Red Sox Rumors: Two Other Contenders Above Boston For Free Agent Ace

The Boston Red Sox remain in the hunt for the best remaining starting pitcher on the free agent market in Corbin Burnes.

Despite how badly the Red Sox need an ace like Burnes, they’ll have to pay up and then some to outbid other legitimate contenders. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand assessed the market for the former National League Cy Young award winner.

“As far as the pitching market goes, Fried’s deal — the fourth-largest ever for a starting pitcher — sets the expectation that Burnes will knock that down to fifth, with a deal of $240 million or more now in play,” Feinsand wrote Tuesday. “The Blue Jays and Giants appear to be the front-runners for Burnes.”

Toronto and San Francisco have each had their times for aggressive movement this offseason and obviously would love Burnes at the top of their rotation. The Red Sox will need to prove they can blow those teams out of the water with an offer if they are to actually land Burnes and answer the call of a desperate need for frontline pitching.

The Red Sox did spend time Tuesday reportedly preparing an offer for Burnes with pitchers coming off the board by the minute at the Winter Meetings.