The New York Mets are looking at a busy winter in the free-agent market, particularly regarding their pitching rotation. With left-handed pitchers Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana, along with right-handed pitcher Luis Severino, all off the roster, the team faces significant gaps in their pitching staff. Fortunately, with the wealth of Mets owner Steven Cohen, there’s optimism that this winter’s top free-agent starting pitcher will make Queens his home in 2025.
According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, “Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns knows the importance of having an ace as they aim to build on last season’s success and chase a World Series title. He prioritizes pitching and defense above all else, and his history with (Corbin) Burnes goes back to their time together with the Milwaukee Brewers. Owner Steve Cohen is willing to outbid others in the market, and it’s hard to envision the Mets being outbid for Burnes. It’s an ideal match for both the player and the team.”
Burnes has an impressive seven-year record of 60-36, with a 3.19 ERA and a 1051-to-254 strikeout-to-walk ratio, along with a .212 opponent batting average and a 1.06 WHIP, having played for the Milwaukee Brewers and the Orioles. As a four-time All-Star, he is the most sought-after starting pitcher available this winter, projected to command around 215millionoversevenyears,averagingnearly 31 million annually, according to Spotrac.
With the futures of Manaea, Quintana, and Severino uncertain, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Cohen make a strong push for Burnes to secure an ace for the 2025 season. After falling just short of the World Series this year, the Mets are determined to become champions for the first time since 1986, and acquiring the top starting pitcher on the market would be a great first step.
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