A.J. Burnett Rumors: Thursday

Well then presumably Burnett won't sign yet.

That would make three different teams that have offered fifth year options, but none of them have offered that fifth year for sure.

My guess is that whichever teams give him year 5 will probably land him, because the annual salaries will likely be similar in all the deals ($14-16M)

If all teams that have offered Burnett 4 years, then it's up to Burnett, risk it and wait it out and hope some teams comes up with a fifth year or take the 4 year offer with the option year with a team he is more interested in.

and the dominoes are starting to fall. Now we will see some fireworks this week leading up to the Meetings. I think Burnett won't sign yet but i think he will eventually end up with the Braves
(jpg1200) yea it makes me feel alot better =]

The Orioles can match this and that's where Burnett really wants to play IMO.

Come on Frank, make this happen. We don't have time to tip toe. Give him the fifth year guaranteed and get this done.

Bartender: I don't know if the Braves are still interested in making that deal. They already traded away prospects for Vasquez, including Flowers who the Padres had some interest in and Lillibridge who was the top in house canaidate to replace Escobar. I just don't see them sending 3-5 more young players for Peavey right now. Also I can't imgaine they are high on trading Escobar now that Renteria has signed and Furcal is about to sign.

"The Orioles can match this and that's where Burnett really wants to play IMO."

What makes you say that? Just pull it out of thin air?

I'm kind of stunned that the Braves aren't guaranteeing the 5th year. Without Burnett at this point they're pretty much screwed for 09. As Steveo26 points out Peavy is unlikely (I'd guess he's staying in SD) and if the Yanks ever lost out on CC they'd put the hard press on for BUrnett and/or Lowe.

That may force the Braves into the world of Sheets/Wolf etc. which may not be that bad.

Believe me I want to keep Escobar as much as the next Brave fan, so it doesn't bother me one bit if it doesn't happen.

But it that cause they better sign Burnett...or this offseason no matter who else we can scrounge up is a disaster...We would then be looking for the Wolf-Garland types and that's the last thing we need...well unless Sheets becomes a priority...

The Braves may be in a win-win situation here. I mean i dont personally know how Frank Wren thinks, but wouldnt it make sense to put an offer in for Burnett to make Towers feel a hurry to come back to the braves for Peavy. (who still have the best offer on the table). And if Towers doesnt come back, then just guarentee a 5th year if thats what needed and sign Burnett. Wren said he would get an ace and right now hes in a pretty good position to do so.

I'm not sure it's that easy because if (which I'm sure it won't) CC were to go out west instead the Yankees would throw the 5th year to Burnett and Peavy would certainly dealt or completely off the table by the time CC signs

I agree chicubs25,

I'd rather have SHeets for 3 years 33 or 36 than Lowe or Burnett at whatever they'll get. Sheets is a better pitcher when healthy than both of them and he'll likely require less years.

Sheets at 3/33 would be awesome for about any team. I would do this if I were Atl and were sick of Towers.

Actually, I'd rather pay sheets 3/36 than Burnett for 5 years at 80 mil any day of the week.

I've got an interesting idea, if the Tigers want to swap contracts, how about Soriano, Morton, Hernandez and another prospect for Mags and Willis...Then the Braves go after Burnett and use the rest to go after another power arm for the bullpen like Farnsworth....just an idea, spur of the moment thought....

Sheets sounds more reasonable. Especially being 3 years. Injuries are a concern for both pitchers.
So if Ben Sheets made every start last year, who do you think would be getting the big money? Its a what have you done for me lately league.
O and just for fun heres Sheets and Burnetts starts and innings over the last few years.

Sheets
Year/Starts/Innings Pitched
2008/31/198
2007/24/141
2006/17/106
2005/22/156
2004/34/237
2003/34/220
2002/34/216

Burnett
Year/Starts/IP
2008/34/221
2007/25/165
2006/21/135
2005/32/209
2004/19/120
2003/4/23
2002/29/204

Both injury prone. Complete Games about the same too. Very similar. So Sheets seems better. Less years needed, ERA under 4 since 2004, less money.

Njbraves: Flowers was mentioned in the Padres deal as a potential 2nd piece. And the point is if they already moved 2 solid prospects why would they trade 3 or more additional players for another pitcher. Also with no Lillibridge, Furcal, Renteria who plays short???

bartendermlb- I kinda just skimmed through, but you seem to know your stuff...and then you make a strange suggestion that makes very little sense for the Braves. Did you just do a bong hit or something?

On a separate note, I don't want to come off sounding like a defensive O's fan and since SteveO has already done such a nice job explaining the situation, I'll try to maintain some brevity, but as mentioned, the O's have the money to spend; they've just been a bit gun-shy since the Albert Belle debacle.

Back in the day, Angelos spent like a drunk sailor and between MASN and the Baltimore/Washington (we still get a lot of DC folks) market, the O's HAVE the cash. Not NY or Boston cash, but...well...let's just say, we're not Minnesota or Kansas City either! Targeting a player here or there, it's reasonable to think we could actually make a bigger/better offer than a larger market club- say the Yanks- with different priorities (like Sabathia) and divided attentions.

