Report: Burnes seeking free-agent deal in $245M range
Free-agent right-hander Corbin Burnes is looking for a massive contract in free agency.
"Burnes, from what I understand, is looking for somewhere along the lines of the Stephen Strasburg deal from five years ago, $245 million," Mark Feinsand said Monday on MLB Network.
The one-time Cy Young winner is the top remaining starter on the market after other hurlers such as Max Fried, Blake Snell, Nathan Eovaldi, Sean Manaea, and Luis Severino inked long-term deals.
Burnes has been connected to the San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Baltimore Orioles this winter. Feinsand offered an update about his suitors, which formerly included the Boston Red Sox before they traded for Garrett Crochet and reportedly signed Walker Buehler.
"The Giants were said to be very interested," Feinsaid said. "I was told they had an offer out there that did not quite approach that number. It remains to be seen if they are willing to move that number up or potentially move elsewhere and look for other alternatives."
Feinsand added: "The Blue Jays are another team I've heard that have a lot of interest in Burnes, but the question is are they willing to give seven years for a pitcher. It's very tough right now to find a team willing to commit seven years with a $30-million-plus average annual value."
Burnes has been one of the best starters in baseball since 2020, amassing the second-highest fWAR (21.5) and fourth-lowest ERA (2.87) in the majors.
The 30-year-old finished fifth in AL Cy Young voting last season after posting a 15-9 record with a 2.92 ERA and 181 strikeouts in 194 1/3 innings for the Orioles.