The San Francisco Giants have a rotation spot to fill since two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell elected free agency. Could president of baseball operations Buster Posey try replacing him with Baltimore Orioles ace Corbin Burnes?
San Francisco has produced just one winning season since 2017. Its 107-win campaign in 2021 has been followed by three failed attempts to win more than 81 games. Posey faces a crucial offseason as he tries to right the ship for the franchise.
Logan Webb is the ace of manager Bob Melvin's staff, but he could use another top-shelf hurler to pair with him. Burnes is the closest one can get to a sure thing based on his recent track record. He's been to four All-Star Games and placed in the top 10 of Cy Young voting four times since 2020, winning the honor in 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers. The righty has tossed at least 190 innings each of the last three years, posting a 3.08 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 623 strikeouts in the process.
The Athletic's Chad Jennings and Sam Blum discussed nine potential suitors for Burnes as his market begins to form, and San Francisco was included in the conversation.
"The Giants have an ace in Logan Webb. They have a former Cy Young winner, and current question mark, in Robbie Ray," they said. "Beyond that, it's unclear if Jordan Hicks will go back into the rotation, or remain in the bullpen. Hayden Birdsong figures to be a starter. But it's far from set. And clearly, a starter like Burnes would be massive."
Burnes is the top starting pitcher available via free agency this winter, meaning competition for his services will be fierce. Landing him won't be cheap, either. The Athletic's Tim Britton projected the hurler's next contract at seven years and $217 million.
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