Part 4/6:
The Surprising Choice of Team
Equally surprising as the size of Burns’s contract was his decision to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a choice that caught many off guard as there were virtually no serious rumors linking him to Arizona prior to the signing. Despite multiple teams reportedly making more lucrative offers, Burns chose Arizona for various reasons.
One significant factor was tax implications. Although some offers would appear larger on the surface, high taxes in cities like Baltimore and Toronto ultimately made those offers less attractive. Additionally, living near Phoenix provides personal benefits for Burns, as it allows him to be closer to family.