Blue Jays To Offer Burnett Four-Year Deal
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.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Tigers, Teixeira, Burnett
A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…
- MVN Outsider takes a look at some potential offseason moves for the Tigers, including trading Magglio Ordonez and Gary Sheffield and signing Brian Fuentes.
- Baseball Banter takes a look at the five teams most likely to go after Mark Teixeira this winter.
- River Ave. Blues wonders if the Yankees should consider signing A.J. Burnett because of his strong career numbers against the Red Sox.
- Pending Pinstripes takes a look at the Yankees 40-man roster and some potential offseason changes.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Odds and Ends: Patterson, Lowry, Alvarez
Today’s linkage…
- Brewers fans, act quickly to snag free tickets to tonight’s game courtesy of Eric Gagne. Nice gesture.
- Of course Ned Colletti wants to re-sign Manny Ramirez. It’s just a question of dollars and years. Does Manny get the rumored 4/100 he might desire?
- The Jays locked manager Cito Gaston up through 2010.
- Richard Griffin says the Blue Jays will be better for it if they lose A.J. Burnett. Meanwhile, River Ave. Blues is open to the idea of the Yankees signing him.
- No, Corey Patterson is not dating Dusty Baker’s daughter. And Baker says he wasn’t behind the signing, either.
- The Reds might not be in the market for a catcher this winter, if they go with Ryan Hanigan as the starter in ’09.
- The Mariners officially founded the 100/100 club.
- Peter Abraham sees the Yankees going with Brett Gardner as the center fielder in 2009. Peter Gammons is "convinced he is going to be an everyday center fielder."
- Sam Mellinger discusses a way to drastically shake up the Royals: trade both Zack Greinke and Joakim Soria for loads of young, cheap players. As he notes, the strategy could work out but might cause a fan revolt.
- Andrew Baggarly wonders if Noah Lowry‘s injury problems could prevent a Matt Cain trade. Also, Baggarly sees a non-tender in Kevin Correia‘s future.
- Frank Coonelly suggested Pedro Alvarez‘s new deal is comparable in value to the original. Scott Boras then jumped on the conference call to say it was a favorable change, and much different from the original. Additionally, Coonelly contacted Baseball America’s Jim Callis to dispute the idea of a premeditated plan to negotiate with Alvarez after the deadline.
- The Marlins will focus on improving their defense this winter.
Burnett, Jays Talking Extension?
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.
Burnett Open To Extension
According to John Lott of the National Post, A.J. Burnett is expected to opt out of his contract, but if J.P. Ricciardi offers him a contract extension, Burnett says it "might" change his mind.
As MLBTR pointed out, the Jays are expected to go after Burnett, who could require $15-18MM. With Shawn Marcum needing Tommy John Surgery, the chances they pursue Burnett greatly increases.
Jays pitching coach Brad Arnsberg seems to think it won’t take much to keep Burnett in Toronto, perhaps only another year on the contract.
Burnett, already a perennial injury risk, has thrown over 3400 pitches this year, the most in the majors. In Lotts’ piece, should Burnett notch his 19th win in his next start, he would decline to pitch on short rest to go after number 20. Finishing healthy is his goal. With Ben Sheets suffering forearm pain, Burnett could find himself the most appealing free agent starter not named CC.
Jays Will Attempt To Retain Burnett
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.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Huff, Hardy, Russ Ortiz
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column up.
- Mark Attanasio set a dangerous precedent by firing Ned Yost. Will he interfere with GM Doug Melvin’s plans in the future?
- Rosenthal considers Aubrey Huff a "highly desirable trade commodity" this winter. That begs the question – why did Huff pass through waivers unclaimed in August?
- Trading J.J. Hardy is more likely than moving him to third base. Hardy is under team control for two more seasons. The Jays, Tigers, Royals, Twins, Giants, Dodgers, and Cardinals could be in the market for a shortstop. Demand certainly outstrips supply.
- Rosenthal believes Rafael Furcal would be a nice fit for the Blue Jays. He agrees that GM J.P. Ricciardi is likely to return.
- The Orioles might prefer affordable veterans to A.J. Burnett as they try to improve their pitching staff this winter.
- Russ Ortiz wants to pitch in 2009, and he worked out for ten days a week ago. ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick first reported the workout yesterday. He says the Royals, Astros, Brewers, and Red Sox had scouts at the audition.
Odds and Ends: LaRoche, Bradley, Burnett
Digging into today’s random links…
- Joel Sherman looks at what went wrong for the Yankees this year. Did they fall too in love with their farm system?
- At least six teams have called the Pirates about third baseman Andy LaRoche in recent weeks. If LaRoche pans out and Pedro Alvarez comes aboard, the Bucs could have a surplus at some point.
- Craig Harris examines the rise of D’Backs GM Josh Byrnes.
- Eddie Bajek updated the Elias rankings for the AL 1B/OF/DH category. They’re fluctuating wildly. Eddie also did catchers for both leagues; Ivan Rodriguez is headed into Type B territory. Gregg Zaun lost Type B status.
- Mike Hindman conducted a roundtable asking what kind of contract the Rangers should offer Milton Bradley.
- 29 teams passed on Rays reliever Grant Balfour last spring. Now he has a 1.62 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 50 innings. Balfour’s been through a lot.
- Joe McDonald and Sean McAdam don’t see the Red Sox signing A.J. Burnett (or any big-name free agent starter).
- Padres CEO Sandy Alderson scoffed at the idea of a $40MM payroll for ’09. I never heard that figure tossed around; Buster Olney suggested the $50MM range.
- Maury Brown heard a rumor that Thomas Ricketts won the bid for the Cubs.
Arnsberg Comments On Burnett
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.
Odds and Ends: Sabathia, Pavano, Penny, Burnett
Random links to start the morning…
- Ben Shpigel says Billy Wagner‘s $10.5MM for ’09 is not covered by insurance, making the Mets unlikely suitors for K-Rod (hat tip to MetsBlog).
- The Padres claimed knuckleballer Charlie Haeger. You have to like the move; he’s only 24.
- Ken Davidoff writes about Nationals pitcher Tim Redding, who dreams about returning to the Yankees one day.
- Davidoff also says that contrary to popular belief, C.C. Sabathia did not buy a home in Southern California.
- In another post, Davidoff lists the worst trades of ’08.
- Nats GM Jim Bowden will probably bring in a veteran first baseman next year due to health concerns with Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young.
- Not much cooking on the Pedro Alvarez front…Bud Selig testified yesterday, and the next part of the hearing isn’t until September 23rd.
- Andrew Baggarly explains Bengie Molina‘s contentious relationship with the Giants.
- From Saturday: Carl Pavano‘s side of the story. Can Pavano be a useful pitcher next year?
- Larry Borowsky would like to see the Cardinals enterain an extension for Todd Wellemeyer. He’s eligible for free agency after the ’09 season.
- Joel Sherman isn’t sure the Yankees will invite Andy Pettitte back next year.
- Brad Penny says he pitched through a shoulder injury because of uncertainty around his ’09 option.
- Interesting fact…A.J. Burnett is second in MLB with 3286 pitches thrown (Sabathia jumped into the lead last night). Many of the ’07 leaders in pitches thrown came down with injuries this year.
- Michael O’Keefe sits down with agent Scott Boras.
- ESPN’s Buster Olney notes that the Blue Jays will pursue a shortstop this winter.
- All you ever wanted to know about Dr. James Andrews.
- Jed Hoyer explains where Curt Schilling learned his negotiating tactics.