Headlines

  • Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September
  • Nationals Select Eli Willits With First Pick Of 2025 Amateur Draft
  • 2025 MLB Draft, First Round Results
  • Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear
  • Astros Promote Brice Matthews
  • Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Sean Burnett Will Decline Option

By Steve Adams | October 22, 2012 at 5:46pm CDT

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.

Share 0 Retweet 23 Send via email0

Washington Nationals Sean Burnett

Mets To Non-Tender Pelfrey, Maybe Torres
Main
Rangers Targeting Catchers This Offseason
View Comments (18)
Post a Comment

18 Comments

  1. NYPOTENCE

    13 years ago

    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.

    Reply
    • $1529282

      13 years ago

      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.

      Reply
      • NYPOTENCE

        13 years ago

        My intention was simply to state that the Pirates did win that trade.

        Reply
    • Let_My_Cameron_Go

      13 years ago

      When you get Lastings Milledge, you clearly win the trade…

      Reply
    • FacelessGeneralManager

      13 years ago

      Its far from robbery, Pirates win? Yes. But not in the way your making it seem

      Reply
    • Natsfan89

      13 years ago

      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.

      Reply
      • NYPOTENCE

        13 years ago

        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.

        Reply
        • Natsfan89

          13 years ago

          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…

          Reply
          • BradyAndersonsSideburns

            13 years ago

            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

            Reply
            • FS54 2

              13 years ago

              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.

              Reply
            • Natsfan89

              13 years ago

              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…

              Reply
  2. ugotrpk3113

    13 years ago

    I’d like to see him come to Boston. We could use some quality BP pieces, especially LHP. Tired of waiting on Hill.

    Reply
    • dc21892

      13 years ago

      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.

      Reply
  3. crashcameron

    13 years ago

    wow. Takahashi for $8M! classic Angels bullpen signing. how many millions have they wasted? see Speier, Justin, etc

    Reply
  4. DerangedAngry Hilbilly

    13 years ago

    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 $$$.

    Reply
  5. FS54 2

    13 years ago

    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.

    Reply
  6. daveineg

    13 years ago

    Burnett joins J P Howell and Jeremy Affeldt as lefty relievers that will interest the Brewers.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September

    Nationals Select Eli Willits With First Pick Of 2025 Amateur Draft

    2025 MLB Draft, First Round Results

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Astros Promote Brice Matthews

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Recent

    Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September

    Adolis Garcia Drawing Trade Interest

    Poll: Who Will Win The 2025 Home Run Derby?

    Royals Place Michael Lorenzen On Injured List

    Yankees Claim Rico Garcia

    Blue Jays, Joe Mantiply Agree To Minor League Deal

    Submit Your Questions For This Week’s Episode Of The MLBTR Podcast

    D-backs Have Listened To Offers On Outfield Depth

    Vinny Nittoli To Opt Out Of Brewers Deal

    The Opener: Home Run Derby, Draft Day 2, Rodriguez

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version