Dodgers $80 Million Ace Could Be Top Corbin Burnes Backup Plan For Contenders.
The Corbin Burnes sweepstakes is likely down to three teams: the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays. Each of these three teams has the money, need, and aggressiveness to realistically pursue Burnes on a contract worth north of $250 million. But only one team can sign the former Cy Young winner. What will the two other teams do after they miss out on Burnes?
The top backup plan left on the market is Los Angeles Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty. Jon Heyman of the New York Post projects Flaherty to sign a four-year, $80 million deal. It’s unlikely the Dodgers re-sign the righty this winter. Los Angeles has already added Blake Snell and it’s expecting to return Shohei Ohtani to the mound in 2025. Flaherty is the odd man out, alongside Walker Buehler, who’s already signed a contract with the Red Sox.
That leaves Flaherty to be the backup plan for the Burnes suitors, which could land him a nine-figure contract. The Red Sox don’t need a starter as badly as the other two Burnes suitors. If Boston misses on Burnes, it’s unlikely they fork up the cash to bring in Flaherty.
Toronto needs to add talent as much as any team in the league. The Blue Jays whiffed on Juan Soto and haven’t recovered. If the Blue Jays want any chance to re-sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next winter, it starts by building a contender right now. Adding Burnes would be a huge addition, but Flaherty isn’t a bad backup option. The Giants are the favorites to land Burnes. But if they whiff on him, it wouldn’t be shocking to see San Francisco pivot to the former Dodgers starter.
Toronto needs to add talent as much as any team in the league. The Blue Jays whiffed on Juan Soto and haven’t recovered. If the Blue Jays want any chance to re-sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next winter, it starts by building a contender right now. Adding Burnes would be a huge addition, but Flaherty isn’t a bad backup option. The Giants are the favorites to land Burnes. But if they whiff on him, it wouldn’t be shocking to see San Francisco pivot to the former Dodgers starter.
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