MLB - Sports Rumors

Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:22 am EST

Report: Braves preparing five-year offer for Burnett

By Joe Zedalis

A.J. Burnett

Getty Images

While the New York Yankees sit and wait for CC Sabathia to decide whether it's worth $140 million to pitch in New York, the Atlanta Braves have put themselves in position to take one of the other big names off the free-agent market, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

Just as they were finalizing a trade for Javier Vazquez, the Braves were preparing a five-year offer for A.J. Burnett, according to sources. Burnett, considered the No.2 starter on the market, was expected to wait for Sabathia to make the first move. But with the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays all apparently hesitant to give Burnett a fifth year, the 31-year-old might jump at Atlanta's offer before Sabathia makes his decision.

Vazquez, a former Yankee, will join Atlanta as early as today when the five-player trade between the Braves and White Sox is made official following physicals.

The Yankees have been waiting since Nov. 14 for an answer from Sabathia, who is apparently hoping for an offer to come in from the Angels.

The winter meetings start Monday in Las Vegas, but with the Sabathia situation stalling, Burnett being pursued by the Braves and Derek Lowe being courted by several teams including the Red Sox, the Yankees are hoping they won't be left alone when the pitching carousel stops.

Source: New York Daily NewsNew Window

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56 Comments

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  1. Cesar F
    1. Posted by Cesar F Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    If the Yankees really want they can afford to let the Braves offer 5 year, 75-80 mil then top it with a 5 year 85 million offer if Sebathia doesn't sign with them.... no biggie.
  2. briang
    2. Posted by briang Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    Cesar, the point is that Burnett would accept the 5-year offer from the Braves before Sabbathia turns the Yankees down, and they won't have the ability to trump the Braves offer because it will be already signed.
  3. davfied
    3. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    The Braves are trying. But why did they trade Texeria? This is just a rumor. Sensationalism.
  4. live 4 surf
    4. Posted by live 4 surf Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:56 pm EDT

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    braves shed 57 rmillion per year off their payroll and are down to 45 million, they can afford him. and a few more.
  5. Nathan
    5. Posted by Nathan Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:34 pm EDT

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    Actually Cesar is right....there is a time between when the offer goes up and when the sign the contract. If Atlanta offers Burnett a deal then the yankees have time to counter offer, regardless of the Sabathia negotiations.
  6. DDay
    6. Posted by DDay Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    If the Braves traded away Flowers, then I think the White Sox got the better of that deal. Flowers looks pretty good in the Arizona league and might just get better.
  7. Daniel V
    7. Posted by Daniel V Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:52 pm EDT

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    Burnett is following the $$ and will sign with the Yanks. Another high risk, high reward guy for the Braves could be going after Sheets.
  8. pcboy20000
    8. Posted by pcboy20000 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:04 pm EDT

