From the rumor machine himself, Ken Rosenthal:
"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."
At least we're impressing his agent more than any other club. Rosenthal goes on to say that the bar is set by Burnett's agent at five years, and that is a similar length that the Braves would likely have to agree to if they traded for Jake Peavy. At this point it really does seem like silly money, but five years and $80 million for Burnett would be acceptable in my book.
Rosenthal also speaks to our recent waiver claim of a bullpen lefty from Seattle:
For now, the Braves are intrigued by their addition of left-handed reliever Erik O'Flaherty, whom they claimed on waivers from the Mariners last week. O'Flaherty, 23, did not pitch after June because of a back injury, but the Braves consider him a potential sleeper.
Keep in mind that this is just Rosenthal repeating what the Braves people have told him, and of course they're going to put a positive spin on something like this. Still, this is a very Braves-esque kind of move -- not flashy, but a solid building block.
0 recs | 33 comments
I just saw this on Rotoworld and came over to see if you had it up yet. Good work, sir.
80 mil for Burnett would be a good buy. Get. It. Done. Then sign Furcal, but do it like the Mets want to and move him to 2nd, and trade KJ to the Cards. Get. It. Done.
Then call Kevin Towers and ask him how your ass tastes.
TheSportsIdiot - November 25, 2008
Are we signing Shaq now?
TradeAndruw - November 25, 2008
+1 or whatever for getting the reference.
TheSportsIdiot - November 25, 2008
80M over 5 for Burnett = Mike Hampton lite
VictorW - November 25, 2008
Really think that? Why so? Injury risk? Sure, but that is with pretty much any pitcher out there. Who would you rather see them target?
TheSportsIdiot - November 25, 2008
Except Burnett has an extensive injury history and we’ll be paying for his age 32-36 seasons. It’s a terrible move.
17843 - November 25, 2008
Some pitchers develop later in their careers. Schilling had his best years between 32-36. Nevertheless, it’s a gamble.
BravesFan - November 25, 2008
That's the exception not the rule
But the point is that being older increases the injury risk
VictorW - November 26, 2008
Burnett's injury history is MUCH larger than that of the average pitcher.
Blicks - November 25, 2008
Yep
Check out all these DL visits.
VictorW - November 26, 2008
Bad Mechanics
Linky. And injury history. Not a coincidence.
Javier Vazquez would be my choice assuming the price is reasonable. Solid mechanics and has never been on the DL. But because he throws a slider, there’s a chance he could randomly blow out his UCL despite being healthy overall just like Tim Hudson did. But that risk is much, much lower that Burnett’s inevitable DL visits. And if Vazquez pronates his slider (most pitchers don’t), then it shouldn’t be an issue. Here’s Roger Clemens pronating his slider if you’re into that sort of thing.
Yeah, every pitcher has some injury risk, but some pitchers have higher or lower injury risks depending on their mechanics and conditioning. No point in dumping big years and money at the ones with increased injury risks.
VictorW - November 26, 2008
I’d rather see something like 4/$44-48 with a lot of incentive clauses that could potentially equal or surpass the Yankees’ deal, and an option for a 5th year. That way he’d still get a pretty good base salary, but rest, he’d have to earn.
I still hope the whole family thing plays a role in this situation, because having a wife and two sons might be easier to live with in the quiet yuppie suburbia of like Alpharetta or Peachtree City, instead of the busy, fast-paced lifestyle of New York.
royhobbs - November 25, 2008
There are quiet area’s of New York too. Problem is they are hours away from the ball field!
TheSportsIdiot - November 25, 2008
its called “connecticut”
bigjoe - November 29, 2008
+1
VegasAces - December 1, 2008
No long term deal
With pitchers getting hurt all the time, something needs to be done about long term deals. Anything longer than 3 years I would be skeptical.
Or if you can make a 5 year contract but not guarantee everything, then that might be ok. It should be more like the NFL type contracts. Players get hurt, more than likely you are gonna get cut. I like that idea. Baseball needs to shape up, cause as a fan, I’m tired of watching players get injured and rake in millions, or during a contract year the player has a fantastic year get the huge contract and never produce like his contract year ever again. I know it’s not the players fault, but the NFL just has a better system for contracts.
I guess I’m just frustrated this morning.
