Baltimore Orioles ace is the top remaining free agent this winter. After a Cy Young-caliber season in which he recorded a 2.92 ERA over 32 starts, his career ERA stands at 3.19, with an impressive career WHIP of 1.06.
Burnes is expected to attract interest from numerous teams this offseason. Potential suitors include big-market teams like the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants.
However, the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers have already made significant financial commitments this offseason, making them less likely to emerge as favorites. The Orioles, meanwhile, lack the financial resources to compete with other bidders.
This narrows the race to the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Giants as the most likely destinations for the former Cy Young winner.
The Giants have already invested heavily in shortstop Willy Adames but are reportedly still pursuing Burnes. Given the unexpected size of their deal for Adames, it would be even more surprising if San Francisco made a move for an even pricier player.
The Blue Jays are serious contenders but may ultimately fall short to the Red Sox. Boston, having already strengthened its rotation with a blockbuster trade for Garrett Crochet, has a solid lineup and could justify overpaying to land Burnes. Adding him would help close the gap in the competitive American League East.
Leave a Reply