MLB analyst examines Diamondbacks' NL West contention with Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen 1-2 punch

The Arizona Diamondbacks and starting ace Corbin Burnes agreed a six-year, $210 million contract, sending the NL West into shivers. The Diamondbacks missed out on the postseason after going to the World Series in 2023. To keep up with the likes of LA Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres, the club is signing deals this offseason.

Burnes will join the rotation including Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson and Jordan Montgomery. The rotation was severely impacted due to injuries, but with all of them returning, the Dbacks will be a team to watch out for.

MLB analyst Dani Wexelman examined the Dbacks' latest signing and their 1-2 punch of Gallen and Burnes.

"Picking up Corbin Burns changes the game for them in so many different ways. He is their number one. He is their ace, but he’s paired with another ace in Zac Gallen," Wexelman said on MLB Network duo.

"I know Zac Gallen maybe didn’t have the season everyone was expecting from him. It was a 3.65 ERA, right? He still made 28 starts this season, with 156 strikeouts. He’s 29 years old. To me, having that one-two punch along with the rest of the guys in that staff is going to be competitive in that division. There’s no doubt about it."

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Why Corbin Burnes chose Diamondbacks on a deal worth less than MaX Fried?

Corbin Burnes was no-doubt the best free agent starting pitcher this offseason. The first ace getting off the market was Blake Snell who signed a five year, $182 million deal with the LA Dodgers. That was followed by the Yankees signing Max Fried to six year, $218 million deal.

Burnes was expected to sign much more, but with the market shutting down, he settled for a contract less than Fried, but there's a reaso for that, according to Dani Wexelman.

"Great pickup. Mike Hazen and his front office found a way to bring in Corbin Burns, who maybe didn’t get as much money as Max Fried did in his deal or the years that Max Fried got, but certainly got what he wanted by staying home and choosing that," Wexelman added.

"The other half of it is for tax purposes too, right? You're bringing in more bang for your buck when you’re staying in Arizona, which is crafty and does play into the Diamondbacks’ favor."

The four time All-Star and former Cy Young winner will have an uphill task, helping the Diamondbacks make the postseason from a competitive NL West.