In this year’s free agent market, three standout pitchers—Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, and Max Fried—are seeking lucrative deals, although not every team will be able to afford them. These All-Star caliber pitchers offer a wealth of talent and potential for the teams willing to invest.

All three of these players come with hefty price tags. Collectively, they hold three Cy Young Awards (including one for Snell from each league), seven All-Star selections, a World Series ring, and a couple of league pennants, with each expected to secure contracts worth over $100 million.

As the free agent landscape becomes clearer, YSL News Sports delves into what each pitcher brings to the table and what might attract various teams to them:

Corbin Burnes: New York Calling

Age: 30

Career stats (wins, WAR, strikeouts per nine innings): 60, 17.6, 10.5

Innings pitched: 903 ⅔ IP

Injury history: 2019 IL stint due to shoulder inflammation; oblique issue in September 2020; missed a start in 2021 with a knee issue; COVID-19 IL absence in 2021.

Last season’s performance: 15-9 record with a 2.92 ERA over 32 starts for the Orioles, finishing fifth in AL Cy Young voting.

Market outlook: As the youngest of the trio—Fried is only 10 months older—Burnes’ age, health, and performance could lead him to the most extended and lucrative contract of the group. He has consistently made 32 or 33 starts in four of the last five full seasons, and his 2021 campaign, where he won the NL Cy Young Award, showcased his dominance—finishing first in ERA (2.43), fielding independent pitching (1.63), and strikeouts per nine innings (12.6).

Although his FIP has not dipped below 3.14 since, his hard-hitting percentage is still in the 95th percentile (31.6%). Despite giving up 22 home runs last season, his elite 97-mph cutter remains a key pitch for him and is regularly used to close out at-bats.

Future prospects: Burnes stands out as a top-tier pitcher with a reliable track record. He has led mid-market teams to playoff appearances in three of the last four seasons, making him a highly coveted asset for teams like the Mets and Dodgers, who are likely to pursue him heavily.

Blake Snell: Seeking Another Opportunity

Age: Turning 32 on December 4

Career stats (wins, WAR, strikeouts per nine innings): 76, 23.4, 11.2

Innings pitched: 1,096 ⅔ IP

Injury history: Multiple adductor strains (September 2021, April 2022, April 2024) and a groin strain in June 2024. Underwent elbow surgery in July 2019.

Last season’s performance: 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 104 innings over 20 starts for the Giants, which included a no-hitter.

Market outlook: Snell is unlikely to face a prolonged wait to join a new team this off-season, unlike last year. Despite some stints on the injury list, he finished the season strong, demonstrating one of the best second halves in major league history with a 1.31 ERA and 1.64 FIP across 13 starts, leading the Giants to an 11-2 record in those outings.

Snell has set a record with 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings in his career, and he’s improved his capability to pitch deeper into games, having previously never completed an eighth inning until his recent no-hitter. He has since surpassed the seventh inning in three of his next five starts.

His impressive strikeout ability was on full display when he tallied 234 strikeouts in 180 innings during his Cy Young-winning year with the San Diego Padres in 2023. Furthermore, he raised his average fastball velocity to a career-best 95.9 mph in 2024 while also improving his whiff rate to 37.7%, the best since 2019, and lowering his walk rate from 13.3% to 10.5%.

Future prospects: Despite leading the league with 99 walks in 2023, which might concern big-spending teams, Snell’s options remain favorable after opting out of the second year of his Giants contract worth $32 million annually. This could set the stage for a more lucrative contract this time around.

With his age and dominant performance, it’s feasible that Snell could receive a deal that mirrors the five-year, $185 million contract Jacob deGrom acquired from the Texas Rangers, potentially landing a yearly salary between deGrom’s $37 million and the upper-end deals of $42-43.3 million signed by Max Scherzer.

In recent years, Justin Verlander and Zack Wheeler have made significant impacts.

Max Fried: Financial Insights

Birthday: January 18, he will be 31

Career stats – wins, WAR, strikeouts per nine innings: 73, 24.1, 8.6

Total innings pitched: 884 ⅓ IP

Injuries: Underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2014.

In July 2024, he experienced left forearm neuritis. He faced blister issues in September 2023, forearm strain in May 2023, and a hamstring issue in April 2023. Previous blisters occurred in June 2021 and July 2019, and he dealt with groin problems in August 2018 and July 2018.

2024 season performance: Finished with an 11-10 record, 3.25 ERA, and 1.16 WHIP across 29 starts and 174 ⅓ innings.

Market perspective: Despite injury setbacks over the last couple of seasons, Fried remains one of the standout pitchers since 2020. He leads all pitchers with over 600 innings pitched with a 2.81 ERA, outpacing Burnes who is at 2.88. He ranks seventh in WHIP (1.09) and second in home runs allowed per nine innings (0.7). This success occurred while playing for a team that clinched the NL East title every year from 2018-2023 and won the World Series in 2021, where Fried contributed six shutout innings in the decisive Game 6

However, in this era dominated by power pitchers and strikeouts, Fried has yet to achieve double-digit strikeouts per nine innings, never breaking the 200-strikeout threshold, which places him behind pitchers like Burnes and Snell. Even after ten years post-surgery, his recent issues with forearm injuries raise some concerns.

On the positive side, Fried possesses an impressive seven-pitch repertoire, a fluid and athletic pitching motion, and excels at generating weak contact: he has consistently ranked between the 90^th and 98^th percentile for average exit velocity for five straight years.

Future outlook: Fried and the Braves haven’t come to an agreement on a contract extension, signaling that he may soon leave the Braves. This patience may prove advantageous, as Fried will join a new team as a developing ace with nearly a decade of significant experience under his belt.

It’s no shock that teams in the AL East, like Baltimore, Boston, and Toronto, have shown interest in Fried early on. These teams may struggle to compete in a bidding war for Burnes or Snell, but they are committed to making strides in 2025. Even if Fried ranks third in the hunt for top contracts, he’ll still secure a substantial deal, like numerous zeros on a scoreboard.