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    why give up your top prospect for a no. 3 starter? shoulda put him in the peavy deal and then went after lowe. vazquez and burnett arent worth it in my opinion
  9. jeffutlaw
    9. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Dav, this isn't sensationalism, this is the Braves doing what every club should be doing now, looking to improve.
    The same reason they let Tex go, it was the trading deadline, they figured they wouldn't be paying him for his hefty contract, they were out of the race, so they did the sensible thing and traded him for some players.
    Don't sleep on the Braves, there's a reason they went to the postseason for so many years in a row.
  10. Brian D
    10. Posted by Brian D Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    No agent would take a deal with the Braves without running past the Yankees to drive the price up. That is just how baseball economics works.
  11. jd 1
    11. Posted by jd 1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    The Braves traded Tex because they knew they couldn't sign him, just that simple, might as well get some thing out of it. Also they knew that with 3/4 of the starting rotation down, they were not gonna make the playoffs.
  12. jeffutlaw
    12. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Nate, I think the point of that is that the Sabbathia negotiations will still be up in the air when they are deciding what to do about Burnett. This should certainly complicate Yankee plans if one is dependent on the other.
  13. A Yahoo! User
    13. Posted by A Yahoo! User Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    If Flowers is one of the guys the Braves dealt for Vasquez, it's an awful deal for Atlanta. I'm OK with Lindbridge being dealt, but Flowers looks to be the real deal. I agree with an earlier post - if they were to trade Flowers at all, it should have been for Peavy, not Vasquez.
    Wren keeps going on and on, talking about not dealing their top blue-chip prospects for anybody, then he deals Flowers. I understand that McCann is their catcher now, but who's to say Flowers couldn't move to 1B? I don't think Kotchman is the answer, and there isn't anybody in the pipeline to replace him at 1st if he doesn't work out. I guess I don't get it.
    Burnett - get the deal done. If he's healthy, he's a dominant starter.
  14. davfied
    14. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    Hey Jeff & JD,
    It does seem as though they are trying to improve. I know that the Braves management is good and that is why they won all those pennants. They have always had a knack for getting the right players. This should make JD very happy for his " B " team.
  15. texgig19
    15. Posted by texgig19 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    The Braves have built their good teams with solid pitching and I think Burnett would do well in Atlanta, I think thats why they let Tex go as well as Saltalamaccia because their emphasis is on pitching. The pressure cooker in New York is too much for some guys to handle. I think Burnett would be wise to sign with Atlanta if the $$ is right. The Yanks will give Sabathia what he wants.
  16. Josh
    16. Posted by Josh Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    EV
    I feel like partly Flowers was traded because he had stated several times that he didn't want to be anything other than a catcher. The Braves approach Flowers about potentially moving to first, he wasn't interested, and the team didn't push the matter. For one thing I really don't understand why if moving to another position would potentially allow you (as a minor leaguer) to make the big league club, why Flowers wouldn't have jumped at something like that.
  17. Mr C.
    17. Posted by Mr C. Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    JD,
    How are you? Cruxie told me that you're ruining the boards.
    Another rumor from the Daily Muse. Will someone please pull the trigger and sign someone?
  18. Jersey Guy
    18. Posted by Jersey Guy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Cashman sucks.
    Why would the Yankees need to be dependent on the Sabathia deal to sign Burnett? They dropped 100mil off of the payroll and need at least 2 pitchers. IT is ridiculous to think they can't afford both. To say they wouldn't go a fifth year with Burnett b/c they signed sabathia is dumb. They might have to go there anyway since they want Burnett AS WELL AS Sabathia.
  19. jeffutlaw
    19. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Jersey Guy,
    It's a bit more complicated than that.
    There's also the issue of how much to offer Tex, and if Lowe gets an offer, etc.
    They can surely afford CC and AJ, but will that affect other FAs they may need? I think that's the issue with AJ's primary offer sheet here.
  20. A Yahoo! User
    20. Posted by A Yahoo! User Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    Couldn't agree with you more, Josh....I don't get it man.
  21. joarby2
    21. Posted by joarby2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    #14 jeffutlaw, I agree with what you said.
    I think the NYY should move on and take a pass on this id iot CC. 140 Mil and still no answer...you got to be kidding me! He is not worthy to play for the NYY and for the city of NY...period!
  22. davfied
    22. Posted by davfied Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    Hey Joarby,
    What you say is what is looks like. I agree with you if that is it. Clearly he is listening to his agent. I read a few days ago when told of the Yankees offer his response was " I can live with that ". As I have stated before I think that signing Texeria, Burnett & either Lowe & Sheets would be better in the long run than CC and let Texeria go. We can't afford not to sign Tex. We will know something next week I hope.
  23. jeffutlaw
    23. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    joarby, I'll disagree to a point about passing on CC.
    Just offering 140 million shouldn't obligate anyone to have to automatically accept it. Who knows what his concerns are for where he plays? It could be about more than money to him, and I respect that.
  24. billy
    24. Posted by billy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Go braves, lets sign AJ and then some how get Peavy . In getting Peavy we would have to give up Escobar, which would allow us to resign Furcal. Then if you add a big outfield bat via trade the braves would be right back in it.
  25. joarby2
    25. Posted by joarby2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    dav, yeah...purely a strategic move on the behave of his agent. But, it's been nearly a month and the offer is not chump money! The NYY are prepare to make him the highest pay pitcher in the game and to pitch for the NYY! No doubt...the Steinbrenners needs to move on!

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