A.J. Burnett

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.

A.J. Burnett’s agent is in Toronto, and Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail hints that preliminary extension talks may have begun. Blair says it’ll take at least $15MM a year to sign Burnett, which the Jays will attempt to do before he opts out and hits the open market.

I imagine Burnett requires four years, with five within the realm of possibility.  It will undoubtedly be a risky contract, though J.P. Ricciardi gambled on Burnett’s stuff back in ’05 and it worked out pretty well.  Pretty much all free agent contracts for top pitchers are risky.

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.

Blue Jays pitching coach Brad Arnsberg was a crucial factor in A.J. Burnett signing with the Blue Jays back in 2005 (that, and the money).  Arnsberg had been Burnett’s pitching coach in Florida.

Burnett has two years and $24MM left on his contract, but he has the right to opt out after the season and become a free agent.  The FAN 590’s Jerry Howarth recently spoke to Arnsberg about Burnett.  Arnsberg’s heart says Burnett will stay in Toronto.  Burnett’s wife loves it there.  Arnsberg had multiple heart-to-heart conversations with Burnett discussing the pitcher’s future, and leans toward Burnett returning.  Arnsberg speculates that it could take another year on the contract to bring him back.

Burnett’s had a fine season, tying his career high with 32 starts.  He’s also established a career best with 214 strikeouts.  He leads all of MLB with 3388 pitches thrown, but has not reached 120 pitches in any start.  He could be looking at four years and $60MM on the free agent market, possibly more.