The Yankees are predicted to overwhelm the Red Sox in the $200 million bidding war for the four-time All-Star

The New York Yankees’ top offseason priority is to re-sign superstar slugger Juan Soto, but that will be expensive.

The five-time Silver Slugger is the most sought-after free agent and could get a contract similar to Japanese-born sensation Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking $700 million deal. Soto will likely sign for just under $600 million.

Including Soto’s salary in next season’s payroll could hurt the Yankees’ ability to spend this winter. However, one expert’s latest prediction has the Bronx Bombers in a great position to bring the top hurler to market.

“Corbin Burnes to the Yankees,” MLB.com’s Manny Randhawa wrote Tuesday morning as he predicted free agents who could sign with division rivals this offseason. “Yes, the Yankees have 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole under contract through 2028, but given the injuries their rotation has suffered in recent years – Cole was limited to 17 starts last season and the year before were Carlos Rodón and … Nestor Cortes made 26 starts between them – they know more than most that you can never have enough starting players.”

Burnes has been listed as an option for the American League East rival Boston Red Sox, who desperately need to sign a strong player this winter.

“That’s where Burnes comes in, who is the best remaining free-agent starter on the market and a former Cy Young Award winner himself,” Randhawa continued. “Soto is certainly still the Yankees’ top priority this offseason, but the club has reportedly been in touch with Burnes’ camp. The 30-year-old right-hander has been excellent throughout – posting a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts for the (Baltimore) Orioles in 2024 after Baltimore acquired him in a trade with the (Milwaukee) Brewers.

Burnes is one of the league’s most reliable starters and has a projected market value of about $200 million over a seven-year deal, which translates to an annual value of nearly $29 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

If Soto signs somewhere other than the Yankees before signing Burnes, it would be shocking if New York also didn’t sign the four-time All-Star hurler, especially if the bitter rival Red Sox steal the phenomenal slugger from the Bronx, which is a possibility.

More MLB: Red Sox predicted to make ‘massive move’ for proposed $130 million All-Star – Newsweek