Giants Show Significant Interest in Free Agent Pitcher Corbin Burnes

The San Francisco Giants have been linked to several prominent free agents this winter, and it appears Corbin Burnes is the latest name on their list. According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the Giants "are believed to have significant interest in Burnes." San Francisco joins the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, and Burnes’ former team, the Orioles, as clubs vying for the right-hander.

MLB Trade Rumors projects Burnes to land a seven-year, $200 million deal, marking him as the top pitcher on the free agent market. Signing Burnes at such a price would be a bold move for a Giants club reportedly looking to reduce payroll. Last season, the Giants’ Opening Day payroll was approximately $208.1 million, while they currently have around $154.8 million committed for 2025. Trading players like Mike Yastrzemski, Camilo Doval, LaMonte Wade Jr., Taylor Rogers, or Tyler Rogers could free up additional funds. As things stand, the Giants have room to sign Burnes at an average annual value of $28.5 million and still add more talent before reaching their previous payroll levels.

Despite the talk of budget constraints, the Giants have not been acting like a team planning on limited spending. They've shown interest in major free agents like Willy Adames and now Burnes, and even checked in on Juan Soto's availability. Ha-Seong Kim and Tomoyuki Sugano are also on their radar. Notably, the Giants secured Matt Chapman with a six-year, $151 million extension before free agency began.

Buster Posey, reportedly involved in the Chapman negotiations before becoming the team’s new president of baseball operations, has indicated a more aggressive approach in landing top-tier talent. Signing Burnes or Adames would help dispel the notion that the Giants cannot attract star free agents.

​Burnes has strong West Coast ties, hailing from Bakersfield, California, and playing college ball at Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga, near San Francisco. On the field, Burnes would seamlessly fill Blake Snell’s role as the ace, joining Logan Webb to form a formidable one-two punch. Kyle Harrison and Robbie Ray would shift down in the rotation, providing the Giants flexibility in deciding their fifth starter. Prospects like Landen Roupp, Hayden Birdsong, Mason Black, Keaton Winn, or top prospect Carson Whisenhunt could compete for the spot, or Jordan Hicks might be given another shot at a starting role.