A.J. Burnett Rumors: Wednesday

AJ will be a Brave before 1:30 today. Lowe will sign with Skanks either right before or right after.

4/66 for Lowe or 5/80+ for Burnett

I'd love to have either pitcher, but at those prices I'm not sure which one is worse.

I'll take Burnett. Younger and more strikeout-errific. I get the logic on Lowe (less durability concerns mean a better cover for Joba and/or Hughes if something happens), but Burnett is the upside play.

Maybe just sign both. I like reading people whine.

Be quiet Joe Morgan

Plus, as much as it pains me to say it, the Yanks can afford Burnett's inconsistency with CC at the top.

I don't think it'd be the yearly salary as much as the number of years that would make the Yanks reluctant. Having 2 5+ year deals with SP at a combined yearly salary just short of $40 million is pretty risky. I think at that point they'd seriously consider changing their focus to Lowe and Sheets.

Good luck, Braves

Braves will most likely get Burnett. It wont take long since Sabathia signed. Yankees will get Lowe and I wouldnt be surprised if they got Teixiera too.

I'd rather see the Yanks just get Sheets for 2 year/26 mil than a 4 year or 5-6 year deal for Burnett

Maybe even bring Pettitte back for 1 or 2 more years, and the rotation will be set

I meant to say a 4 year deal for Lowe or a 4-5 year deal for Burnett

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Braves have upped the offer to 5yrs/$80m.

Good. I would tell him to take it or leave in a 48 or 72 hour window.

Garland isn't as good as Burnett - he's barely above league average. The Braves want an ace. I don't think Garland would exactly intimidate a Game 1 playoff opponent.

"I really can't believe Garland isn't getting so much publicity, he is just as good and doesnt have the consistent cloud of injury following him...if Burnett gets that deal so should Garland"

This is sarcasm...right...?

Scribbletone,

I agree with you! But I think Wren is feeling the pressure because of all the Peavy buildup, he now has to deliver an ace.

I actually think Lowe will be the better pitcher over the life of the contract, but Wren can sell Burnett as that number 1 ace much easier than he could sell Lowe as an ace.

Good for the Braves. They are all in for AJ, they deserve to get him...

Garland is garbage. Look at the hits to innings pitched...

Tex isn't a "DH/LF/1B type", though. He's by far a better player than any of those guys, and one of the best defensive 1B guys around.

a career ERA of 3.25 is pretty darn good, not sure i would call Garland "trash" or just barely league minimum. My point albeit that Burnett/Garland are different pitchers is that Garland is just as good in the sense that he has a good ERA and eats innings and doesnt have the injury history as Burnett does. I personally (key word) would rather have garland and know what im getting than gambling more on burnett and hoping for the best.

What are you talking about with the 3.25 ERA? Garland's career ERA is 4.47 and he's only been under 4.20 once in a full season. His career ERA+ is 104 and his peripherals are trending downward. He barely kept his ERA below 5 last season. He's just clearly not as good as Burnett.

If another clubs tops THIS offer, I say let them have him and go after Sheets.

I see where Smotltz is shopping himself around. Well hate to say it but if I was the Braves and able to get to quality starters, I would say bye bye to Smoltz and Glavine especially since he is considering the METS

I can't believe Wren is this stupid. And all along I thought Towers was the idiot. Wren should have his ass fired if he gives Burnett 80 mil over 5yrs. Im a life long Braves fan and I hope the Yanks DO sign Burnett. Wren probably could have gotten Peavy if he didn't have to act like a big hotshot when dealing with Towers. He is running the franchise into the ground.

Drew,

What do you think Peavy would of cost for 5 years? $81 million.

Drew,

Know what you're talking about before you go on a rant.

1. Schuerholz was still GM during the Teixeira trade.

2. Peavy would cost more than 80 million AND the prospects

3. Lillibridge, Flowers, Santos, and Gilmore are not even close to being the best prospects in the system. Flowers is the only one who would even crack the top ten and he is blocked by McCann.

4. The Renteria for Hernandez and Jurrjens was outright thievery. If that is what you consider "running the franchise into the ground," we could use more of it.

I'm not sure if signing Burnett for 5 @ 80 MM is a smart move, but I can understand the reasoning behind it. It definitely isn't the catastrophe that your histrionics would suggest.

