4:19pm: Jays pitcher Shaun Marcum needs Tommy John surgery, which seemingly would increase the need to keep Burnett.
10:51am: More on the Burnett topic from Jeff Blair of The Globe and Mail. Blair says Burnett will be able to exercise his out clause after the World Series. Blair talked to an exec who thinks Burnett will require $15-18MM over four years.
10:28am: According to the Toronto Star, by way of Drunk Jays Fans, the Blue Jays will try to sweeten A.J. Burnett’s deal to get him to stay. Certainly the two years and $24MM remaining on his contract won’t cut it. Here’s what GM J.P. Ricciardi said:
"We would think about adding some years. But we’re not going to get in a bidding war. We’d love to have him stay but if someone wants to blow him out of the water, that won’t be us."
It seems that the Jays would have to add two years, maybe three. And with Carlos Silva now averaging $12MM per year, the Jays would probably have to offer a $15MM salary. Burnett is the only pitcher to receive an opt-out clause; it’ll take a lot to keep him off the market.
