The Boston Red Sox have been linked to plenty of star free agents this offseason. After their recent Garrett Crochet trade, many fans and experts think that another ace could be an excellent complement to the Sox's new lefty flamethrower.
Corbin Burnes still remains on the free agent market, and Boston has been named a top destination for him plenty of times. The Red Sox's interest has been tough to gauge — some reporters have suggested he's their top priority, while others have said Boston is unwilling to pay the price for bona fide aces.
Much of the league seems to agree on the steep prices for No. 1 starters, and it shows in the size of Burnes' market. The Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles and Giants are said to be among the teams interested in signing Burnes, and for a guy who wants to return to the West Coast to play around where he grew up, he doesn't have many options here.
MLB insider Ken Rosenthal offered a compromise that could be too good to be true. Burnes is likely seeking a megadeal, as most elite free agents tend to do, and hopes to make more money than Max Fried will on his record-breaking eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees. Rosenthal's suggestion could bring the Red Sox back into Burnes' market.
In the Dec. 16 installment of the "Fair Territory" podcast, Rosenthal theorized that Burnes' asking price could be so high he could resort to taking a 2024 Blake Snell type of deal — a short-term contract with a high average annual value and available opt-outs. This is merely speculation from Rosenthal and Burnes hasn't confirmed his willingness to accept such a deal, but if he would take that arrangement, it could be a golden opportunity for Boston.
Red Sox principal owner John Henry has been openly reluctant about giving long-term contracts to pitchers after the David Price and Chris Sale deals in Boston. Burnes likely would've demanded more time and money than both Price and Sale received, and a short-term deal could be the Sox's easiest path to signing the ace.
Ken Rosenthal speculates that Corbin Burnes may take a short-term, high AAV deal — perfect for the Red Sox
If Burnes will accept a short-term, high AAV contract, the Red Sox need to act fast. The Orioles, Burnes' former team, are still in on his market despite having a lower budget than the rest of the pack. Baltimore could afford to sign the righty to a shorter deal, and if the Red Sox hope to make good on their promise to contend for the division title in 2025, they can't let the Orioles sign Burnes again.
The Red Sox's payroll — including projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players — sits nearly $100 million below the first 2025 competitive balance tax threshold of $241 million. They have more than enough money to sign Burnes to a high AAV deal that would instantly raise the ceiling of the starting rotation to rival the Yankees' staff.
Even if Burnes hasn't openly confirmed his willingness to accept a short-term deal, Boston should test the water. The Red Sox have more than enough payroll flexibility to offer Burnes whatever he wants to come to play in Boston. Snell turned his short-term deal with the Giants into a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers, and maybe Burnes will be willing to take a similar risk after seeing how well it worked out for the lefty.