A.J. Burnett News

The A.J. saga is just beginning and
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September 28
Toronto Sun
 
"Baseball's silly season is off to a rousing start. The will-he-or-won't-he saga concerning Jays right-hander A.J. Burnett is officially off and running following a report that the Jays were willing to offer him an additional $30 million US in a two-year contract extension for the seasons 2011 and 2012. Burnett, who is under contract for $24 million for the next two seasons if he stays with the Jays, has the option of opting out of that contract and placing himself on the free agent market in the two weeks following the conclusion of the World Series. Most assume that is what he will do in order to establish his true worth. The Jays, when they finally make him an offer, will attempt to woo ..."
Jays deliver pitch to A.J. Burnett
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September 28
Toronto Star
 
"The Blue Jays are preparing to offer A.J. Burnett a new, improved four-year deal in order to persuade him to remain with the club. The new contract would add two years and $30 million (all figures U.S.) to Burnett's existing contract, which still has two years to run. The proposed package, which has not yet been presented to Burnett's representatives, would total $54 million over four years. Right now, Burnett is in the third year of a five-year, $55 million contract he signed in 2005. He is owed $12 million in each of the next two years. The new contract would bump his salary in 2011-12 to $15 million per year."
Burnett hasn't decided if he'll opt out - yet
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September 28
Toronto Star
 
"Call it a bit of emotional blackmail. A.J. Burnett's teammates haven't made a direct appeal to the free-agent-to-be to stay a Blue Jay. That's just not done. But they've spent recent days reminding him of how good he has it in Toronto. "Rod (Barajas) pointed out all the (fan-made) signs at the last home game. ... (Teammates) just coming up and giving me hugs saying, `We love you.' But they don't want to bother me with it either. They understand," Burnett said yesterday. Burnett's biggest influence on the club, Roy Halladay, sat him down and offered his perspective."
Burnett leaves 'em wanting more
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September 25
Globe and Mail
 
"There were no "Bring Back A.J." signs being held aloft by the loyalists at Rogers Centre Wednesday night. Nor was there a thunderous roar of support when the man of the moment emerged from the left field bullpen after his pre-game tosses and slowly ambled toward the Toronto Blue Jays dugout. For A.J. Burnett, who might very well have pitched his final game in a Blue Jays uniform Wednesday night, it appeared business as usual. Unfortunately for Burnett, his teammates failed to live up to the moment as a watered-down New York Yankees lineup stung the Jays with a 6-2 victory in 10 innings. After Toronto's Scott Rolen's solo home run blast tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh, the Yankees won ..."
Jays might be better off without Burnett
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September 25
Toronto Star
 columnist Richard Griffin
"If last night's game indeed brought down the curtain on A.J. Burnett's Jays career, which by all indications it did, the result of his eight innings versus the Yankees seemed vaguely familiar. The talented right-hander pitched well enough to win, but an error led to a two-run single, losing his 1-0 lead. Deja blew. In a tie game, Jays manager Cito Gaston came to get him before throwing a pitch in the ninth, creating a nice moment, allowing him to acknowledge the crowd and vice-versa, but it was almost like the club was telling him, "Take a final bow, dude, and then don't be afraid to opt out.""
Whither A.J.?
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September 24
Globe and Mail
 
"Negotiations haven't started, but both sides accept it will take a minimum of $15-million (all currency U.S.) a year to keep pitcher A.J. Burnett with the Toronto Blue Jays. "We will make him a competitive offer," Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said last night. "But it's his call. If he leaves here, it's going to be because he wants to." Life with Burnett hasn't always been easy. He's been hurt, at times with injuries that have defied easy medical diagnosis. He's shown up in spring training missing most of the nail on his forefinger of his pitching hand. He's jumped into the middle of mascot races while he was on the disabled list. He's tipped his cap to a booing crowd as he left ..."
Jays don't want Burnett to walk
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September 19
Globe and Mail
 
"The Toronto Blue Jays are willing to top up A.J. Burnett's contract to keep him from walking away after the season, a new development that comes amid concerns that Shaun Marcum is injured worse than initially thought. Marcum, who left Tuesday's start with forearm tightness and numbness in his pinky finger, underwent an MRI Thursday. Dr. James Andrews was to give the results a second opinion. GM J.P. Ricciardi refused to offer any details pending Andrews' assessment, but the grim tone with which both he and manager Cito Gaston spoke didn't bode well for the right-hander. "The way he had to leave the game, the numbness in his fingers and elbow, there's always a fear," Gaston said. "We're ..."
Doc Halladay, A.J. Burnett make pitch for Jays history
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August 25
Toronto Star
 
