DALLAS – On Wednesday morning, Scott Boras appeared worn out, his voice hoarse from spending the night on the phone negotiating contracts. He also prepared to speak to the media before catching a flight to New York on Thursday morning for a press conference at Citi Field, where Juan Soto’s unprecedented $765 million contract will be officially revealed.

Before he departs, Boras is on the verge of finalizing another lucrative deal, with star pitcher Corbin Burnes anticipated to sign a contract worth over $250 million – potentially ranking as the third-largest in history for a pitcher.

Boras has had important discussions with the San Francisco Giants about Burnes, and has also engaged the Boston Red Sox among other teams, hinting that an agreement could be near.

“I think Corbin Burnes is kind of like Elvis,” Boras remarked. “He’s got that insatiable desire for being a No. 1 starter. It’s palpable every day, I might add.”

The potential signing of Burnes would wrap up an extraordinary week at baseball’s annual Winter Meetings, where a staggering $1.3 billion went towards free agents. This included three contracts surpassing $180 million and four trades involving a total of 17 players.

This stands in stark contrast to last year’s meetings, where only $138 million was spent and the biggest contract was for starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who signed a four-year deal worth $80 million with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“This reflects the teams’ financial resources,” Boras explained. “TV deals are well understood, and there are clearer plans for the future. Also, the market has been influenced by expiring contracts.”

“The key takeaway is that teams recognize the importance of star-quality players, particularly successful postseason pitchers and power hitters.”

Indeed, Soto’s career includes a World Series ring with the Washington Nationals and a role in leading the New York Yankees to the World Series. Max Fried, who recently inked an eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees, also has a championship with Atlanta and has appeared in 20 postseason games over the last seven years. Nathan Eovaldi, who returned to the Texas Rangers with a three-year, $75 million contract, has won two World Series titles. Willy Adames, who secured the largest contract in San Francisco Giants’ history with his seven-year, $182 million deal, has been to the playoffs five times in the last six years.

Having pitched in the postseason four times over the last seven years, Burnes, who has also won a Cy Young award and finishes among the top eight in four other seasons, is poised to secure the third-biggest contract for a pitcher, following Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325 million) and Gerrit Cole ($324 million).

Boras also represents third baseman Alex Bregman, a two-time World Series champion who has participated in the postseason every year since 2017. Bregman could land a deal worth over $180 million with teams such as the Houston Astros, Red Sox, or Yankees.

“We’ve held multiple discussions with clubs and owners, and everyone knows what follows an A (Alex) and a B (Bregman) is a C – champions,” Boras noted. “In Bregman’s case, it’s C-squared. These teams understand his leadership qualities and championship experience, along with his skills. He’s highly sought after.”

Boras might also secure a similar level of contract for free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso, a four-time All-Star with 226 home runs across his six seasons.

“There’s significant movement in the market concerning Pete,” Boras said. “The Polar Bear Express is gaining momentum. Power hitters are invaluable, and it’s clear that teams recognize the urgent need for strong lineup presence.”

Although Alonso’s market seems slow, Boras remains optimistic about a possible return to the Mets, particularly after their significant investment in Soto.

“It’s clear that the Mets are committed to winning, both now and in the future,” said Boras. “They’ve indicated to us that they are looking to acquire multiple top talents, not just one. It’s evident they are committed to bringing in the best players.”

Boras declined to discuss the Soto negotiations until he completes his physical examination, but the soaring pitcher market has captured widespread attention at these winter meetings. There have been six pitchers who signed contracts guaranteeing at least $20 million per season, with Blake Snell’s five-year, $182 million contract leading the pack, averaging $36.4 million a year.

“There’s a real demand for pitching,” Boras said. “Due to COVID-19, we relied heavily on our young Double-A and Triple-A starters. Some were successful, but many were not.”

“Now, there’s a strong demand for experienced pitchers to fill in the 800 or 900 innings needed.”

As team executives and agents departed Dallas following the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday afternoon, there is an expectation of numerous signings occurring in the next week as the Christmas holidays approach.

Indeed, leading up to spring training, we can expect to see ongoing complaints from smaller and mid-sized market teams as the gap in payroll continues to widen.

“Disparity is a part of sports leagues,” noted Boras. “There will always be a Goliath and a David, regardless of the league or whether there are salary caps. Such imbalances naturally occur in sports; it has always been like this.

“I’ve heard a lot about market inequality and the related needs, but one consistent fact is that every ownership group that acquired a team for $100 or $200 million is now valued between $2-$3 billion. That’s the most remarkable aspect of being part of a sports league, and the disparities simply represent a competitive choice made within a rapidly appreciating league.”