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Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Braves to make a play for Burnett?

After trading for Javier Vazquez yesterday, it appears the Braves are not finished. A report in the New York Daily News has them preparing a five-year offer for Blue Jays righthander A.J. Burnett. The Phillies have kicked the tires on Burnett this offseason, just as they did around the trading deadline, but it isn't likely he'll land in Philly, and the rumored offer from the Braves is precisely the reason why. Burnett is young enough and talented enough to merit a long term deal such as the one the Braves are rumored to be preparing. I just don't see the Phillies doing something like that.

Derek Lowe might be a more realistic option, because it sounds like he'll take a shorter deal to head back to a World Series-caliber team. But I'd still be surprised if he ends up here.

Posted by David Murphy @ 11:11 AM  Permalink | 17 comments
17
Comments   
Posted 12:53 PM, 12/03/2008
Mark1npt
Can't believe the cash strapped, fiscally responsible Braves would give 5 years to this guy.....he's the kind of high risk pitcher who might throw his last pitch any minute now.....I love what he did last year but it's not likely to be duplicated ever again...2 years would be a stretch. This has to be a crazy rumor started by someone trying to lure the Yankees or Mets into acting quickly....makes no sense.
Posted 12:53 PM, 12/03/2008
Mark1npt
Can't believe the cash strapped, fiscally responsible Braves would give 5 years to this guy.....he's the kind of high risk pitcher who might throw his last pitch any minute now.....I love what he did last year but it's not likely to be duplicated ever again...2 years would be a stretch. This has to be a crazy rumor started by someone trying to lure the Yankees or Mets into acting quickly....makes no sense.
Posted 12:54 PM, 12/03/2008
Mark1npt
Can't believe the cash strapped, fiscally responsible Braves would give 5 years to this guy.....he's the kind of high risk pitcher who might throw his last pitch any minute now.....I love what he did last year but it's not likely to be duplicated ever again...2 years would be a stretch. This has to be a crazy rumor started by someone trying to lure the Yankees or Mets into acting quickly....makes no sense.
Posted 01:00 PM, 12/03/2008
main liner
so for 09, were looking at the same team - burrell + a mediocore replacement (baldelli, etc.)? hopefully amaro can replicate gillicks small, but significant, moves (werth, etc.).......
Posted 01:00 PM, 12/03/2008
main liner
so for 09, were looking at the same team - burrell + a mediocore replacement (baldelli, etc.)? hopefully amaro can replicate gillicks small, but significant, moves (werth, etc.).......
Posted 01:08 PM, 12/03/2008
robm0202
I guess by going after Burnett, the Braves are going for it all. Very risky offering Burnett 5 years, but who knows, if the Phillies don't do anything this offseason (ie. replace Burrell with a mediocre player and have an open competition for their 5th spot in the rotation) then it might be enough for the Braves to win the division. Though I do think that the Braves lineup is rather weak unless they make a couple more moves there.
Posted 01:27 PM, 12/03/2008
randy_w
For as much as we all loved winning the WS. It certainly didn't help the chronic Philly GM mentality that "we're good enough". In fact, it probably solidified it.
Posted 01:56 PM, 12/03/2008
jeff gross
The open competition for the 5th spot is in our best interest. You have 2-4 legitimate contenders for the rotation in Happ, Kendrick, Carpenter and Carlos. Until you let them make a mark in the Big Leagues you don't really know what you have. I've no prolem with this, as all 4 are better then most pitchers we could trade for or sign as FA and a whole lot cheaper thus allowing us to spend on Werth, Victorino, Hammel, Howard etc
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Comment removed.
Posted 02:48 PM, 12/03/2008
OgieOglethorpe
This is Tim Hudson and Mike Hampton all over again...Vazquez is a stiff.
Posted 03:42 PM, 12/03/2008
robm0202
I don't know about you, but a rotation of Hudson, Jurrjens, Burnett, and Vazquez scares me. Burnett seems like he always pitches well against us, although I would not want the Phils to go after him. On the other hand, I would like to see them make a play for Lowe. He would be great in our ballpark because he is a groundball sinkerball pitcher. Imagine a rotation of Hamels, Myers, Lowe, Blanton, Moyer. I could see them not spending on a pitcher though, but if thats the case then I would only be satisfied if we go after a big bat for LF. People seem to forget that we just won a World Series and how much money that infuses into a team, our payroll should definitely increase significantly. I am getting sick and tired of hearing about how we should just spend on our own players, well how the heck does that improve our team?
Posted 03:44 PM, 12/03/2008
robm0202
We also have some great OFs in our system (Brown, Berry, and Taylor), so Victorino and Werth are probably not long term contract options. In a couple years they will get big contracts and we will not be able to afford them, so I have no problem spending now and trading them down the road.
Posted 05:29 PM, 12/03/2008
toccheyhockey
Hudson had Tommy John surgery in August, so he's done until at least next August, so he's not really a factor in Atlanta's rotation. Vasquez always pitched well against the Phils while in Montreal, but he's nothing special anymore. Plus, he has logged a ton of innings over the past ten years. I do like Burnett though, but like everyone is saying, very high risk/high reward (i.e. exactly the type of player our management does not like). They like sure things like Adam Eaton, haha.
Posted 07:58 AM, 12/04/2008
RG
Burnett's an injury prone head case who was terrible during the first half of last year. And Vasquez' heart was questioned by his manager during the CWS run for a postseason berth. Both guys are risky pickups.
Posted 09:36 AM, 12/04/2008
wiseoldowl
The Phils are set in LF, Dobbs & Campbell. Now, look to signing Moyer and get Lowe. Set the dead wood adrift. Look to youth for relief pitching.
Posted 10:10 AM, 12/04/2008
jeff gross
Owl, who is Campbell??
About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times.

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