The New York Yankees' top offseason priority is to re-sign superstar slugger Juan Soto, but doing so will be expensive.
The five-time Silver Slugger is the most coveted free agent and could land a contract similar to Japanese-born sensation Shohei Ohtani's record-breaking $700 million deal. Soto likely will sign for closer to $600 million.
Adding Soto's salary to the payroll for next season could hinder the Yankees' spending abilities this winter. However, an expert's latest prediction puts the Bronx Bombers in an excellent position to land the top hurler on the market.
"Corbin Burnes to the Yankees," MLB.com's Manny Randhawa wrote Tuesday morning when predicting free agents who could sign with division rivals this offseason. "Yes, the Yankees have 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole under contract through 2028, but given the injuries their rotation has suffered the past couple of years -- Cole was limited to 17 starts last season and the year before, Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes combined for 26 starts -- they know more than most that you can never have enough starting pitching."
Burnes has been mentioned as an option for the American League East-rival Boston Red Sox, who desperately need to sign a bonified ace this winter.
"Enter Burnes, who is the top remaining free-agent starter on the market and a former Cy Young Award winner himself," Randhawa continued. "Soto is certainly still the Yankees' top priority this offseason, but the club has reportedly been in touch with Burnes' camp. The 30-year-old right-hander has been consistently excellent -- in 2024, he posted a 2.92 ERA over 32 starts for the (Baltimore) Orioles after Baltimore acquired him in a trade with the (Milwaukee) Brewers."
Burnes is one of the league's most reliable starters and carries a projected market value of roughly $200 million over a seven-year deal, translating to nearly $29 million annually, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
If Soto signs anywhere but with the Yankees before Burnes is signed, it would be shocking to see New York also fail to sign the four-time All-Star hurler, especially if the bitter-rival Red Sox steal the phenom slugger away from the Bronx, which is a possibility.
