Corbin Burnes is on his way to the desert.

According to multiple reports, Burnes, considered the top pitcher on the free agent market, agreed to a six-year, $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks early Saturday morning. The deal includes an exit clause after 2026. Jon Heyman from The New York Post was the first to announce the news.

Burnes, who is just 30 years old and is represented by powerhouse agent Scott Boras, was expected to get the top contract among free agent starting pitchers, especially after two-time All-Star Max Fried got the biggest New York Yankees signed a contract for a left-handed hitter in MLB history in early December.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Burnes was reportedly offered more money by the likes of the San Francisco Giants, who were considered top candidates to land the ace, and the Toronto Blue Jays.

According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, Burnes, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, was excited not only about what was likely to be a competitive offer from the Diamondbacks, but also about the opportunity to stay closer to home, especially after the birth of his twin daughters in June.

And as Nightengale notes, Arizona’s different tax structure certainly hasn’t hurt. The state applies a flat 2.5 percent income tax rate, meaning all residents, regardless of income, pay the same 2.5 percent tax rate.

Burnes, the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner, joins a Diamondbacks team that won the NL pennant in 2023 and made a furious second-half push for the ’24 postseason, finishing as an 89-win team in a crowded NL, the West Division narrowly lagged behind.

Burnes will be at the forefront of a rotation that includes ’23 All-Star Zac Gallen, World Series champions Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez, and reliable veteran Merrill Kelly.

In seven seasons, Burnes has recorded a 3.19 ERA and 1,051 strikeouts in 903 2/3 innings.