Blue Jays To Offer Burnett Four-Year Deal

According to the Toronto Star’s Cathal Kelly, the Blue Jays are preparing to offer a new four-year deal to staff ace A.J. Burnett.

The new deal would add two years and $30MM to Burnett’s existing contract, which still has two years left. The contract would total $54MM and it would increase his salary to $15MM per year by 2011-2012.

"I think that’s probably a fair number," a source close to the negotiations told Kelly. "I think that’s where it will end up."

Burnett cannot opt out of his current deal until ten days after the World Series ends, which means the Jays have until the end of October to re-sign him before he gets to hear any other offers.

Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com and can be reached here: alexo05 [at] umpbump (dot) com.