MLB Mailbag: Burnes, Soto, Brewers, Dodgers, A’s, Astros

Where does today’s mailbag fit Corbin Burns he may leave, why do we write about players’ salaries, or Juan Soto will be out, how the Brewers might fix their outfield, the chances of the Dodgers signing various free agents, and what’s next for the A’s.

Please note that this mailbag was published shortly before news of the Cody Bellinger the trade broke. I’m sure we’ll get into that trade in the next mailbag, but since some of Bellinger’s stuff in the mailbag was taken away by the trade, I’ve added a few bonus Astros questions and answers to the end.

Joel asks:

Why isn’t there even a hint of a proposal anywhere that the Mets are interested in Corbin Burnes? If they were willing to pay dinosaurs like Scherzer and Verlander, why not Burnes? Otherwise, they will lose most of the games at 7-5.

Tony asks:

Corbin Burnes to sign with ?

Bud asks:

As a big fan it’s about hearing rumors that Corbin Burns is nearing a deal with the team and then a week or so of silence. I was hoping for more movement…

Neil asks:

Will the Giants sign Burnes or will it be another tight end?

David Stearns was the GM of the Brewers when the team drafted Burnes in the fourth round out of Saint Mary’s College of California in 2016. With the Mets needing three starters this winter, it was natural to expect Stearns to be interested. While it’s true Stearns shelled out $15.5MM for the first free agent with the Brewers (Jhoulys Chacin in 2016), it is also true that the Mets have more money than the Brewers.

Even a comparison to Stearns’ 2023-24 season wouldn’t be fair, because that was, as my colleague Darragh McDonald wrote, “a kind of bridge year.” So affordable supplements for Sean Manaea, Luis Severinoagain Adrian Houser.

So far, the Mets have made an ownership-driven signing decision Juan Soto in a record-breaking contract, while Stearns added Clay Holmes again Frankie Montas on two-year deals (if Holmes exercises his opt-out) to help fill out the rotation. Kodai Senga you were not stopped this year, either David PetersonStarting ’21 is like a career high. Paul Blackburn a back-of-the-rotation type who has dealt with injuries, including back surgery in October. The rotation is unreliable, which Burnes could solve.

Stearns seems to be very interested in the recent trade market, showing interest in it Garrett Crochet again Luis Castillo this month. Predictably, they can follow Dylan Cease like that. On December 7th, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic wrote that the Mets are interested in Manaea, Nathan Eovaldi, Walker Buehler, Jack Flahertyagain Nick Pivetta. At the time, Newsday’s Tim Healey wrote that the Mets were not Fried Max and they are not expected to reach Burnes. It seems Stearns simply doesn’t like the return on investment of big contracts (at least for players available this winter) and doesn’t want to spend $250MM+ on Burnes.