"Even though A.J. Burnett escaped yesterday's 6-5 loss to the Red Sox with no decision, keeping alive his personal six-game win streak, he was not about to let himself off the hook in terms of where the fault lay for the Jays' devastating defeat. "The bottom line is it's my fault," Burnett mea culpa'd. "I had the lead twice and gave it back twice with balls out over the plate." It's nice to hear responsibility being taken and is an accurate assessment by the Jays' No.2 starter, but one that doesn't really help the bottom line as the Jays desperately need to win each and every series the rest of the way. The Sox took two of three. Nursing a 2-0 lead in the third, A.J. walked the first two ..."
Only time will tell
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August 17
Toronto Sun
 
"Being a wise and logical man, Cito Gaston already is envisioning a pitching staff next season that doesn't include A.J. Burnett. He's thankful, though, that it will include Roy Halladay. Burnett, with two years remaining on the five-year contract he signed before the 2006 season, has the option to void the last two years of his deal with the Jays and become a free agent at the end of this season, leaving $24 million US on the table. With the potential to be one of the premier free-agent pitchers of this coming off-season, there is every reason to believe the 31-year-old could get a four- or five-year deal for as much as $60-80 million. Maybe more, given the spiralling market for live arms. ..."
Burnett's future with the Jays still up in the air
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August 17
Toronto Star
 
"As he looks forward to the 2009 season, Jays manager Cito Gaston seems resigned to playing it without A.J. Burnett. “It certainly looks like A.J. won’t be here,” Gaston said before Saturday’s game as he reflected on next year’s rotation. “I don’t know, but we might have a few guys who can pick that slack up.” Burnett denied that he’s made up his mind one way or the other. “I'm going to wait. I haven't made up my mind. I haven't talked to my family. I haven't talked to anyone about it. I don't want to be distracted with anything right now,” the 31-year-old pitcher said. Burnett can opt out of the final two years of his Toronto contract and file for free agency at the end of the year. ..."
Jay bats bail out Burnett
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August 13
Toronto Star
 
"After pitching five textbook innings and one terrible one, Blue Jays starter A.J. Burnett stalked into the dugout fuming. This morning, a defenceless water cooler bears the marks of Burnett's upset. But his mood lightened perceptibly as he watched his teammates bat in the top of the seventh. "That's three games in a row they've picked me up," Burnett said later. One four-run comeback later and the gloomy Arkansan was smiling again and accepting hugs for earning his fifth win in a row. The Jays' offence apparently weekended here in Michigan, then caught up with the club Monday after their dismal showing against the Indians. After scoring only four runs in three games against Cleveland, ..."
Burnett racks up 13th win for Jays
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August 3
Toronto Star
 
"A.J. Burnett won his career-high 13th game last night when he hung in to beat the one major-league team he had never before solved. He didn't sound all that impressed, though, given his innate ability, given his 31 years of age. "Yeah, 13 wins, a career-high, it's great," said Burnett, who contributed a decent 5 2/3 innings to the Jays' 6-4 win over the Rangers. "But there's more to come. Right now, I'm focused on my next (start)." With a first-pitch reading of 39 degrees C, Burnett had all kinds of help in this one, notably from relievers Scott Downs and, in a big bounce-back, B.J. Ryan. As well, a pair of large back-to-back, two-out, two-run doubles in the sixth by Rod Barajas and Scott ..."
A.J. 'isn't going anywhere'
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July 29
Toronto Sun
 
"According to general manager J.P. Ricciardi, A.J. Burnett "isn't going anywhere." In the short term that means for the rest of this season the right-hander will remain in the Blue Jays' fold. At the end of the season, Burnett has the right to opt out of the final two years of his contract, waive goodbye to the Jays and $24 million US they owe him, and go on the free agency market to receive riches beyond his wildest dreams. That will be his first choice. Burnett, who never has looked better in his 21/2 seasons with the Jays, is in a motivated frame of mind as he is on a pace that can have him end the season with 16 to 17 victories, which would signal a career year. With each mounting ..."
Burnett Off The Market, Beats Rays
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July 29
Toronto Star
 
"After a month of awkward speculation, the Blue Jays called a temporary hiatus on the A.J. Burnett trade saga yesterday. Prior to an impressive 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, general manager J.P. Ricciardi addressed the issue of whether Burnett will still be wearing powder blue following Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline. "He's not going anywhere," Ricciardi said, appearing to bury a distracting issue just as the club begins to find its form. "That makes me take a deep breath. It definitely makes me happy," Burnett said when told of Ricciardi's categorical comment. "For him to make that statement ... now I can really take a look at my next start, instead of wondering what's going ..."
Strong Burnett showing cut short
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July 24
Toronto Star
 