Sparhawk - November 25, 2008
Gauranteed 5th year
Burnett is looking for the security of a gauranteed fifth year. He’s not taking a low base high incentive deal. He wants gauranteed years and money. That’s the purpose of opting out of his current deal.
JFP - November 25, 2008
A 5 year deal is bad new bears
If we are hell-bent on aquiring a “top of the rotation” guy through FA, then I would prefer to offer Sheets a 2-3 year deal myself. Or even Lowe with a 3-4 year deal (dude is old, but has been very durable).
Sheets on a 2-3 at 30-45mil is a better gamble than Burnett at 5-80mil…
get swoll yunel - November 25, 2008
Sheets is about as injury prone as Mark Prior.
TheSportsIdiot - November 25, 2008
That's a ridiculous comparison
And it’s even more ridiculous considering you’re willing to go for 5/80 on Burnett, who’s thrown 521 innings in the last 3 years, yet you claim Sheets is “as injury prone as Mark Prior” (who last pitched effectively in 2005) when he’s thrown 448 innings in the last 3 years and has been arguably the better pitcher in that time.
get swoll yunel - November 25, 2008
Been able to take a joke lately? Oh wait, Sheets is a joke since Wren already said that they have zero interest in Sheets. Personally, I would not mind Sheets on the Bravos.
You are right though, Sheets might have some injury issues, but not as badly as most think. While he hasn’t broken the 200 inning mark in four years, he did throw 5 CG and 3 SO this year.
Seen this yet?
TheSportsIdiot - November 25, 2008
There's no joking on this site.
Not allowed.
It’s all heated discussion, condescension, and piles and piles of stats.
get swoll yunel - November 25, 2008
Could it also be that jokes are hard to discern when you don’t have intonation to judge along with the text?
cbwilk - November 25, 2008
I know I type a lot more condescending than I really am. My fingers are assholes.
buzzdeadwax - November 26, 2008
“My fingers are assholes”
Must. Resist. Urge. To. Type. Something. Crude.
TheSportsIdiot - November 26, 2008
+1
The next time someone gets po’d at me for something I write, this is my excuse.
VegasAces - December 1, 2008
No to Sheets. And let’s face it, to get a top quality SP on the free agent market means you’re going to have to overpay to make it happen. That’s the nature of the beast.
dwbrave - November 25, 2008
I'd Rather Stand Pat.
We don’t NEED to give Burnett five years. All you’ll be doing is tying up our payroll and clogging up our rotation for when the Next Wave is ready to excel in the minors. What about Burnett’s physical or mental make-up makes you think he’s worth this commitment?
ejruiz - November 25, 2008
I think we've had our disagreements on Burnett
but we both agree that a five year deal for him is insanely stupid.
BraveBronco0121 - November 25, 2008
Burnette
I would love to sign Burnette if it takes 5 years then fine go 5 years but do it the same way the The Blue Jays did when they signed him 3 years ago make it a 5/80 deal but have it where he can opt out after 3 years. It would be a good thing for both parties, Burnette would only be 34 if he opted out and he would be in line to receive another 3-5 year deal at age 34.
mauck98 - November 25, 2008
Nope.
Teams that have offered opt out clauses have been burnt before (Drew, Burnett, etc.) and I doubt we’d be that foolish. Best case scenario he pitches well and stays healthy for three years and walks. Worst case, he doesn’t do either and we’re stuck with him at high cost for two additional years. How is that a good idea?
ejruiz - November 25, 2008
Opt-out clauses suck for the team
Why would a guy opt out of his contract if he sucks? I’ve seen this idea put forth before, and obviously people don’t think it through before they type it. The ideal situation is 3 guaranteed years and 1-2 option years. However, that’s very unlikely to happen, since Burnett has a lot of leverage.
buzzdeadwax - November 25, 2008
It depends
It all depends on what the market dictates at the time if Burnette couldn’t have gotten a better deal today than he had when he signed with the Jays he wouldn’t have opted out. Say in 3 years Burnette is only gonna get a deal that is basically the same but with a longer term say another 3 year deal for the same money it is a good deal for both if he re-signs with the team if not then you got 3 good years and can sign a younger pitcher to replace him. If he stays then you are probably getting what should be 2 of his best years, look at the last deal that Burnette signed the Jays got 2 really good years and 1 where he was hurt, I would say they are still happy that they signed him. So the deal works for both Parties.
mauck98 - November 26, 2008
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