After the Boston Red Sox whiffed on Max Fried, much of Red Sox Nation flew into panic mode. One, true No. 1 starter remains on the free agent market, and he's sure to be a pricey addition to any team fortunate enough to sign him.
Boston's priorities have reportedly shifted to 30-year-old righty Corbin Burnes, and rightfully so. The Red Sox's inexperienced pitching staff was their downfall last year despite the real progress made by Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford.
The Red Sox front office has made plenty of bold statements that allowed their fanbase to believe they would spend some serious cash this winter. From their hopes to contend for a division title and a deep playoff run to the countless times someone has said Boston fans have waited long enough for a competitive team, the club has promised acquisitions. Yet, none of its actions reflect a desire to win.
Burnes is durable, reliable and experienced, which is everything the Red Sox's pitching staff needs. He has the second-lowest ERA of any pitcher with over 550 innings pitched since 2020 and his 2.92 ERA over 194.1 innings in 2024 would bring Boston's rotation to a new level.
Red Sox Preparing Offer To Corbin Burnes https://t.co/uTqE3ASnR5 pic.twitter.com/mmvLrV6hNL
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) December 11, 2024
The Red Sox organization seems to be accounting for failure on the Burnes front, though. The team has been linked to potential trade candidate Dylan Cease as their backup plan for Burnes.
The Red Sox have been linked to Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease after Max Fried failure
Cease, who will be 29 by Opening Day, clocked a 3.47 ERA over 189.1 innings with the Padres last season. He's made at least 32 starts in each season since 2021 but doesn't carry the "ace" label Burnes has with years of experience and consistency.
The Red Sox have also been occasionally linked to White Sox starter Garrett Crochet, but they're not among the favorites to land the lefty. Regardless, Boston's pitching search shouldn't come down to the trade market — it was committed to giving Juan Soto $700 million, and it can give Burnes whatever it takes to come play for the Red Sox.
Another Red Sox target is off the board.
— WEEI Afternoons (@WEEIAfternoons) December 10, 2024
Max Fried is heading to the New York Yankees on an eight-year, $218 million deal. pic.twitter.com/aSq26q2cAW
If the Sox whiff on Burnes, they could also be doomed in the trade market. Boston's farm system has received insane hype over the last year. They have six top 100 prospects and four in the top 25 in the league. If the Red Sox don't sign Burnes, other teams will know how desperate they are and force them to overpay for a year or two of a less experienced, worse pitcher than Burnes.
Fans have already seen how much the Red Sox were willing to spend on Soto, and if they don't use any of that money to sign elite pitching, they'll have bigger problems than a rotation that comprises lower-tier starters. Red Sox Nation has been patient long enough.
In Craig Breslow's own words: "It's time to deliver to our fans the teams that they have come to expect, the competitive level they have come to expect of the Boston Red Sox." Anything less than signing Burnes will be yet another failure from the front office.