Despite facing some challenges in landing top free agents this offseason, the San Francisco Giants are not backing down in their pursuit of Corbin Burnes. The 2021 Cy Young winner is widely regarded as the best free-agent starting pitcher left on the market. Burnes is drawing significant interest, with the Giants and the Red Sox right in the mix.

The 30-year-old is expected to command a deal worth over $200 million, suggesting he’ll land a contract of at least five years. Burnes’ combination of dominance and consistency on the mound makes him a highly sought-after talent, especially for the Giants and the Red Sox after they lost on a top-tier arm, Blake Snell, who reportedly signed with the Dodgers. 

The Giants and the Red Sox emerge in the race for Corbin Burnes  

According to insider Mark Feinsand, the Giants have “significant interest” in Burnes, but they’re facing stiff competition. The Orioles, Yankees, Blue Jays, and Red Sox are all in the running for his services, making this a high-stakes pursuit. However, San Francisco may have an edge over the AL East teams. Corbin Burnes has ties to the West Coast, having spent his early years in California, which could influence his decision, especially if the Giants present a competitive offer. If San Francisco lands Burnes, it would be a huge win for the franchise. 

While the Boston Red Sox have been linked to several big hitters this offseason, baseball expert Jim Bowden suggests their primary focus will be on upgrading their pitching rotation. Naturally, Corbin Burnes is emerging as their top target—one of the best pitchers available—and would provide an immediate boost to a Red Sox staff. The Red Sox see him as the ideal ace to upgrade their rotation for the long term, making Burnes a high-priority target for the squad. After the Dodgers abruptly signed Blake Snell, teams are now looking for the next-best pitcher. 

Blake Snell snatched by the Dodgers   

The Dodgers just had a huge win. No, we’re not talking about the World Series but a recent deal. The team announced a five-year deal with left-hander Blake Snell on Saturday. The contract is worth $182 million. Although there’s some interesting fine print, $65 million of that is deferred. That brings the net present value to somewhere in the $160-165 million range. Snell also gets a huge $52 million signing bonus. 

There is also some limited no-trade protection and a $5 million bonus if he’s traded during the deal. The contract runs through his age 32-36 seasons and doesn’t have any opt-outs. With this move, the Dodgers are clearly not slowing down, adding another elite arm to their stacked rotation for the long run. It’s also a much faster resolution than Blake Snell’s last trip to free agency. A year ago, he was coming off a Cy Young campaign, but his longing for a long-term deal didn’t happen due to a surprisingly lengthy stay on the market.

Snell didn’t sign until March, which is actually very long for a player of his caliber. Then, he ultimately joined the Giants on a two-year deal worth $62 million. That contract also gave Blake the option to opt-out after the first season, which added some flexibility. But now, with the Dodgers locking him in for five years, Snell is set for long-term stability. And the most fun part? A big payday.