The MLB offseason is in the hands of the executives: the GMs and agents and owners with checkbooks. Athletes have some say, but they’re not truly in charge. No, this is all about the guys in suits and quarter zips now. They’re the ones who decide which free agents fit their team best, who’s worth two years, who’s worth 10 and who’s worth something in between. They’ll haggle over millions of dollars, putting a price on every home run, every strikeout.
All we can do is sit back and watch, but that’s no fun. So instead, CBS Sports’ MLB experts are looking into their crystal balls to guess where some of this winter’s top free agents will land by the time spring blooms. We’ve already prognosticated on Juan Soto, so we’ll focus on some other players in our top 50 rankings.
Corbin Burnes, No. 2
R.J. Anderson Mike Axisa Dayn Perry Matt Snyder
Orioles Orioles Dodgers Mets
R.J. Anderson: It’s not really Mike Elias’ style to pony up for a starting pitcher, so perhaps this proves to be a silly choice on my part. (More of those to come here, I promise.) At the same time, the Orioles have the financial flexibility to do something bold, and retaining Burnes would be good optics for the new ownership group.
Mike Axisa: To be an elite team, you have to act like an elite team, and it’s time for the O’s to spend at a level more commensurate with their place in the standings. I don’t expect them to go from 26th in payroll to 1st, or even 10th, but it’s time to spend, right? Baltimore needs pitching and Burnes is one of the best pitchers in baseball, so there you go. A reunion makes perfect sense in David Rubenstein’s first offseason as owner.
Dayn Perry: I don’t entirely buy that the Dodgers will be heavily in on Juan Soto, but I do think they’ll make a notable addition in the service of repeating as World Series champs. They have some rotation uncertainties going into next year, and as the 2024 Dodgers acutely reminded us