Sean Burnett's contract with the Nationals contains a $3.5MM mutual option for the 2013 season, but the left-hander is expected to decline his portion in hopes of securing a multi-year deal, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Burnett's decision doesn't necessarily spell the end of his time with the Nats. His "first priority," writes Ladson, is to return to the Nationals on a new contract.
Burnett signed a two-year, $3.95MM extension with Washington in December of 2010. He rewarded general manager Mike Rizzo with 113 1/3 innings of 3.10 ERA ball to go along with a 7.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and also picked up six saves. He was particularly effective this past season, tallying a 2.38 ERA with career-best marks of 9.1 K/9, 1.9 BB/9 and a 57.4 percent ground-ball rate. Since the beginning of the 2011 season, only eight left-handers have topped Burnett's 139 relief appearances.
Burnett could look to multi-year deals given out to left-handed relievers over the past several years, perhaps targeting something in the two-year, $8-9MM range. Fellow southpaws Javier Lopez ($8.5MM), Pedro Feliciano ($8MM) and Hisanori Takahashi ($8MM) all signed for similar totals. Burnett could also look to recent extensions for Sean Marshall (three years, $16.5MM) and Glen Perkins (three years, $10.3MM), though Burnett hasn't been as dominant as either of that pair.
Burnett was originally acquired from the Pirates along with Nyjer Morgan in a trade that sent Joel Hanrahan and Lastings Milledge to the Buccos. If and when Burnett declines his option, the Nationals will not have to pay him the $250K buyout they hold over their own half of the option.
Should he decides to entertain offers from other teams, the 30-year-old Burnett's combination of youth, effectiveness and durability will make him one of the top southpaw relievers on the free agent market.
Looking back at it now it is clear that the Pirates won that trade by a long-shot. Huntington nearly robbed Rizzo of his pride and dignity with that trade.
Morgan put up four fWAR with the Nats, and Burnett has been a plenty durable reliever. Would they prefer to have Hanrahan still? Probably, but it’s far from the ridiculous fleecing you’re making it out to be.
It’s not like we’re talking Napoli for Vernon Wells or anything here.
My intention was simply to state that the Pirates did win that trade.
When you get Lastings Milledge, you clearly win the trade…
Its far from robbery, Pirates win? Yes. But not in the way your making it seem
Not nearly as lopsided as you’re making it out to be. Hanrahan was a headcase who was afraid to throw his fastball when he played for the Nationals. Needed a change of scenery.
The Pirates were able to maximize Hanrahan’s value while the Nationals were not able to. Hanrahan has been one of the majors’ lights-out closers since joining the Pirates and while Burnett and Morgan were somewhat productive with the Nationals their value does not come close to matching that of Hanrahan.
Glad it worked out so well for the Pirates. Obviously that was the move that showed Huntington is twice the GM Rizzo is since it vaulted the Pirates into playoff contention!
Oh wait lol no it didn’t…
Not every team can pick the two best possible years to finish with the worst record in the league so they can get the two biggest can’t-miss prospects in years
Yeah, that was definitely by design. Nationals knew Strasburg and Harper will develop in elite talents so they sucked enough to draft these two back to back. Rizzo deserves Executive of the Decade award if there is one.
Because Strasburg and Harper are the only two players Mike Rizzo has ever drafted/signed/or traded for and were the only reason the Nationals went from an 80-81 team to the best record in baseball in one year…
I’d like to see him come to Boston. We could use some quality BP pieces, especially LHP. Tired of waiting on Hill.
The pen is actually a strong part of the team. The overall numbers were skewed by a rough start, but after that they turned it around. I agree he would be a nice addition, though. You can NEVER have enough quality arms.
wow. Takahashi for $8M! classic Angels bullpen signing. how many millions have they wasted? see Speier, Justin, etc
no team should ever pay over $6mill for a reliever. Maybe the rare 3WAR closer, but most relief arms are too volatile and unpredictable in their production to warrant that much $$$.
I would have preferred to see the article mention some alternatives for Nationals in case Burnett signs with another team. I wonder if Affeldt an option.
Burnett joins J P Howell and Jeremy Affeldt as lefty relievers that will interest the Brewers.