PHOENIX — On Wednesday afternoon, agent Scott Boras, who represents two of the most high-profile free-agent MLB players still looking for teams, had a clear example nearby to emphasize his point this offseason.

With spring training approaching in just a month, All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman and All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso are still without teams for the 2025 season and are uncertain about their futures.

Boras has been arguing throughout the winter that numerous teams have the financial capability to meet the demands of Bregman and Alonso. To support his claim, he pointed to starter Corbin Burnes, who was introduced Wednesday after signing a remarkable six-year, $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks—this marks the highest contract in the team’s history.

It’s important to note that the Diamondbacks are not typically considered a large-market team with significant television revenue.

Therefore, Boras contends that if the Diamondbacks can afford Burnes, there should be no valid reasons for other clubs to hesitate in pursuing Bregman and Alonso with attractive contracts.

While interest in both players is evident, if any teams were genuinely proposing offers reflective of their true market value, they likely would have signed before the holiday season.

Alonso, who has spent his entire career with the New York Mets, previously rejected a seven-year, $158 million offer in 2023, and is aiming for a deal exceeding the six-year, $162 million agreement received by Freddie Freeman from the Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as Matt Olson’s eight-year, $168 million contract with the Atlanta Braves.

Currently, he’s considering a three-year contract with opt-outs to remain with the Mets, but negotiations have reached a standstill.

Given the Mets’ tough stance during negotiations with Alonso and their willingness to part ways with him if he doesn’t comply with their terms, one has to wonder about the potential strain on their relationship.

“I don’t want to speculate on future scenarios,’’ Boras stated. “You’ll have to ask Pete how he feels and what his next steps might be. He’s currently in the market and listening.”

“Teams are beginning to get clearer insights into their rosters, so I believe we will see movement soon.”

While Alonso might be open to a short-term contract with options to exit after 2025, Bregman is not inclined to go that route. He prefers not to accept a temporary deal and is actively engaged with multiple teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and Boston Red Sox.

“Everyone knows Bregman is a championship-caliber player,” Boras remarked. “It’s really about the decisions that he and the teams make to bridge the gap. There is significant interest in long-term contracts.”

Boras acknowledged that the qualifying offers tied to Bregman and Alonso are negatively impacting their marketability, but he also noted how teams have not been spending as they have in prior seasons.

“So many teams are actually tightening their spending,” Boras explained. “They’re earning more but investing less than they did two or three years ago. There could be as many as 10 to 12 teams in this scenario. …

“Being an owner has a different meaning now compared to 10 or 15 years ago due to the increasing value of franchises.”

According to FanGraphs, only seven teams have raised their payrolls by over $10 million compared to last year.

The Diamondbacks are one of those teams, having increased their spending by $22.5 million, resulting in an estimated payroll of $193 million for this season.

“We have the potential to assemble a championship-caliber team,” said Diamondbacks managing partner Ken Kendrick. “Our goal is to do everything we can to field the best team possible within our budget. We’re pushing the limits of our finances. It won’t be the last time we do this.

“My perspective on investing is to do it when there’s a chance for a return. We’re making a significant investment in an exceptional young talent, and personally, I hope to witness additional success before I step back. Time will tell how this pans out.”

Initially, the Diamondbacks weren’t keen on pursuing Burnes, viewed as the top pitcher available when free agency opened, thinking the cost would be too steep, especially with several teams prepared to offer him at least $245 million.

However, Burnes reached out to Boras the week before Christmas, expressing his strong desire to pitch for the Diamondbacks, allowing him to stay in Phoenix, where he has resided since 2018. He was willing to forgo at least $35 million to remain closer to his family.

Last summer, he experienced the stressful situation of flying back home after a game in Baltimore for the birth of his twins but ended up stranded in Colorado Springs due to plane issues and had to rush to the hospital just in time for the delivery.

“It was a challenging period for him last summer,” Boras recalled. “The travel was exhausting for him. It was evident how important it was for Corbin to be with his family, especially his children and relatives.”

“It’s tough to approach a player and say, ‘Let’s aim to help you make less,’ but the reality was that Corbin was determined to be near his loved ones.”

Burnes himself confirmed the importance of family in this decision: “The family aspect was critical for us. When we realized this opportunity arose, we had to seize it. It’s something we’ve always dreamed about.”

Now, the Diamondbacks aim to replicate the success of their past, reminiscent of having Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling as their ace pitchers during the 2001 World Series championship, this time with Burnes and Zac Gallen leading the rotation.

“Our fans in this community support winning teams,” Kendrick shared. “Unlike other teams, they may not remain loyal regardless of performance. In Arizona, there’s a culture of winning, and we’ll work to generate revenue and reinvest it into building a quality team.”

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