AJ Burnett in red?

by The Gottfather on Jul 6, 2007 1:22 PM EDT Comment 17 comments

There have been a few reports out of Toronto that AJ Burnett and JP Riccardi got into a serious argument leading to rumors that Burnett may be on the block. The Cards are believed to be interested as they pursued Burnett prior to his signing with Toronto.

Most of this was brought up on a Canadian sports talk show CasinoRama Grill Room. I was wondering if anyone else heard anything about it and what are the feelings?

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Saw the GMs comments last night

He basically called him out for being fragile. Definitely a shot to Burnett's ego.

Personally, I wouldn't want that kind of risk for who we'd probably give up.

by paCardsFan on Jul 6, 2007 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well

There's a great discussion about this over at baseballthinkfactory. To summarize, burnett was coming off a stretch of 6 starts in which he threw over 100 pitches all six times and over 117 pitches 4 times. Over a period of 3 starts he threw 372 pitches. He was leading the majors in pitcher's abuse points when he hit the DL.

he's always been a fragile pitcher, and treating him this way should have been enough to get John Gibbons fired. You certainly can't exclusively blame him for being hurt. One thing we can be sure of is that TLR would not overuse him in this manner. I question a lot of his decisions, but he generally treats his starters well.

One awesome thing about burnett's contract is that it is below market value, AND he has an opt-out after '08 which he will probably exercise. So if we picked him up, it would be effectively a one year contract for $12M plus whatever he is owed this year, minus what we could get the blue jays to eat (2-3M?)

Don't Panic!!!

by SleepyCA on Jul 6, 2007 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Friction in Toronto

Well Bluebird Banter had some talk of this as well and actually had the link to a story of Riccardi saying he sorta regrets ever signing Burnett.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/article.jsp?content=20070705_121221_5188

Don't imagine that will set well, nor will him saying that AJ needs to learn to pitch through pain.

I love Burnett, but its awful hard to argue with Riccardi. Burnett is just a tease with 20-win potential who is lucky to make 20 starts a season. If the price was really cheap I'd hope STL would make a play and if Burnett can proove he's healthy I'd be alright with moving Reyes for Burnett. Not sure either side does that though.

10-time World Champs!

by TheFranchise9 on Jul 6, 2007 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

reyes for burnett

i would do that for sure. i only thing i would want is for the blue jays to pay some of his salary. but i think burnett is a good pitcher and would be a good fit.

HURRY BACK CARP AND MULDER

by LaRussa4President on Jul 6, 2007 1:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ricciardi

is a blabber mouth...he needs to go to a people skills class, or something.

Future Redbirds

by erik on Jul 6, 2007 1:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

In my negotiations class, they always taught me to devalue whatever it was that I was trying to sell...

by Valatan on Jul 6, 2007 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't

this same thing happen with Hillenbrand last year? Riccardi needs to get himself under control.

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on Jul 6, 2007 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well he is from Worcester, MA

The town in which I reside. And, I can assure you - he is the picture of etiquette and grace when compared to the general population here.

by cardsfaninmass on Jul 6, 2007 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm glad

Jocketty never pulls this kind of bush league stuff. Tony may use the media at times to push his guys (think Wilson during the spring), but it's generally not because he's venting without thinking.

by awpierce on Jul 6, 2007 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well,

he's on the DL till August. I'd love to have him and he'd be great for the stretch run, but can you trade a guy who is on the DL?

Boooo-urns.

by Alxfritz on Jul 6, 2007 1:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Correct

Though I can see Burnett being moved in the offseason so long as he comes back and pitches fine in Aug and Sept. Jocketty would probably put a call in.

by awpierce on Jul 6, 2007 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another guy

who WJ should put a call in about, who is on the DL and thus unable to be traded: M. Tejada.

by awpierce on Jul 6, 2007 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WRONG

Tejada has been nothing but a disappointment. He is a problem in the clubhouse, makes a ton more money than he should, and has completely failed to supply any power. The drastic dropoff in HRs and the clouds of suspicion with the Palmeiro stuff really indicates that his power surge was artificially fueled. Just beyond that, he is on the wrong side of his best years and makes way too much money. This would be like trading for Scott Rolen in his current state: a large contract that he got to be a power hitter, but now he only hits singles. Also, Tejada does not have the Rolen plusses of superior defense and being a great clubhouse guy and team leader.

by Zack Morris on Jul 7, 2007 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's still way, way better than anything else

we are likely to trot out at SS next year.

by Valatan on Jul 7, 2007 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And he's 31 and had a solid year last year

Players have recovered from injury shortened half years before.

by Valatan on Jul 7, 2007 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't it depend on salary?

How much, if any, would Toronto pick up? The Cards won't have a lot of wiggle room in next year's payroll and I've come to the conclusion that, assuming Mulder should come back healthy, $10M would be better spent on a hitter than on a pitcher.

We should have Carp, Mulder, Wainwright, Looper, Maroth, Reyes barring any trades. Plus, Thompson, Wellemeyer, and Franklin in the pen and Hawksworth at AAA who could start if needed. We need some support for Albert in the lineup. If Burnett's cheap in terms of $$$$, I'd consider it but not if it means that we can't get a hitter this offseason.

Plus, we'll need a SS more than another SP.

by chuckb on Jul 6, 2007 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Take a deep breath, kiddies.....

he has been on the disabled list NINE times BEFORE this year. I really don't think the Cards should be paying anyone else not to pitch.....I don't want to see this happen...

by jillsinmo on Jul 6, 2007 2:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs