Per Ken Rosenthal:
The Red Sox are planning a major push for Blue Jays right-hander A.J. Burnett, according to a rival executive. Burnett, 31, is almost certain to opt out of his contract and become a free agent at the end of the season. Since joining the Jays in 2006, he is 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA in six starts against the Red Sox.
Burnett is 16-10 with a 4.48 ERA in 29 starts and one relief appearance this year comprising 189.1 innings. He has a reputation (deservedly so) for being injury prone, but there’s no denying his talent.
With everyone else fighting over CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, A.J. would be a nice “consolation” prize. It does throw into question, however, what the Red Sox see occurring with Clay Buccholz, Michael Bowden, Justin Masterson, et. al. Thoughts?
3 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Don Spieles 10 months ago
I think the Red Sox are going to trade Buchholz in the near future. He's one of those guys where the perception is he's got talent that needs to be developed (which may very well be true.)
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Andrew Tirrell 10 months ago
Are you saying it makes sense to trade Clay and give his spot to Burnett? It's not as if Burnett is a lock to be an outstanding pitcher. He has hardly ever put it all together for a whole season (by which I mean performing well and staying healthy), apart from his contract year in Florida in 2004 (and the 2002 season, if you want to look at his performance from 6 seasons ago). He's been good at times this year, but a 4.47 overall ERA and 1.40 WHIP are hardly overwhelming. Why pay 8 figures for that when Bucholz seems like he could easily be what Burnett is, and quite possibly could be a legit ace, all for peanuts over the next 5 years? Sure, there's a risk that Clay might not pan out, but it's not like Burnett isn't chock full of risks.
I say give Clay another chance and spend the Burnett money on a more worthwhile venture. And, if you're going to spend that kind of money and abandon a top prospect after one bad season, at least make sure you get a proven star, not a "consolation prize". I actually think that trading Bucholz now amounts to selling low, as big a no-no in the baseball market as it is in the stock market.
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Don Spieles 10 months ago
No, I'm not looking to ditch Buchholz, I like'em. But I think the Sox are going to. It's just a feeling I get.
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