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Right-hander Corbin Burnes didn’t get the nod as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day starter — and as a result he might not pitch until the fifth game of the season.
Burnes said after his outing on Friday night he will have one more spring training outing before the season begins, a scenario that seems to point toward the club’s new $210 million pitcher making his Diamondbacks debut on April 1 to open a road series against the New York Yankees.
It had been assumed that Burnes’ outing in Maryvale Friday night was going to be his last before taking the ball on March 28 vs. the Chicago Cubs, one day after Zac Gallen starts on Opening Day at Chase Field.
But if Burnes does, in fact, get one more start, his regular day to pitch would be Wednesday, the day before the opener. The club is scheduled off on Wednesday, but Burnes could pitch in a minor league game at Salt River Fields or in a simulated game.
If he throws on Wednesday, Burnes could start the opening game of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium on one extra day of rest.
Burnes is known as a creature of habit, and it could be that he does not want to pitch on two extra days of rest, which would be the case if he were to start the second game of the season without another spring outing.
Manager Torey Lovullo did not want to go into details on Saturday, though he did say Burnes “could potentially” make another spring start.
“Hang with me for another 24 hours and I’ll let you know the reasons why,” Lovullo said.
When asked if Burnes was certain to start one of the games against the Cubs, Lovullo said, “I can’t answer that for you right now.”
The Diamondbacks appear to have adjusted their rotation in order to push back Burnes. Right-hander Merrill Kelly was moved up a day to pitch on Saturday against the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium, putting him in line to start the second game of the season on an extra day of rest.
Whether this juggling ends up costing Burnes a start during the regular season remains to be seen.
The situation seems to have arisen in large part because it took Lovullo so long to settle on Gallen as his Opening Day starter, a decision he said he told the pitchers about on Wednesday.
The Diamondbacks officially announced the five-year, $18 million contract extension for right-hander Justin Martinez on Saturday afternoon. The agreement included one previously unreported wrinkle: The Diamondbacks hold a conditional club option for 2032.
That option, according to sources, is a built-in injury protection.
If Martinez, who had Tommy John surgery in 2021, needs another elbow reconstruction surgery – or if he spends 130 consecutive days on the injured list in any one season or over consecutive seasons with an elbow- or shoulder-related injury – the Diamondbacks will then have a $3 million team option for 2032.
Martinez will receive a $2 million bonus with the following annual salaries: $1.5 million in 2025, $2 million in 2026, $3 million in 2027, $4 million in 2028 and $5.5 million in 2029.
There are club options in 2030 ($7 million) and 2031 ($9 million) that could each be bumped up by $2.5 million based on awards finishes and innings pitched thresholds.
If he maxes out the contract, he could earn $39 million over seven years.
Lovullo said he expected to have most of the club’s final roster decisions settled on Sunday, the team’s last day at Salt River Fields before transitioning to Chase Field for exhibitions on Monday and Tuesday.
“What (general manager) Mike (Hazen) likes to do is once we leave Salt River and head to Chase, he likes to have the team really, really dialed in, with like one, max two, conversations that need to be had over at Chase,” Lovullo said Saturday. “I like that. We’re going to figure this out tonight and have our conversations tomorrow morning and I’ll be ready to talk to you guys about what’s going on, for sure.”
Among the decisions:
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DBacks’ Corbin Burnes might not debut during season-opening homestand
Continue reading...
Burnes said after his outing on Friday night he will have one more spring training outing before the season begins, a scenario that seems to point toward the club’s new $210 million pitcher making his Diamondbacks debut on April 1 to open a road series against the New York Yankees.
It had been assumed that Burnes’ outing in Maryvale Friday night was going to be his last before taking the ball on March 28 vs. the Chicago Cubs, one day after Zac Gallen starts on Opening Day at Chase Field.
But if Burnes does, in fact, get one more start, his regular day to pitch would be Wednesday, the day before the opener. The club is scheduled off on Wednesday, but Burnes could pitch in a minor league game at Salt River Fields or in a simulated game.
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If he throws on Wednesday, Burnes could start the opening game of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium on one extra day of rest.
Burnes is known as a creature of habit, and it could be that he does not want to pitch on two extra days of rest, which would be the case if he were to start the second game of the season without another spring outing.
Manager Torey Lovullo did not want to go into details on Saturday, though he did say Burnes “could potentially” make another spring start.
“Hang with me for another 24 hours and I’ll let you know the reasons why,” Lovullo said.
When asked if Burnes was certain to start one of the games against the Cubs, Lovullo said, “I can’t answer that for you right now.”
The Diamondbacks appear to have adjusted their rotation in order to push back Burnes. Right-hander Merrill Kelly was moved up a day to pitch on Saturday against the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium, putting him in line to start the second game of the season on an extra day of rest.
Whether this juggling ends up costing Burnes a start during the regular season remains to be seen.
The situation seems to have arisen in large part because it took Lovullo so long to settle on Gallen as his Opening Day starter, a decision he said he told the pitchers about on Wednesday.
Details on Justin Martinez’s contract extension
The Diamondbacks officially announced the five-year, $18 million contract extension for right-hander Justin Martinez on Saturday afternoon. The agreement included one previously unreported wrinkle: The Diamondbacks hold a conditional club option for 2032.
That option, according to sources, is a built-in injury protection.
If Martinez, who had Tommy John surgery in 2021, needs another elbow reconstruction surgery – or if he spends 130 consecutive days on the injured list in any one season or over consecutive seasons with an elbow- or shoulder-related injury – the Diamondbacks will then have a $3 million team option for 2032.
Martinez will receive a $2 million bonus with the following annual salaries: $1.5 million in 2025, $2 million in 2026, $3 million in 2027, $4 million in 2028 and $5.5 million in 2029.
There are club options in 2030 ($7 million) and 2031 ($9 million) that could each be bumped up by $2.5 million based on awards finishes and innings pitched thresholds.
If he maxes out the contract, he could earn $39 million over seven years.
Roster decisions looming for Diamondbacks
Lovullo said he expected to have most of the club’s final roster decisions settled on Sunday, the team’s last day at Salt River Fields before transitioning to Chase Field for exhibitions on Monday and Tuesday.
“What (general manager) Mike (Hazen) likes to do is once we leave Salt River and head to Chase, he likes to have the team really, really dialed in, with like one, max two, conversations that need to be had over at Chase,” Lovullo said Saturday. “I like that. We’re going to figure this out tonight and have our conversations tomorrow morning and I’ll be ready to talk to you guys about what’s going on, for sure.”
Among the decisions:
- The fifth starter. Right-handers Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson, and lefty Jordan Montgomery are in the mix.
- The final three sports in the bullpen. Right-hander Shelby Miller appears to be a heavy favorite to win one of the jobs. Right-hander Bryce Jarvis is another candidate, along with non-roster right-hander John Curtiss and possibly a starter or two.
- The final bench spot. Infielder Ildemaro Vargas and infielder/outfielder Garrett Hampson are the top candidates.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DBacks’ Corbin Burnes might not debut during season-opening homestand
Continue reading...