This is a unique off-season for Baltimore, and not just because of the money that's being freed up over the next 12 months, as SteveO mentioned. Usually, top FA's have NO interest in coming to Baltimore or for that matter any perennial losers (which we have no doubt, become). When it does happen that a star player moves to a non-contender, it's usually because the team is willing to spend SO much more than the next club or for some sentimental reason. The last significant FA to sign here was Tejada.

This winter, two premiere FAs- Teixeira and Burnett- with Baltimore ties who have made public pronouncements spelling out an interest in playing here, are on the market. On top of which, the organization is about to shed a number of bad contracts. The stars have aligned, so to speak, and there's very little chance of this happening again anytime soon. For this reason, I believe the Orioles HAVE to be aggressive and, furthermore, I think they WILL. Does that mean they'll sign both guys? No. I would actually be shocked if we succeeded in signing Tex (and don't really think it necessary). He's a pure mercenary and, more to the point, he's the top position player on the market. That means he WILL be prioritized by other clubs. Burnett...not so much. He's second tier- along with everyone else- behind Sabathia. If, as expected, CC signs in New York, I believe the O's and Braves will be alone in offering the former Blue Jay five years, guaranteed. I think sentiment puts Baltimore over the top- as AJ's has stated he'd like to pitch close to his wife's family (they live in Monkton, MD) and would love to join the O's. Given Burnett's injury history, I'm certainly wary, but this isn't a question of what I think is right for the team, but rather, what I think will happen.

Guess I failed on brevity.

burnette at say 16
willis 7
vaz 11.5
mags 18

- thats 52.5m already without signing smoltz or glavine.

come on guys stop dreaming....

Burnett will be $15

Willis is $10

For that trade to happen, Tiger have to eat three million from each contract.

am i just dreaming, or does anyone see a possibility of getting both burnett and peavy? imagine that, but i dont know what we would do about the SS position. maybe towers will just shutup about it and take jo-jo and campillo and something else, i dont know, just desperate for another atlanta postseason

burnette at say 16
willis 7
vaz 11.5
mags 18

- thats 52.5m already without signing smoltz or glavine.

come on guys stop dreaming....

do you not know how much soriano makes....ummmm a tad bit over 6 million this year so that puts

35 million left after trade
-4 million for willis
-15 for Burnett
-18 for Mags

So that's 37 million

diehardbraves fan I just threw out an idea...

We are def not getting willis...just been trying to figure out a way to get a lefty really...

Wait a sec I just noticed Z3R0, you said Willis makes 7mil if this is true that balances out anything with Soriano's 6 mil this year and the prospects the Braves would only be picking up the 18 mill of Mags, Leaving money on the table for Burnett...

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=Mlb&id=3672

Says willis is owed 22/2 even worse than I suspected...we can defintely through that idea out the window....

As far as Ludwick I've always thought that the proposed trade for Johnson for Ludwick is just too much for a possible one-year wonder...no matter how good his numbers look for the price...

i've been saying this for a while now.....

F*CK BURNETT!!! GET SHEETS!!!!!

but if Burnett were to stay healthy for the majority of his contract i wont complain =]

uh oh the price for Burnett's going up.

Yankees to bid today or tomorrow. Maybe they go 4 but at some ridiculous figure like 18 per.

Seriously guys, if the Cards were somehow dumb enough to give us Ludwick straight up for KJ we should be jumping all over it. I know it was just one season (his first full one in the majors by the way), but he had the 6th best OPS in baseball last year. KJ was 7th or 8th among 2B. KJ's a solid player with so, so upside, while Ludwick is a possible middle of the order masher who hits from the right side of the plate (which we really need). Even if Ludwick's OPS drops 100 points next year, that's still as good as Magglio Ordonez at $15 million less.

If Pettitte returns: $16 million.

Sabathia: $23 million.

And Yankees want to get their payroll down. Have fun with that.

"Bullpen:
Cl: Gonzo (R)
Su: Ohman (L)
Su: Acosta (R) Until Moylan comes back.
Boyer (R)
Carlyle (L)
O'Flaherty (L)
Bennett (R)"

Uhhhhh..... Last time I checked Gonzo was a Lefty and Carlyle was a righty. Last time I checked though, they could've switched pitching arms.

BravesRed, you are kind lost buddy. Yanks offered Pettitte 10 million. Andy won't be coming back if he expects 16 mill.

Uhhhhh..... Last time I checked Gonzo was a Lefty and Carlyle was a righty. Last time I checked though, they could've switched pitching arms.

Gonzo said he wanted rock on the other side or the rubber now...ha..

"Uhhhhh..... Last time I checked Gonzo was a Lefty and Carlyle was a righty. Last time I checked though, they could've switched pitching arms."

Their names are right next to each other on espn.com, so its possible I did mess up.

what makes burnett better than sheets they have both been injured alot.so i would go with sheets, because of him being a tad cheaper.

