Corbin Burnes currently remains one of the top starting pitchers in the MLB free agency. The Boston Red Sox and Yankees have decided not to put their money into acquiring Corbin after the Garret Crochet trade and losing Juan Soto, respectively. Following this, many teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants, are willing to put a hefty price on signing the 30-year-old. After losing the bidding war in acquiring Shohei Ohtani last year and not being able to sign Soto as well, the Blue Jays can expect to provide stiff competition to the Giants, who are ready to offer a very high price for the Baltimore pitcher.

In his professional career so far, Burnes has spent most of his time with the Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers. This February, the Milwaukee Brewers made a transaction, sending the right-handed pitcher over to the Baltimore Orioles during the offseason before his contract was due to expire. He maintained strong outings for the Orioles and finished the season with a 2.92 ERA (fourth in the AL). Now, the Giants and the Blue Jays are among six teams putting efforts for Corbin Burnes: “Starter is expected to soon sign a deal exceeding $250 million—the richest on record for a pitcher—with the San Francisco Giants being the heavy favorites to land his services.”

The Giants president and former baseball player Buster Posey also met with Burnes’s agent Scott Boras on 10th December to sign the starter to the Giants. Despite the addition of staunch players like Blake Snell, the team’s 2024 rotation was subpar at best, finishing 18th in ERA, and now needing a strong pitcher for the off-season. The team, which has already signed Willy Adams for a $182 million, seven-year contract on Tuesday, has a power-hitting shortstop as of now, and  Corbin Burnes’ addition can help the team to become a “wild-card threat in an impossible division.”

However, the Giants are not the only ones interested in bringing Burnes home; the Blue Jays have also been aggressively approaching the former Cy Young winner. After futile attempts to acquire Ohtani and Soto, the team rotation currently holds players including Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt in the rotation. With the addition of Burnes, the team, which lacks strength after the top five, can also finally send Rodríguez to the bullpen.

Both teams have a reputation for spending good money on star players and will try their best to edge the other team out to acquire a pitcher both teams desperately need. Interestingly, the Orioles, with a new owner, are also interested in signing Corbin Burnes again, but the question remains if the team is willing to spend more than $200 million.

How does Corbin Burnes fit in the Giants’ upcoming season?

Burnes would be a perfect addition to the Giants pitching lineup—he can excel in crucial, high-pressure moments. The Giants faced challenges in 2023 due to inconsistencies in their pitching staff and depending on average pitchers. With Burnes’s impressive track record of a 3.21 ERA and a Cy Young Award win under his belt, he could significantly enhance the team’s pitching rotation’s performance level. Corbin Burnes is a game changer with his strikeout rate and talent for minimizing hits on the ball, especially in the pitcher-friendly confines of Oracle Park.

So, acquiring Burnes would strengthen the team’s core, establishing a pitching rotation capable of facing the top teams in the National League. Moreover, Corbin Burnes fits the Giants’ broader philosophy of blending veteran leadership with emerging young talent—his presence could provide stability and mentorship to promising pitchers like Logan Webb and Kyle Harrison, creating a balanced rotation capable of contending in the postseason.

San Francisco has made its intent to compete clear, and acquiring Corbin Burnes aligns perfectly with this strategy. Committing to a star of Burnes’ caliber, the Giants could be signaling that they are serious about reclaiming relevance and chasing another championship. With the Red Sox stepping aside and the Brewers seeking a trade partner willing to meet their demands, San Francisco is positioned to make a bold move that could redefine their rotation and postseason outlook.

Do you think securing Corbin Burnes will help reinforce the team’s commitment to building a competitive roster? Share your take in the comments.