MONDAY, 10:17pm: Burnett is in discussions with multiple teams, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
9:41pm: The Phillies are "very much still in the running" to land Burnett, reports MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Though there is no indication that the sides are nearing a deal, says Zolecki, the likelihood has increased since Friday.
FRIDAY: The market for A.J. Burnett could be taking further shape, as Friday reports have indicated that a pair of previously listed suitors aren't likely landing spots. Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com writes that the Phillies aren't likely to add Burnett at this point in the offseason, and Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com tweets that things "don't look good" for the Orioles either.
Salisbury spoke with Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and was told the following:
"I don’t suspect we’ll be doing anything. I think we’ve got what we’ve got. I suspect we’ll go into the season with what we’ve got – or at least spring training with what we’ve got. We’re always looking, always trolling. I know there are guys out there, but I don’t suspect us having anything major coming through."
In his tweet, Kubatko does note that while the Burnett-to-Baltimore scenario isn't completely dead, the sense is that his prerference is to pitch in the National League rather than return to the American League. Kubatko adds that the Orioles are still in the mix on Bronson Arroyo, Ubaldo Jimenez and Suk-Min Yoon, however.
Recent reports stated that the D-Backs would have interest in Burnett, but they don't feel he'd want to pitch for a West Coast club. It sounds then, like Burnett's preference is to pitch for a Senior Circuit club on or near the East coast (he is a Maryland resident), which would bode well for the Pirates, especially if the Phillies are truly out of the mix. The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore speculated earlier in the week that the Nationals could make a surprise push for Burnett, and I'd agree that the pairing would make sense, though there's been nothing concrete to connect the two sides to this point.
I’m thinking the Orioles are the favorites to land Arroyo. He will be less expensive than Jimenez and won’t cost a draft pick.
What is so hard about AJ just agreeing to sign with Pittsburgh? Make a decision, dude. Your options are Pittsburgh. That’s it.
AJ likes the attention, you need to feed his ego first.
True. His 3 and final year with the bucs if he signs here.
The problem for AJ is that he wants Tanaka money. However, he’s 37 hears old, has only 2 good pitches, played behind an excellent defense and in a pitcher’s park the last two seasons, and is not most certainly NOT a good pitcher in the playoffs.
I don’t remember AJ asking for 175MM…
No but he wanted them to accept his $14 million dollar option back in November. At this point, he’s lucky if he gets $8.5 million.
You just faulted a guy for wanting money…how is that fair? I’m all fairness, we’d want the same thing. Also, I think he’ll easily get 10-12 million right now.
I’m not faulting him; I respect him for trying to get market price. I’m just saying he’s dealing with a limited market marketespecially because he can only stay on the east coast.. Pittsburgh only paid about $4-5 million of his contract last year. At this point, he will either sign with Baltimore, Washington or Pittsburgh. Oh, and he is not a #1 starter anymore.
He was never a number 1, but a very solid. 2/3 for awhile.
Had 3 pretty good to great starts for the Yanks in the 09 postseason. Basically single handedly kept them in the WS with his Game 2 start. Had another good start against the Tigers in the 2011 ALDS as well which he would’ve went even deeper into if Girardi had any trust in the guy. Yeah, he has the occasional blowup which is NEVER good but to say he is most certainly not a good pitcher in the playoffs is flat out wrong.
Edit: His 2 bad starts in the 09 Postseason which inflated his ERA both happened when the Yanks were up 3-1 in the Series on the road about to come home so they weren’t that big a deal.
He was a disaster against the Cardinals last October. He kept trying to thro the same pitch over and over and the Cardinals were not fooled. And he had similar starts like that game about 7 or 8 times last year. That is not a guy I want to commit over $10 million dollars to.
One start does not define a man’s career. Never has, never will. What about the good starts? The dominating starts? I’m not saying he is Curt Schilling in the postseason, but he’s not nearly as bad as people think he is.
Sounds like its Washington or Pittsburg.
I wonder how much money Burnett is asking for. The Pirates already signed Volquez and were only paying for half his salary last year anyway. You’d think he’s asking for at least 10 million or Pitt/Philly would’ve jumped on him already.
If Burnett signed with the Nationals…wow, that rotation.
