Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today
The Dodgers are heavily pursuing free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but his market remains robust.
If the Dodgers miss out on Yamamoto, and Burnes is off the market, they may have to pivot to Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox or Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians.
Currently, the Dodgers’ rotation on paper consists of Walker Buehler (who is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery), Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan, Glasnow and maybe Gavin Stone or Ryan Yarbrough.
The Dodgers have been in trade talks with the White Sox on Cease for a while now, and he has two years of control left, unlike the other pitchers. Cease would give the team an ace-level pitcher to headline the rotation, and they still have tons of players from the farm system to give up.
Last season was a down year for Cease compared to 2022, but he still showed flashes of greatness. In one game at Dodger Stadium, Cease threw 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs while striking out 10.
Bieber has been among the least-rumored pitchers on the market, but he had another solid year for Cleveland in 2023. He posted an ERA of 3.80 and a WHIP of 1.23 over 21 starts.
While Burnes may be off the market, the Dodgers can’t give up in their pursuit of another starting pitcher. They’ve made progress on the rotation with the Glasnow move, but they can’t be done adding just yet.
Photo Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
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