The San Francisco Giants are facing what could be a very busy offseason, with both Matt Chapman and Blake Snell expected to opt out of their current contracts to explore the open market.
Both players have been key contributors for the Giants this season, and they are both players that San Francisco would likely prefer to keep in the future.
Snell in particular has developed into one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. After a slow start to the season and injury problems, he has played like a superstar in recent months. Losing him would be a huge blow for the Giants.
However, if he decides to sign elsewhere, there is one name to keep a close eye on as a potential target on the free agent list.
Curt Bishop of The sports news has suggested that San Francisco could consider signing soon-to-be Baltimore Orioles free agent Corbin Burnes.
“Signing Burnes will not be an easy task for the Giants, although they have proven they are willing to sign big-name players and build a winning club. Signing Snell was a perfect example of that. Of course, Burnes is likely to receive a huge contract with his new team, and the Giants will face significant competition for him if they try to sign him.”
Just like Snell, Burnes will be a highly coveted free agent. There are many teams in the league that could use reinforcements in their rotation.
So far in the 2024 MLB season, Burnes has started 25 games for the Orioles. He has a 12-5 record, a 3.10 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, a 3.8 K/BB ratio, and 153.2 innings pitched.
At 29, Burnes could be a long-term top player for the Giants. He wouldn’t be cheap, but for a team looking to get back into championship contention in the near future, he could be well worth the money.
Still, San Francisco has a chance to be one of the busiest teams in the MLB offseason, and they have a lot of work ahead of them if they want to get back into World Series contention.
Burnes could be a big step in the right direction if they ultimately get him.
