The Baltimore Orioles are entering an important offseason. Over the last few years, they have slowly built a super team, mostly by developing a young core of stars. But for the first time in this rebuild, Baltimore needs to re-sign some important free agents this winter.
The top free agent that Baltimore is set to lose in free agency is its ace, Corbin Burnes. Burnes is coming off a tremendous year in his only season with the Orioles.
The right-hander is expected to garner much attention from many different teams this winter.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer doesn’t expect the Orioles to be able to re-sign their ace this winter, instead projecting Burnes to land with the New York Mets on a seven-year, $210 million contract.
“It won’t be via the qualifying offer, but Burnes returning to the Orioles can’t be ruled out. Passan puts them, the (San Francisco) Giants and the (Toronto) Blue Jays in the mix, with the (New York) Yankees and (Boston) Red Sox also in courtesy of Heyman and Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe,” Rymer wrote. “The Mets are more of speculative possibility, albeit an obvious one. Their front office is run by former (Milwaukee) Brewers GM David Stearns, and owner Steve Cohen could have enough for Burnes even if he’s able to sign Juan Soto first.”
The Mets should be considered in on every top free agent this offseason because of just how much money owner Steve Cohen is willing to throw around. If the Mets miss out on Juan Soto, they will be top contenders in the Burnes signing sweepstakes.