The New York Yankees have suffered a blow in their offseason plans after losing out on superstar Juan Soto, who signed with the New York Mets following an intense bidding war. With Soto no longer an option, the Yankees must shift their focus to other key areas of improvement, including their starting rotation, bullpen, and lineup.
One potential solution for the Yankees? Signing Corbin Burnes, the ace pitcher from the Baltimore Orioles, who is projected to command a seven-year, $210 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Burnes, a 2021 Cy Young Award winner, has consistently been one of MLB’s top pitchers over the past five seasons. In 2023, he posted an impressive 2.92 ERA with 181 strikeouts over 194.1 innings, once again establishing himself as one of the most dominant arms in baseball.
FanSided’s Jacob Mountz recently urged the Yankees to prioritize Burnes, writing: “Corbin Burnes is currently the prize of the pitching market. Pairing him with Gerrit Cole at the top of the rotation might make an unbeatable 1-2 punch that could claim a championship for the Yankees without Soto.”
The Yankees have the financial flexibility to pursue Burnes, given the reported $760 million they were prepared to spend on Soto. However, signing Burnes could turn into a bidding war, as AL East rivals Boston Red Sox may also be in the mix for his services.
Landing Burnes would provide the Yankees with a game-changing upgrade to their rotation, giving them a formidable pairing with ace Gerrit Cole. With pitching being a key factor in playoff success, Burnes could be the critical addition the Yankees need to make a deep postseason run in 2024.
As the offseason heats up, all eyes will be on the Yankees to see if they can secure the signature of one of MLB’s premier pitchers.