Surprise 5th starter for the Nats? Only an hour away from Baltimore.
They would be absolutely dirty with Burnett…Strasburg, Gio, Burnett, Fister, Zimmerman would be absolutely dirty….
It already is a fantastic rotation. Throw Burnett in there and it’s the best in baseball if you ask me.
BAL seemed like the perfect fit. I guess not.
By the way, when did the state of Arizona get moved to the west coast?
Just using the exact words from the Arizona Republic report. Though they’re not technically on the coast, the point remains the same: He seems to want to pitch on or near the East coast to be closer to his family.
Well, Pittsburgh is considered to be east coast, but if you were to look at a map of the US Phoenix and Pittsburgh are roughly the same distance from their respective coasts.
300 miles to the Pacific seems pretty close to me
Orioles not signing someone? Nonsense!
I’m surprised there wasn’t a report they did sign him, followed by a bad physical.
i really wanted philly to get him
I liked Burnett as a fit for the O’s, but my memories of his surly, shaky seasons with the Yanks gave me doubts about him. If he doesn’t want to come to Baltimore (scared of the AL, A.J.?) then good riddance.
ill believe the Phillies are out on AJ Burnett when he signs somewhere else.
They said unlikely not out
O’s need to get on the phone with Ubaldo… Seems like D’Back are pushing hard at Arroyo and Santana is going to cost way too much if they want to resign Davis next year. That being said.. they NEED to sign someone. Burnett seemed like the perfect fit..but if that doesn’t work out..perhaps Ubaldo is another route to go.
I would love to see them sign Santana so they would’t be able to sign Davis…and then Davis signs with the Red Sox and they let Papi walk at the end of the year (especially if he falls off this year).
Damn it
What happened to I will pitch for Pittsburg or no one 2014?
Remember Torii saying he would take a discount to stay with the Angels
Apparently nothing. AJ has yet to make a single statement that he is willing to pitch elsewhere.
If he wants more than $1 million a year or cuts himself shaving before his physical, he’s not fit to be a Baltimore Oriole.
Blue Jays still in the picture I guess. Something to be said for familiarity and comfort, AL East ballparks notwithstanding.
Dodgers ignore Arroyo, show him the money and have the best rotation, undisputed.
If there is a house situation just buy him a house and provide a luxury cross country limo for his wife who despises flying.
The Dodgers do not have the best rotation and the state tax in California is bad. No need to be biased though
The Phillies do not have a chance to compete without another starter Why can’t Amaro understand this
Because he likely believes that they don’t have a chance to compete even with another starter.
Nope, unfortunately it’s the other way around
He still thinks that we can compete even without another starter
Not sure why the Mets aren’t interested.
Because they have financial restrictions of payroll for 2014, spent 20 Million Dollars on Bartolo Colon and have so much pitching depth if they need a starter — Mejia, Montero, Syndergaard, Matsuzaka, Lannan to name a few.
They have financial restrictions yet they may be willing to offer Drew a contract which will likely be in the $10 million range and they have been open to signing another veteran reliever.
As far as the rotation spot, Mejia may be better off in the bullpen. Lannon and Matsuzaka may not be worth the risk of putting them in the rotation. Lannon can compete for the lefty specialist position and Matsuzaka can be demoted or cut. Montero could use some more seasoning as well as Syndergaard. Burnett becomes our #5 and with his age, Colon’s, Niese’s injury history, Gee’s non-guaranteed effectiveness, and Wheeler being vulnerable to a step back, there’s plenty of use for experienced depth.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m very optimistic about the Mets’ rotation this year, but adding Burnett would make us a lot stronger.
Ruben is trolling again
I could think of a minimum of 10 teams who either could or should look into signing Burnett
I don’t get why some people get mad when GMs say “we’re set with what we have right now”. Most, if not all, should say that. At the end of the day, what they say to the fans/media means nothing. And it shouldn’t for any GM. What good does it do for a GM to say “we’re really looking to add this guy” and then not add him?
Could it be that these pitchers aren’t up to the challenge of pitching in the AL east? I almost wish the O’s would just make a public offer that ends up being more than what Burnett settles for to stay in the NL. PR is not the O’s strong suit.
Probably wont go to Baltimore because they’ll complain about his physical.
Haven’t heard this one