Braves Join List of Suitors for Righty Burnett

Add the Braves to the list of teams showing interest in free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett.   In a perfect world, the Braves would add two top-of-the-rotation starters, then slot righty Jair Jurrjens as their No. 3. "They've shown no reservations acknowledging that they need that guy going forward, especially if (John) Smoltz and (Tom) Glavine aren't back," Burnett's agent, Darek Braunecker, said Monday. "They see the significance long-term of having a guy who can be at the top of the rotation and have the desire and capability of leading a staff. They've communicated that to me better than any club." Of course, "communicating" and "signing" are two different things, particularly with the Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Orioles expressing varying degrees of interest in Burnett. To get Burnett, a team almost certainly will need to sign him for five years. The Braves haven't awarded a five-year deal to a pitcher since signing Greg Maddux to an extension of that length in August 1997. ... (link)