The race to sign Corbin Burnes appears to be down to three teams: the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays. All three have the financial resources, need, and determination to pursue the former Cy Young winner with a deal potentially exceeding $250 million.
However, only one team will secure Burnes. This leaves the question: what will the other two do if they miss out?
The best alternative on the market is Dodgers starter, whom Jon Heyman of the New York Post predicts will sign a four-year, $80 million contract.
Flaherty is unlikely to return to Los Angeles this offseason. The Dodgers have already signed Blake Snell and are planning for Shohei Ohtani to pitch again in 2025. With Walker Buehler already heading to the Red Sox, Flaherty finds himself on the outside looking in, making him a logical fallback option for teams that lose out on Burnes. This scenario could even boost his value to near nine figures.
Among the Burnes contenders, the Red Sox are the least desperate for starting pitching. If Boston fails to sign Burnes, it’s doubtful they’ll shell out the money for Flaherty.
The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are under pressure to improve their roster after missing out on Juan Soto. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s impending free agency next year, Toronto needs to contend now. Burnes would be a game-changer, but Flaherty could also be a solid consolation prize.
Meanwhile, the Giants are considered the favorites to land Burnes. If they don’t, a pivot to Flaherty—who’s familiar with the NL West—wouldn’t be surprising.
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