While other big spenders are tied up in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a savvy move. Locking up two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a five-year, $182 million deal, the Dodgers effectively prevented teams that missed out on Soto from pivoting to the most talented starting pitcher available on the market. One of the teams was the Boston Red Sox.                                                                                      

The Los Angeles Angels also made an unexpected move with left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, getting him for a three-year, $62 million deal. Kikuchi is another client of agent Scott Boras. He has had a rollercoaster career over his six seasons, primarily with the Mariners and Blue Jays. However, after being traded to the Houston Astros at the trade deadline in 2024, Kikuchi found his groove. Supposedly, the Red Sox were also after the pitcher but lost him to the Angels. 

The Red Sox need to rush if they want to sign Max Fried

With Blake Snell’s recent signing, Kikuchi’s deal signals that the starting pitching market could move quickly once the Juan Soto sweepstakes come to an end. This could affect the other top arms; players like the Braves lefty Max Fried and Orioles righty Corbin Burnes are both presumed targets for the Red Sox. If Boston misses out on Soto, they may need to pivot quickly and aggressively pursue one of these pitchers to bolster their rotation as the market for quality starters begins to tighten. 

Max Fried, who will turn 31 in January, is one of the top free-agent starters available this offseason. Having spent all eight of his MLB seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Fried boasts an impressive 73-36 record. He made his second All-Star appearance in 2024 and rebounded from an injury-riddled 2023 to finish the season with an 11-10 record and a 3.25 ERA.

Fried’s 2022 season was even more dominant, as he finished second in National League Cy Young voting after going 14-7 with a 2.48 ERA. In addition to his pitching accolades, Max Fried earned his third Gold Glove award in 2022, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most complete pitchers in the game. As he enters free agency, Fried is set to be a highly sought-after arm. Besides Fried, Corbin Burnes is also someone who’s currently in demand.

Another pitcher on the market teams will look out for

Corbin Burnes remains one of the top starting pitchers available this offseason, despite some concerning trends. His strikeout rate has been in decline. With that in mind, he would require draft pick compensation for any team that signs him. However, Burnes’ track record as an ace and his younger age compared to Blake Snell make him a more reliable option for teams seeking top-tier pitching. 

Burnes has long been considered one of the best in the game. As a result, his price could rise significantly. While Snell’s five-year, $182 million deal might have been the starting point for some, Burnes is expected to command even more. Many anticipate that he could approach or even surpass $250 million in his next contract. Given his age, durability, and consistent performance over the years, Burnes could land a massive deal this winter. 

Given Blake Snell’s $36.4 million AAV on his new five-year deal, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Corbin Burnes command a similar contract. A seven-year deal with $38 million AAV seems entirely plausible. Such a contract would push Burnes’ total value to around $266 million. It’s possible that he could exceed even this amount, depending on the market dynamics; if Burnes does land a deal in that range, it would likely be considered a more substantial victory than Snell’s.