The New York Mets and owner Steve Cohen are fully committed to pursuing superstar free agent Juan Soto. However, they face stiff competition from four other teams: the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
If the Mets fail to land Soto, they’ll need to quickly shift gears to a backup plan to salvage their offseason. A key part of that plan would involve acquiring an elite pitcher.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter predicts the Mets will target an ace, projecting they could sign Baltimore Orioles pitcher Corbin Burnes to a seven-year, $255.5 million contract.
“Back in July, I predicted the Orioles would extend Corbin Burnes with a seven-year, $255.5 million deal, representing an annual average value slightly higher than Gerrit Cole’s $36 million per year with the Yankees,” Reuter explained. “While a reunion with the Orioles seems unlikely, Burnes could become a top fallback option for the Mets or Red Sox if they miss out on Soto.”
The $255.5 million figure is significantly higher than most predictions, which generally estimate Burnes’ contract in the $200–$225 million range.
If the Mets fail to secure Soto, their desperation might push them to overspend to lock in the next best talent. In that scenario, Corbin Burnes would be their best option and should become their top priority.
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