MusaRed Sox Almost Landed Corbin Burnes Before He Signed with D-Backs.
The Boston Red Sox were on the verge of making a major splash in free agency by signing former Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes before he ultimately decided to join the Arizona Diamondbacks. Burnes himself recently revealed that the Red Sox were one of his top contenders before he inked a deal with Arizona, sending shockwaves through the baseball world.
In an interview discussing his free agency journey, Burnes acknowledged that Boston made a strong push to acquire him. “The Red Sox were definitely in the mix,” Burnes said. “They were aggressive and had a solid offer on the table. It really came down to a tough decision between a few teams, and Arizona just felt like the right fit for me.”
The Red Sox, who have been looking to bolster their starting rotation, were reportedly willing to make a competitive offer for the 2021 Cy Young Award winner. After finishing the 2023 season with significant pitching struggles, Boston saw Burnes as a potential ace who could stabilize their staff and lead a resurgence in the AL East.
Despite Boston’s efforts, Burnes ultimately chose to sign with the Diamondbacks, who are coming off a strong season and appear poised for future success. The appeal of Arizona’s competitive roster and long-term vision played a key role in his decision.
This near-miss adds to a growing list of high-profile free agents that Boston has pursued but failed to sign in recent years. While the Red Sox remain active in the market, missing out on Burnes highlights the challenges they face in securing top-tier talent.
With Burnes off the board, Boston will have to turn its attention elsewhere to address its pitching needs. Names like Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery could still be options as the Red Sox look to make moves before the season begins.
For now, Red Sox fans can only wonder what might have been had Burnes chosen to take the mound at Fenway Park instead of heading to the desert.
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