After finishing the 2024 season at an even 81-81, the Boston Red Sox are poised to make some big moves to improve their roster for 2025. With their eyes on beefing up the starting rotation, could president of baseball operations Craig Breslow make a splash by pursuing free agent ace Corbin Burnes?
The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey highlighted pitching as a major priority for Boston this offseason, particularly noting the need for an ace to lead the rotation. Breslow has expressed a desire to strengthen the team’s rotation, mentioning that acquiring a top-tier arm is on the table. McCaffrey specifically mentioned Burnes, along with fellow free agents Max Fried and Jack Flaherty, as pitchers Boston could target this winter.
“Every team in baseball is well served by having someone at the front of the rotation that can win a game when the team needs it, win a playoff game,” Breslow told McCaffrey in an October 2 story. “We saw a number of guys in the rotation this year take a step forward. I don’t want to devalue the job that guys like Tanner [Houck], Brayan [Bello], and Kutter [Crawford] did. But at the same time, we need to get better, and we need to be open to any opportunity to do that.”
What Corbin Burnes Could Bring to Boston
Boston’s starting rotation showed promise in 2024, posting a solid 3.81 ERA, the seventh-best mark in MLB. However, adding Burnes could elevate them to another level entirely.
Burnes had a strong 2024 season, his first in the American League, with the Baltimore Orioles. He posted a 15-9 record with a 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 181 strikeouts over 194.1 innings. It was the third consecutive season that Burnes threw at least 190 innings, cementing his reputation as a workhorse at the top of the rotation.
Since 2020, Burnes has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. Across 137 appearances (134 starts), he has produced a 2.88 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 946 strikeouts over 816.2 innings. He’s also earned four All-Star nods and four top-10 finishes in Cy Young Award voting, winning the prestigious award in 2021 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
As the top starting pitcher available this offseason, Burnes will command a hefty price tag. According to Spotrac, his market value sits at six years and $180 million, but some predictions have him earning a deal worth over $200 million. Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer went even further, predicting Burnes would ink an eight-year, $288 million contract with the Red Sox.
A Big Offseason for Boston?
The Red Sox have been relatively quiet in recent offseasons when it comes to blockbuster moves. But following an underwhelming 2024, there are hints that things could change.
Manager Alex Cora gave a telling statement during an appearance on NESN’s 310 to Left podcast, indicating that the Red Sox front office is ready to make significant moves: “I think the front office is committed to take care of you [the fans],” Cora said to NESN’s Tom Caron and the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier. “You guys have taken care of us for so many years, it’s about time to take care of you.”
Boston fans have been waiting for a big offseason splash, and a high-profile acquisition like Burnes would be a huge step in the right direction. After struggling for consistency the last few seasons, with only one winning campaign since 2020, a commitment to a top-tier arm could signal a return to playoff contention for the Red Sox.
As Boston gears up for what could be an aggressive offseason, all eyes are on whether Breslow and the Red Sox can land the ace they need to lead their rotation back to October baseball.
