There’s something wrong with the SF Giants’ pursuit of the top free agent

The San Francisco Giants have had a Sisyphean run in pursuit of top free agent targets in recent years. They always seem to be preoccupied with the big-name players, but never get the player to choose San Francisco. It’s gotten to the point where the fan base is celebrating the fact that the Giants didn’t even try to sign superstar free agent Juan Soto – Giants fans apparently don’t want to get hurt again.

But this week it became clear that new president of baseball operations Buster Posey is ready to test the fan base once again, this time in pursuit of top free agent pitcher Corbin Burnes. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle added the latest report on the Giants’ interest in Burnes on Friday morning. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.)

“I understand the Giants have been in contact with Corbin Burnes, who would certainly be an excellent option after losing (Blake) Snell to the Dodgers,” Slusser wrote on social media. “He has the kind of personality that I think would appeal to Buster Posey, the reputation of a bulldog.”

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand said the Giants had “significant interest” last week before several national reporters linked Burnes to the team this week. Feinsand’s MLB.com colleague Jon Morosi did so on Tuesday, and both Fansided’s Robert Murray and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported the Giants’ interest in Burnes on Thursday.

Burnes would be a good fit in San Francisco. He has local ties; While he was born in Bakersfield, he played his college ball at Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga. Since becoming a full-time starter with the Brewers in 2020, he has been one of the best in the sport and has earned All-Star honors the last four years, including last year with the Orioles after an offseason trade.

But Burnes will be expensive in more ways than one. The 30-year-old is widely expected to receive a contract worth more than $200 million this offseason. Burnes also received a qualifying offer (like Snell and Matt Chapman last season). So if the Giants decided to sign Burnes, it would cost them their second and fifth round picks as well as $1 million in their international bonus pool.

Prior to Slusser’s report, most Giants beat reporters downplayed the possibility that the team would pursue Burnes. The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly reported that the Giants are expected to cut payroll in 2025, and both NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic and Slusser’s Chronicle teammate John Shea expressed pessimism about the Giants’ chances with Burnes last week after Snell was traded to the Dodgers.

Around the same time, Posey visited the Athletic’s “Starkville” podcast and was asked about the team’s failed attempts at top free agents in the past. Posey’s lengthy response acknowledged the fan base’s “frustration” but seemed willing to try again.

“If you have the opportunity to focus on a player of this type, what is the alternative, right? You don’t even follow her? Okay, well, you definitely won’t understand them at this point,” Posey said.

Posey’s main concern, however, centered on the excitement surrounding the Giants’ interesting young pitchers. He specifically mentioned Hayden Birdsong, Kyle Harrison, Landen Roupp, Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck and said the talent reminded him of some of his best days in a Giants uniform.

“I think for us to make a big jump, we’re going to have to rely on some of these younger arms to carry some of the bulk for us,” Posey said. “I saw it firsthand. You know, we had some veterans – the Barry Zitos and the Ryan Vogelsongs of the world – and teamed up with (Tim) Lincecum and (Matt) Cain and (Madison) Bumgarner. … From everything I’ve gathered from talking to coaches and some of the other players, some of these guys, I’m excited to see them compete next year.”

In the Giants’ rotation, two spots have already been secured for top Logan Webb and former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray. There’s also converted backup Jordan Hicks, who performed well as a starter last year. If the Giants were to sign Burnes, that would leave only one rotation spot for the litany of young starters Posey was looking forward to. It’s hard to compete in the big leagues when you can’t get a spot on the roster.

So in many ways, signing Burnes isn’t really worth it for the Giants. That’s why many Giants fans are concerned about the team’s reported interest, just as they were with the Shohei Ohtani rumors last year.

But as reports mount, Giants fans who had all hope dashed of the team signing a big free agent may be ready to open their hearts once again — and should be ready to get hurt again.