The San Francisco Giants are among the leading contenders for free agent Corbin Burnes, whose market gained momentum following Max Fried’s record-breaking $218 million deal, the largest ever for a left-handed pitcher. After a subpar 2024 season, San Francisco has brought in a new front office, with Buster Posey eager to secure top-tier talent to strengthen a roster that has been lacking in star power for years. The Giants also added Willy Adames just before the conclusion of the Juan Soto negotiations.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Corbin Burnes sweepstakes could take some time to resolve, with industry expectations pointing to him signing after Christmas.
He’s Expected to Sign After Christmas, Giants Hot in Pursuit
Few pitchers compare to Corbin Burnes, who made an immediate impact by winning the 2021 NL Cy Young in his first full season as a starter. He showed potential in 2020 with a 2.11 ERA in the shortened season, and since then, he’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball. Burnes ranks second in fWAR (21.7) and fourth in ERA (2.88) among MLB-qualified pitchers, thanks to his durability and elite stuff.
Over the last three seasons, Burnes has logged at least 190 innings and made at least 32 starts, and the Giants are hopeful to add him to their roster. Last season, he had an impressive campaign in Baltimore with a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts and a 23.1% strikeout rate, including a stellar performance in the Wild Card Series. Most contract projections have him earning between $240 million and $250 million.
There’s speculation that Burnes could secure a nine-year deal, surpassing Max Fried’s contract in both years and average annual value, and the Giants have the payroll flexibility to make that happen.
At just $167 million, the Giants are well below the first threshold for the Luxury Tax, and adding Burnes on a long-term deal would help replace the production lost with Blake Snell’s departure to the Dodgers. While Snell signed a five-year, $180 million deal, Burnes could be the kind of pitcher who helps Giants fans forget his absence.
Pairing Burnes with Logan Webb would create one of the best pitching duos in the league, and Burnes would benefit from a strong infield defense with Matt Chapman and Willy Adames on the left side. As a former California native, Burnes is familiar with the West Coast, but the biggest benefit might come from playing at Oracle Park. The stadium’s pitcher-friendly conditions would have allowed him to give up eight fewer home runs over the past three seasons. With his increasing reliance on minimizing hard contact, playing in a park with low home run rates could extend Burnes’ effectiveness as a top-tier starter.
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