Burnett worth exploring
DANA POINT, Calif. - Don't get crazy about free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett joining the Red Sox, but he's a name the Boston front office will likely explore for three reasons:.
One, the Yankees are after him. Two, he was a personal favorite of Sox owner John Henry when he owned the Florida Marlins. Three, he's good.
One thing Theo Epstein has stressed, however, is that he won't be throwing around what the Sox perceive as silly money. Burnett has forfeited the two final years of his contract at $24 million. While he had an outstanding year, would the Sox be willing to tack on three years at $50 million or higher? Probably not.
The Sox have said that in a perfect world they would add another veteran starter, but Epstein is careful about breaking the bank on long-term pitcher contracts. He has enough evidence that they're not a good idea.
Burnett lives in the Baltimore area, but the Orioles may not be in position financially to get into the hunt deep enough. The Washington Nationals may, however, given that they need to attract a big name or two to put some much-needed fannies in the seats at their new ballpark.
Burnett is getting plenty of action and there'll no shortage of teams who will put their best offer forward. But the Sox will likely draw the line on a commitment of more than three years.
In Epstein's meetings with agent Scott Boras today, Derek Lowe's name is bound to come up as well. Lowe has made it clear to this reporter that Boston would be his No. 1 choice. The Red Sox might hesitate to give him the money or the contract length he wants. Yet Lowe, who lives in Fort Myers, Fla., might -- and I emphasize might -- be willing to take a little less to return to Boston.
"they need to attract a big name or two to put some much-needed fannies in the seats at their new ballpark."
I think that is SO overrated. I can see the appeal of what looks like a "quick fix", but it's (sustained) winning that puts those posteriors in place.
Just a very small quibble. Good piece. The Sox SHOULD put a serious move on Burnett, for all the reasons you mentioned. As for Lowe, the Sox know better than I whether it's worth the potential aggravation to get him back. He's no Manny, but he IS a pain. And he's looking more like long relief to me at this point than a starter. A Timlin replacement so to speak.
It would be great for Lowe to be back in a Sox uniform. Does he know that Hazel Mae isn't around anymore?
As a response to the other comment, Lowe is a better pitcher now than when he was in a Sox uniform. Long relief? What are you watching? Try a solid #2 or 3.
Mister Snitch,
I agree with all of your points, except for your talent evaluation of Lowe. I'm not saying the Sox should throw wasteful money at him, but I would argue he is a better pitcher now than he was when he left the Sox in 2004, not a long relief pitcher. He is getting older but we have to remember he is a top-caliber athlete with a big build. 36 to a pro athlete is not the same as 36 is to the rest of the world. I'm not saying he's a great fit for the sox--although I wouldn't mind seeing him come back for 3 years or less--but i's not fair to say he's all but done.
Another response to Mister Snitch about Lowe, Lowe's numbers this past year: 211 IP, 3.24 ERA, 147 K, 45 BB; comparable to Lester's numbers with less walks. He's a #2 starter. Putting him in the bullpen would be a waste of a durable, effective arm.
Just FYI, he pitched in the National League last year!! Yes, it means something.
He's a 3-4 pitcher solidly with eye towards the bullpen in the future. Quality strike thrower with a sinker. He seems to have learned to use his slider a little more and get a different look so....that's something as well. Throw in a change up and you've got a solid 3 hole guy. That said....and I know I'll get killed for this....but Tek calls a bad game. Yes he does! Love him to death but I can guess his calls 90% of the time before he makes them...so I'm thinking other teams might be able to decipher his "genious" as well. . This will add runs to the Lowe total.....
Lowe is NOT as good as those numbers. Good in Dodger Stadium, pretty mediocre elsewhere. Got to face lame lineups with weak number 8's and pitchers hitting. You want him to face AL lineups? Not me, unless he is pitching against us. PASS.
//He's a #2 starter.//
In the National League. In the National League WEST.
AL East? Not so much.
blah,
Solid #2 or 3? Lester, Beckett, DiceK. That's your 1-3 even with Lowe on the staff. Remember, he was in the NL. I agree that he is a durable arm but I hate the switch back to the AL.
You just can't consider a guy like Burnett with his propensity to get injured. He isn't worth the money.
Why was "Mr.Snitch" even allowed to post that? That has to be one of the most asinine things I have heard in a long time. Lowe a replacement for Timlin? Come on now! I say try and sign Lowe at 3 years, 36 million. 12 million a year for a guy like this is a bargain in today's baseball economy. He also as has been pointed out never been hurt. He's pitched at least 33 starts a season for 7 years, and before that was a durable relief pitcher. He will be much cheaper than Burnett, knows the system and the team, and wants to be here. Plus his style contrasts what we already have, and he can help mentor Masterson (both with plus sinkers). Oh, lest we forget 2004.......
Burnett would be a waste of money. just another injury prone player who puts up career high stats before opting for free agency. check his other years, not just 2008.
Good points of information made here. Again sorry to be so late posting this but I have been a busy boy. Do not ever join SawxHeads. Join
www.NewEnglandSportsCountry.com
Go SOX
LOL Blah. Good post. AJ would help the Sox greatly IMO. GO SOX
"I would argue he is a better pitcher now than he was when he left the Sox in 2004, not a long relief pitcher."
An interesting and surprising assessment from SDough and blah. They may well be right, I certainly respect the input. I would argue that Lowe's stats are better because he plays in the DH-less National League, and not because he has somehow upped his game. (He is also no longer competing in the fierce AL East, where he once pitched to the likes of A-Rod, Jeter, etc., on a regular basis. That also would account for some improved numbers.) Also, I had heard he'd lost something off his sinker, though I cannot point to where I (believe) I heard that.
Perhaps Lowe will come to the Sox or some other AL team, and we will find out for certain.
blah, let's not forget those numbers are in the National Leauge, aka AAAA. Don't get me wrong, Lowe is solid, but there's NO WAY he's posting those numbers in the AL. Comparing him to Lester is a bet of a stretch as well.
I agree 100% with blah and 5dough. It would be a total waste of money and talent to put Lowe in the bullpen.
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