Padres fans might fall off their chair reading The Athletic's free agency predictions

Are Padres fans sitting down? They might want to after seeing one of The Athletic's latest posts regarding the MLB offseason. As we wait for the offseason to really get rolling, rumors and speculation will take center stage as every baseball fan fantasizes about how their favorite club can get better for next season.

Some star-level names highlight the market, which only adds to the drama with so many contenders in the mix. The Padres were one of the most star-studded clubs in 2024, and with The Athletic's world-shaking prediction, they could be even better in 2025.

The Athletics' free agency predictions are wild for the Padres: Corbin Burnes?!

Baltimore Orioles ace Corbin Burnes is coming off of his fourth-straight All-Star season and is one of the top free agent starting pitchers this winter. Now 30 years old, Burnes could be on the move once again after a one-year stint in Maryland after spending six seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.

If Burnes were to move cities again, The Athletic thinks that San Diego could be one of the perfect landing spots for the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner. With Joe Musgrove sidelined from an elbow injury, a spot in the rotation is vacated.

Any team would love to have Burnes at the top of their staff, and the Padres are no different. One other source of motivation for the Friars to sign him is so Burnes does not ink a deal with anyone else in the NL West, especially the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

It wouldn't be a petty move, though. It's become imperative of the Padres to maintain pace with the always-dominant Dodgers, and if he signs with them, then LA has completely sky-rocketed past San Diego's talented roster.

Then again, where is this money coming from? Do the Padres have a secret war chest to sign Burnes to a massive contract despite just cutting back on payroll last year?

Either way, the Padres recently handed an extension to pitching coach Ruben Niebla, who seems to be loved by every pitcher in the organization. A guy like him, who already has the approval from other arms, could be a key piece to getting Burnes on San Diego's side. Any advantage is needed. Burnes will likely receive a deal somewhere in the six- to seven-year range worth well over $200 million.

Is it likely that Corbin Burnes comes to San Diego? Maybe not. But judging by the star power this organization has signed and retained over the last several years, it doesn't seem like they should ever be counted out in the sweepstakes for an All-Star.