Baltimore Orioles ace Corbin Burnes remains the top player available in free agency this winter. Coming off a Cy Young-caliber season with a 2.92 ERA over 32 starts, Burnes has a career ERA of 3.19 and a solid 1.06 WHIP. His outstanding performance will attract numerous suitors, with major-market teams showing interest.
The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants are all potential contenders. However, given that the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers have already made significant investments this offseason, they may not be frontrunners for Burnes. Additionally, the Orioles lack the financial flexibility to compete with other teams on the list. This leaves the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Giants as the top contenders.
While the Giants have already committed a significant amount to shortstop Willy Adames, they are still rumored to be pursuing Burnes. However, it would be surprising to see San Francisco make another large financial commitment for an even pricier player.
The Blue Jays are serious contenders as well, but they are expected to fall short against the Red Sox. Boston has already bolstered its rotation with a trade for Garrett Crochet and boasts a solid lineup. The Red Sox could be willing to overpay for Burnes, closing the gap in the competitive American League East.
Prediction: Corbin Burnes signs with the Boston Red Sox for eight years, $260 million.
