The San Francisco Giants entered the 2024-25 MLB offseason in desperate need of a spark.

They have already produced a pair of electric moments, first installing franchise icon Buster Posey as president of baseball operations and then watching him reel in star shortstop Willy Adames in free agency.

One more notable impact might be needed to take this team over the top, though. And it sounds like Posey and Co. are already working on making that happen.

The Giants and Toronto Blue Jays are "the favorites" to sign four-time All-Star and one-time Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles reportedly remain in the running, though the sentiment from rival teams is they "might not be as aggressive" as the Giants and Blue Jays, Feinsand added.

If San Francisco wins the Burnes sweepstakes, then Posey could have the Giants back in World Series contention just like he did during his storied playing career.

To be clear, this club didn't seem particularly close to the title race coming into the winter.

Things had grown rather stale in San Francisco. It's not that the Giants were bad per se, but they were pretty boring (which some might argue is worse). During the three seasons since their surprise 107-win breakout in 2021 (a campaign that fell apart in the Divisional Series), they won six fewer games than they lost.

They never fell far enough out of the playoff race to abandon ship at the trade deadline and recoup long-term assets. Yet, they weren't really in the contending mix, either. They seemed stuck in the mud, not climbing up the standings or paving an upward path for the future.

Things already feel different under Posey, whom Adames cited as the "biggest reason that I'm here." Scoring the richest contract in franchise history probably didn't hurt, but it isn't hard to imagine that someone who achieved so much so recently as a player would be able connect with those following in his footsteps.

If Posey, a seven-time All-Star and MVP as a catcher, could form such a quick connection with a middle infielder like Adames, that sure feels like it bodes well for his chances to lure in a pitcher of Burnes' ilk. The Giants even have an in with the star hurler, since their newest addition spent three years with Burnes in Milwaukee.

"I haven't talked to him, but I will definitely give him a call after today," Adames told reporters at his introductory press conference Thursday. "Obviously you always want a guy like him. You're always going to have guys who are going to compete out there for you. And having a guy like that would be such an amazing addition."

If the Giants get Burnes, they wouldn't leap to the top of the World Series conversation, but they should be included in those talks.

They need a star pitcher to pair with Logan Webb atop the rotation, and few shine brighter than Burnes. Over the past four seasons, he has pitched to a 2.94 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 858 strikeouts over his 757 innings.

It's not unlike the need for a star position player to pair with Matt Chapman that they just addressed with Adames. The newcomer may not have the accolades, but he's coming off of a 32-homer, 21-steal season. He should be an impact bat in the heart of this lineup.

If the Giants exit this offseason with Adames and Burnes, their floor will have undoubtedly elevated. And their ceiling could skyrocket next season if they have enough developmental success with the likes of Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos, Tyler Fitzgerald, Kyle Harrison and Marco Luciano. Maybe prized prospect Bryce Eldridge even forces his way into the mix at some point.

There are legitimate reasons to be excited about San Francisco's outlook. Get a contract with Burnes done, and the Giants should be a factor in next season's World Series race.