"A.J. Burnett's latest outing was rained out last night in the sixth inning, ending another strong performance that will likely get major league scouts buzzing with less than a week before baseball's July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. The end of the line also came for Jesse Litsch, who was optioned to Syracuse after the game was finally called, just after 10 p.m. Litsch, after a 7-1 start to the season, dropped into a rut where he surrendered more than 70 hits in less than 50 innings. He left with an 8-7 record and will be replaced by lefty David Purcey, the Jays' first-round pick in 2004, who will likely remain in Toronto for the remainder of the year if he pitches well. "We want Jesse to ..."
These big names could be going, going, gone
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July 20
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Between now and the end of the month, there figures to be at least a few big names being shipped around the league. Unlike in years past, trading partners aren’t waiting until the deadline to deal for big names like CC Sabathia or Rich Harden. But it still is fun to wait and see what happens July 31, when teams have to make moves without the players first clearing waivers. So who could be going to a new team between now and then? Here’s an educated (as in a Texas A&M education) guess regarding six big names who could have a new address by Aug. 1."
Get ready for Burnett trade talk
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July 18
Toronto Star
 
"A.J. Burnett will be the first pitcher out of the chute for the Blue Jays in the second half of the season, and if he has his way, he'll survive the trade deadline. "I'm a Blue Jay and I plan on being here for the rest of the season," Burnett said last night as the Jays gathered for a practice at Tropicana Field after the all-star break. Burnett, after a first half which he describes as having "too many losses," enters tonight's start as the most tradeable asset the Jays have in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline."
The good A.J. shows up
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July 14
Globe and Mail
 
"With one out and Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez on base, Burnett abruptly ended any possible Yankees rally, forcing Jason Giambi to fly out, then roaring after he struck out catcher Jorge Posada to end the inning. "I was pretty pumped that we got out of that," said Burnett, 10-8, who was marvellous over 81/3 innings, striking out eight batters and walking one in a 4-1 Jays victory. Burnett was pitching on only three days of rest to aid a depleted pitching rotation that has Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum out with injuries."
Early bird gets W
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July 14
Toronto Sun
 
"Who knew that the secret to A.J. Burnett is that less is more? Pitching on three days rest instead of the usual four, Burnett was a model of efficiency and brilliance yesterday afternoon at the Rogers Centre. While he occasionally has been tagged with the latter accolade, efficient is not a virtue that has come his way often. Yesterday, however, Burnett found himself holding hands with both, producing a sterling effort in pitching the Jays to a 4-1 victory over the Yankees in the rubber match of the three-game series."
Burnett turns boos into cheers
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July 14
Toronto Star
 
"Pitching a scheduled start on three days rest for the first time in his career, the mercurial Burnett finally hit the right notes. He was near perfect for eight innings, shutting out the Yankees and allowing only four hits. More importantly, Burnett's control – a variable commodity – was dialled in. He walked one and averaged only 11 pitches per inning. Burnett's control was "probably the best I've seen all year," catcher Rod Barajas said afterward. Capitalizing on a four-run fourth sparked by Marco Scutaro's three-run home run, the Jays took the final game before the all-star break 4-1."
Burnett Burns Up Posada
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July 14
New York Post
 
"Jorge Posada didn't hide his displeasure when A.J. Burnett struck him out with two runners on to end the sixth inning of the Yankees' 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays yesterday. Posada was clearly annoyed at Burnett's celebratory fist pump. "I don't want to comment on that," Posada said. "He is involved in the game and I am involved in the game and we move on.""
Phillies stay ahead of Mets as Pat Burrell homer beats Diamondbacks
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July 14
New York Daily News
 
"Now in his ninth season, Pat Burrell would like to someday play in an All-Star game. In the meantime, he plans to keep getting big hits for the Philadelphia Phillies. Burrell hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Phillies held their NL East lead heading into the All-Star break, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3 Sunday."
Should Orioles home in on Burnett?
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July 13
Baltimore Sun
 columnist Dan Connolly
"Here's an idea for the 2009 Orioles and beyond.It's one you heard back in 2005 - in both July and November.It's time to float it againA.J. Burnett coming home as a member of the Orioles' rotation. Could it happen? Sure.Will it happen? Most likely not.Should it happen?The jury is def