The New York Mets have several rotation spots to fill this winter. Landing free-agent ace Corbin Burnes to a big-money deal is president of baseball David Stearns' top priority. But will the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner shock the Mets and the rest of MLB by signing with an unexpected team?
Stearns has publicly said he'd like to acquire multiple hurlers for his rotation since Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana are free agents. While there's risk involved in signing Burnes to a deal that could top $200 million, the Mets' top executive is quite familiar with the right-hander.
Burnes pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2018-23 before getting traded to the Baltimore Orioles ahead of the 2024 season. Stearns oversaw Milwaukee's front office from 2015-22 before stepping down and moving into an advisory role for 2023.
Is that relationship -- and offering a lot of money -- enough to bring Burnes to Queens for the foreseeable future? He'd form a terrific one-two punch at the top of New York's rotation with incumbent ace Kodai Senga. Josh Goldberg of The Score doesn't think it'll happen, though. He's predicting Burnes will head west and sign with the Los Angeles Angels.
"Angels general manager Perry Minasian said the club plans to be aggressive heading into 2025, and the team adding Burnes to a rotation that finished 28th in ERA last season would be a massive coup," Goldberg wrote. "Considering Burnes grew up in California, Minasian and the Angels find a way to get it done, landing the right-hander on a seven-year, $210-million contract."
Los Angeles has been one of baseball's most aggressive teams early in the offseason. The Dodgers recently added to the rotation by agreeing to terms on a three-year, $63 million deal with Yusei Kikuchi. Acquiring Burnes would not only kick things into overdrive for the Angels, but it would send shockwaves throughout MLB and leave the Mets looking for a Plan B.
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