Juan Soto meets set, Blue Jays-Corbin Burnes, Jack Flaherty surprise t

We’re in the middle of it now, folks. MLB Free Agency is buzzing, the rumors are flying and we’re getting excited about the conference schedules. But can you blame us? There is franchise-changing talent available for the taking on the open market and teams are struggling as they try to convince stars to join their team. A lot of rumors are just that, and front offices can’t be fully trusted with anything they say at this point because everyone is acting up and sending out smokescreens. These are the biggest storylines in free agency right now.

Blue Jays, Red Sox, Mets and then Yankees. That’s the order in which free agent superstar Juan Soto will meet with teams in the coming days, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Does this order mean anything? Do you read the tea leaves? Which way is the wind blowing in Toronto right now?

Just kidding… it probably doesn’t mean anything, but it’s better to be first than last in any situation, right? Toronto will get the first shot at Soto, and GM Ross Atkins would certainly want to tie Soto to a contract before he can talk to the other three teams, but that seems incredibly unlikely.

Soto’s own camp has been relatively quiet throughout the process, but that doesn’t mean teams haven’t done their best to recruit the superstar. The crosstown rival of Soto’s former team, the New York Mets, apparently has their own superstar Francisco Lindor recruiting Soto to Queens.

Does the Mets meeting before the Yankees meeting mean anything? Or will the Yankees just show Soto their 27 World Series titles and make him forget what the Mets said, like he’s in Men in Black? Could go either way.

For more news and rumors, check out the work of MLB Insider Robert MurrayThe Baseball Insiders Podcastsubscribe toThe Moonshotour weekly MLB newsletter, and join the Discord to get the scoop between now and the MLB offseason.

According to Passan, the Blue Jays and Giants are both in on Corbin Burnes, saying, “He could anchor the Giants’ rotation next to Logan Webb or add to an already strong quartet of Blue Jays starters…”

Either destination makes sense, and it will be interesting to see Toronto throw its name in the ring for both the biggest free hitter and pitcher available on the market. Blue Jays fans should obviously be excited about the idea of ​​both guys, but if you want everyone to know that you’re a true player for top talent… -end talent.

Honestly, Burnes would fit in just about anywhere. All 30 teams would welcome top pitching talent, even teams that already have a strong rotation. Boston is also rumored to be interested in Burnes, and Matt Vasgersian dismissed the idea of ​​pairing Burnes with Tarik Skubal in Detroit to create the best one-two punch in baseball.

Burnes has finished in the Cy Young top 10 the past five seasons (assuming he finishes in the top 10 this year, which he will) and has thrown more than 190 innings in each of the past three. He gets a huge contract – probably five years – and while teams may be a little nervous about the last few years, just with the number of innings Burnes will have thrown by then, he’s worth whatever he asks for.

The Washington Nationals need an asset, and they have plenty to choose from in this year’s free agent class. Right now, a recent World Series champion seems to be their cup of tea. “If the Washington Nationals decide to spend money on an anchor for their rotation, Flaherty could make sense,” Passan wrote.

Jack Flaherty was one of the bigger targets at the trade deadline and the Dodgers were happy to pull the trigger on a trade. Flaherty went 6-2 during the regular season with LA and also eventually won a ring with the Dodgers. He has a ring and now he wants to get paid. He probably wouldn’t get another ring in Washington for a few years, but if the Nats are willing to spend $100 million — or some amount in that ballpark — then we can’t blame Flaherty for taking the bag.