I love Frank Wren.

tmac2 AJ had a better season in the AL. He's only had the one major injury, and it was several years ago. Sheets has a chronic back issue AND he ended last season hurt.

Morton or Reyes will be in the fifth spot until Hanson is ready.

diehardbrvfan87:

IF Glavine is able to pitch, the rotation will start out like this: Burnett, Jurrjens, Vazquez, Morton/Reyes, and Glavine. Campillo goes to the BP as a swingman, the other of Morton/Reyes goes back to the minors, and Hanson starts out in the minors.

If Glavine is not back, the rotation will look like this: Burnett, Jurrjens, Vazquez, Morton, and Reyes. Campillo still goes to the BP and Hanson starts out in the minors, unless he beats out Morton or Reyes.

I dont know if we can go after another starter if we sign Burnett. We have about 30M left so after Burnett around 13-16M and we still have the LF issue.
The only signing i could see is Smoltz. Otherwise its probably Morton or Reyes

Braves22:

Thanks for the response, do you think we have enough funds to get 2 more starters and furcal? and would you personally want peavy or greinke? i remember the braves saying that had around $40 mil to spend

I think we have the funds to get Burnett and another pitcher but Id rather see us get Burnett the #2 free agent pitcher this year and just stand pat as far as pitching then. a 2010 rotation of
1. Burnett
2. Hudson(assuming he can come back healthy, i think we resign him if not bedard/lackey are options)
3. Jurrgens
4. Hanson
5. Vasquez
would be able to contend for most talented staff in baseball. I dont want Peavy or Greinke personally just because the prospect price added on to financial price for peavy is ridiculous when u can get burnett for just money. Greinke might take even more prospects because of the affordability. one player id like to see the braves go after is kerry wood. there seems to be no interest on this guy and we could forget ohman and upgrade with wood. the offer i would give would have stipulations as to how much time he can spend on the dl before his contract voids at the end of the year but it would be a good gamble i think. however not gonna happen

Diehard-

We have more money than that and you'd honestly be surprised if you've heard what I've heard about how much we're willing to spend...

Anyways, like I said, the best option is Burnett+Greinke because Greinke is still in his cheap years, you then sign Furcal, and another trade would happen w/ the Braves and Cards to get us Ludwick who is also cheap...

Even trading for Peavy is possible as we'd be paying 11.5 for him, 12-13 for AJ in his first year, around 12 for Furcal, and 11.5 for Vaz...thats about 47M give or take on either end...

And yes, it can be done...

Vazquez was just the first pitching piece of 3 according to FW...

AJ is the next...

As to my personal preference, I would like Peavy for two reasons. I think the packages needed to obtain either would be similar BUT a) Peavy IS already locked up for 4 more seasons while Greinke may be cheap but his contract is unknown and he may not be retainable shortly and b) Peavy is well proven while Greinke is not..

Either way, we're giving up Escobar +++

nice point braves22. just imagine in august, this could happen:

burnett
peavy
hudson
vazquez
jurrjens

GOODBYE Philadelphia!!!

(imagine how jealous those yanks would be, haha)

That's a ridiculous rotation to imagine and it could very well happen. When is Hudson supposed to really be back though? Is it August?

diehard...take it from THIS Yankee fan. While that would be a great rotation for you guys, I will never ever be jealous of a rotation that includes "homerun Javy".

I'd rather watch Kennedy and Igawa than ever see him in a Yankee uniform again. Ok, well maybe not Igawa..LOL

yankeegirl49:

haha, y'all (yes i'm from the south) know from first hand experience! hopefully the NL will benefit this guy

Jason,

If Escobar get traded, Braves will need a SS.

Also, to everyone talking up Burnett (apparently because it's looking like he'll be a Brave @ 5/80), he has only pitched over 30 games in a season twice in his career, and only pitched over 200 innings twice. Ben Sheets could be had for 3/33 presumably, maybe even a two year deal. Sheets has a lower career ERA, higher ERA+, lower WHIP, more years with 30+ GS and more years of 200+ IP.

I don't think the Braves will be happy at all if they sign Burnett, especially to a 5 year deal. And I also don't think it will take past 2009 for them to be upset with it.

At the end of the day, I take my chances with Sheets on a 2 or 3 year deal for much less money than Burnett on a 5 year deal.

"It looks like we're going to lose Burnett."

Yes, JP. Pretty much everyone knew he would and will sign elsewhere for more.

The Yankees need to stop thinking about CC, Burnett and Lowe. Sign Tex, Hudson and O Perez. Trade Cano and prospects for Greinke and Hughes and prospects for Peavy.

Peavy, Wang, Greinke, Joba and Perez. That rotation gets it done without ridiculous 5-6 year contracts.

Damon, Jeter, ARod, Tex, Matsui, Nady, Posada, Hudson, Gardner. Plenty of O to go wins games...especially with the above staff.

C'mon Cash...work a little instead of OVERspending for fat, broken down or old free-agents!

Peavy also has a NTC and said the Yankees "could be considered". Doesnt sound like he wants to go there since he said hed like to stay in the NL