A.J. Burnett: Buy, or beware?
Bugs & Cranks —
In their search for starting pitching, the New York Yankees are apparently ready to make offers to A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.
Buster Olney lays out the Burnett argument today — stating both the case for signing him and the reason teams should be way of giving him a long-term deal.
Here’s the stuff that would get you excited, if you worked in the front office of the Yankees or the Braves or one of the other interested teams:
Burnett ranked third in the majors in strikeout ratio among starting pitchers, at 9.39 per nine innings.
After the All-Star break, Burnett was ...
Tuesday Hotstove
Drunk Jays Fans —
So, JP Ricciardi is bitching about the economy now. "We've got growing concerns about what's happening in the world," he told the Star. "It would be foolish of us to stick our heads in the sand and say, `We're not affected by any of this.' Our payroll hasn't been adjusted, but everyone is aware of what's going on." Now, I do understand that there are legitimate concerns here-- the Canadian dollar is back in the shitter, and I'm sure there is some worry over the ad revenue usually generated by the Jays' relationship with GM-- but... why the fuck does everything Ricciardi says have to sound like he's creating a goddamn built-in excuse ...
Swisher's on first
New York Yankees Fan Blog —
... a highly interested Red Sox club , but if we were the Yanks, we'd be skeptical of their interest. If the Red Sox interest is legitimate, then Burnett certainly isn't worth entering into a bidding war (though those gawdy stats against the Yankees have us worried, just as they have to be enticing to the Sox). Writing for WCBS 880, Phil Allaird makes the same worrisome comparison that we were thinking about: AJ Burnett = Carl Pavano . Buster Olney lays out the pluses and minuses to signing Burnett , while Ed Valentine feels there is no way the Yanks ...
Orioles Eyeing Burnett?
MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com —
Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun talked to Orioles president Andy MacPhail, who said he's had one conversation with A.J. Burnett's agent (Darek Braunecker) since the free agent period opened. It's not known whether the Orioles made an offer.
Burnett may not have anything on the table yet - Ken Rosenthal shot down the ...
Starting Pitcher: Who is Interested in Whom?
MetsBlog.com —
Here is where part of the starting pitcher’s market stands, based on reports from the last few weeks:
Oliver Perez
So far, only the Braves, Mets and Yankees have been linked to Perez.
According to Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com, the Mets are only willing to pay $12 million per season to Perez, ‘who will probably want more.’
Perez is likely a four-year, $50 million contract, based on multiple reports.
A.J. Burnett
The Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, Braves, Phillies and Orioles have all been linked in rumor to Burnett. ...
Starting Pitcher: Braves are Making Moves
MetsBlog.com —
Yesterday, the Braves acquired RHP Javier Vazquez from the White Sox.
Today, the Daily News and Atlanta Journal-Constitution report Atlanta is preparing an offer for free-agent RHP A.J. Burnett, worth roughly $80 million over five years.
Burnett is a career 87–76 with a 3.81 ERA.
The Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, Braves, Phillies and Orioles have all been linked in rumor to Burnett.
In a report for ESPN.com, Buster Olney said it might take a fifth year, guaranteed, to sign Burnett.
