Frustrated Cy Young Winner May Be Available; Should Red Sox Pursue Trade For All-Star?

Boston should be keeping it eyes on the Brewers

The Boston Red Sox likely won't be making many more moves before the start of the 2023 season, but if the team is interested in making a big splash they should continue to monitor the Milwaukee Brewers.

Milwaukee finished the 2022 campaign with an 86-76 record but failed to make the postseason. Rumors have swirled all offseason that the team may be interested in trading star hurlers Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff or shortstop Willy Adames, but no move has been made. 

The Brewers and Burnes recently went into an arbitration hearing and the club won. Burnes filed at $10.75 million and the Brewers at $10.01 million and Milwaukee got its way in the hearing. The ace discussed the hearing with MLB.com's Adam McCalvy and he certainly didn't sound pleased.

"You kind of find out your true value," Burnes said. "You think you work hard for seven years in an organization and five years with the big league team and you get in there and basically they value you much differently than you thought you were contributing to an organization. Obviously, it is tough to hear and tough to take but you know they are doing what they can to win a hearing but I think there were other ways they could've gone about it and been a little bit more respectful about the way they went about it. 

"There’s no denying that the relationship is definitely hurt from what (transpired) over the last couple of weeks. There is really no way of getting around that. Obviously, we are professionals and we're going to go out there and do our job and keep doing what I can every fifth day. But when some of the things that were said, for instance, basically putting me in the forefront of why we didn't make the postseason last year. That's probably something that doesn't need to be said. We can go about a hearing without having to do that."

While a move may not be likely right away, the Red Sox certainly should be keeping their eyes out for Burnes. The MLB Trade Deadline is July 31 and if the Brewers aren't fighting for a playoff spot, a deal potentially could be had. Burnes won't be a free agent until 2025, but it already sounds like he may not re-sign with the club after the way his hearing went. 

Boston's farm system has been greatly improved in recent seasons and if the Red Sox are anywhere near the playoffs around July, Burnes could be the perfect addition to help push them over the top. He has been named an All-Star in each of the last two seasons and even won the National League Cy Young Award in 2021. 

If the Red Sox could nab Burnes and Chris Sale is healthy the two could form an extremely formidable duo. Plus, if Corey Kluber and James Paxton stay healthy, the Red Sox could have a sneaky good rotation. 

Players of Burnes' caliber aren't moved too often, but if things continue to deteriorate between him and the club, maybe the Red Sox could make them an offer they can't refuse. 

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