Top free agent would consider signing with the Red Sox this offseason

After the way that the Boston Red Sox starting rotation pitched for most of the 2024 season, it's clear that the team should be looking to add veterans to the group in free agency.

This offseason, there will be a number of interesting options hitting the market, including Baltimore Orioles ace Corbin Burnes, who will be a free agent for the first time in his career.

The 29-year-old has been great in his seven professional seasons, being named an All-Star the last four seasons and winning a Cy Young in 2021.

After beginning his career with the Milwaukee Brewers, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles this offseason and has posted a 3.18 ERA and a 1.146 WHIP while striking out 157 batters in 29 starts.

Speaking with MassLive's Sean McAdam, Burnes assessed the state of the Red Sox and hinted at what the future might hold for him.

“They’re a historic franchise and have played a lot of good baseball over the years,” Burnes said. “They’re not a bad baseball team this year. But when you get to the point in free agency is when you kind of dig in more (and ask), ‘Hey, do these guys have money to spend? Do they need pitching?’ Kind of everything that goes into your personal experience. If they call and they’re interested, we’ll do more homework about the team that’s there, who do they have coming up, and whether it’s a team that’s going to compete for a long time. it will be the same type of evaluation for every team that calls, but it’s hard to say now who’s going to be interested and who’s not interested.”

Boston should have the money to spend and they do need pitching. However, whether they will actually spend is a totally different question entirely.

Fenway Sports Groups hasn't been as willing to go spend big in recent years, and it's impacted the product on the field. But, they need to get back to what made them the winningest organization of the 21st century.

“It’s just one of those things where we’ve got to see about what happens in off-season,” Burnes said. “Obviously, there’s still three weeks to go in the regular season and then however long the postseason goes. I think once we get to that point, we’ll have an understanding of what’s going to happen with Baltimore and ultimately in free agency. I’m keeping everything open. We’ll see what teams come calling in early November and see what the interest is, but as far what will happen, it’s hard to know.”

If Burnes is willing to consider Boston, they need to capitalize.

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