Chill out

I applaud Frank wren for getting Vazquez. Pitchers who come from the Al to the Nl usually are pretty good. CC was good with the Indians but he became outstanding when he joined the brewers. Vazquez will win between 12-15 games he is a number 2 DREW wren is still working on #1. Dont forget we also have Hudson coming back in August. Braves need to give him a five year deal to get this done.

okay im going to apologize on behalf of db4atlbraves, what he meant is if the frenchy for greinke were true greinke would be in a press room right now holding up a braves uni. unfortunately kc isnt that dumb

Who do you trust? Rosenthal or Bowman? I trust Rosenthal because I like what he reported better.

These are Vazquez numbers for 2007 for the white soxs.
W L ERA IP H R ER
15-8 3.74 216 197 95 90 SO
213

Once again he is still pitching in the Al. Also, might I add he had to deal with a crazy ass manager.To add that year it was only 15 pitchers in the league who won more games then him. Seeing that its 30 teams in the league there are 15 other teams he could have won more games then their number one starter so he is a good pitcher period. Also he was sixth in league in strikeouts.

Drew,

seriously, quit being an idiot.

"But just look at the deals he has pulled off in moves of desperation. Texiera. Vasquez?? I would gladly have given up Escobar and prospects(Flowers, but NOT Hanson) for 4 yrs of Peavy.But instead we GIVE our best prospects to the White Sox for an innigs eater? Thanks for our ace you promised us Wren."

First of all, the Padres DIDNT want Flowers. Some of their execs have stated there wasnt much interest there. We traded one good prospect who is blocked for a #3 pitcher. Lillibridge sucks, Gilmore has no power, and Santos might be a good setup/closer one day. Wren wasnt here for the Tex deal, that was JS.

I could be wrong but look at the Gorkys/Jurrjens for Renty deal and the Ohman/Infante for Ascanio deal. How is that running the franchise in the ground???

Just heard on ESPN that the Yankees have offered a 5 year deal to pitcher AJ Burnett and a deal is on the brink of happening *very likely* that the deal is worth 80 million dollars

Well unless the Braves are willing to give that 5th year, I think AJ wear pinstripes. That said, if he is getting Zambrano type $$$?? Wow, Zambrano he aint.

please don't go expecting 2007 numbers for Vazquez just because he's coming to the NL. Howard and Utley are going to eat him alive. He's not a 2 he's a 3, IMO.

philsWSchamps:

you won your world series and we know that you had a great team, but go talk elsewhere, let us braves fans have a glimmer of hope

Maybe the Yankees should offer Burnett an opt out clause too.

I don't believe the Yankee report. The only person reporting this is some unknown writer for ESPN.

They're reporting it on Baseball Tonight right now too.

Baseball tonight sucks. Kruk doesn't even know a single player on the Kansas City Royals.

Please please please...I dont want Burnett!!!!!!!! Especially for that many years and that MUCH money!!!
Why are they not going after Sheets!!!

im going to burn down the new yankee stadium if they sign burnett too.

this is pathetic.

Its being reported by Jerry Cransick of ESPN, not exactly a nobody.
With that said, I hope he goes to the Braves. I dont care about the money, I do care about the term. When he is broken down in a couple of years, if not sooner I dont want him taking up a roster spot from someone who can play.

Wasn't it reported a few weeks ago that Yankees aren't very high on the five-year offer? Why would they change their minds a few hours after Braves reportedly made a five-year offer.

"Its being reported by Jerry Cransick of ESPN, not exactly a nobody."

Tell me why no one else is reporting this?

Ted Turner please buy the Braves back.

I'm rooting for the Braves on this one. so then the Yankees could offer Sheets a larger contract. I would offer Sheets a 3 year deal if I were the Yankees. Its better than a 5 year one to A.J. Hes younger than Burnett and has been proven to be more dominant.

yankeegirl - only when people like you perpetuate them.
ballplaya - I'll help you.

Hey, I was just letting the guy know. No sweat off my back if he or you want to continue them.

yeah sorry I'm just frustrated is all, the braves are headed for the basement of the NL east

he chooses ATL because he is from Alabama and grew up watching/rooting for the Braves

"I hate people from New York. Anyway, hypothetical discussion question: The Yankees offer 5 years 80 million. The Braves offer 5 years 80 million. Which does Burnett choose and why?"

I choose Braves. Burnett already said he would love to play for the Braves and Bobby Cox.

I hope he does choose Atlanta.
First, i dont want him for all that long and second, it seems the Braves do and while all you Braves fans hate Yankee fans, I am a HUGE Bobby Cox fan and like to see him win (when not facing the Yanks)

cash over years is the point