Sox have 'significant dialogue' with Burnett

5 years would be throwing away a lot of money, too much potential for injury

Thanks, but no thanks. I'd much rather spend that kind of coin on an impact bat...like one whom the Sox faced in the playoffs last year.

I don't want any pitcher that was dumb enough to try to iron pants WHILE WEARING THEM.

He is a risk at that price, but I would rather take a chance on him and reunite him with Beckett than let him go to NY. Burnett does very will in the big games and he would be the #4 pitcher on this team.

Beckett
Dice-K
Lester
Burnett
Wake

The Red Sox should be going after Derek Lowe, not A.J. Burnett. After all, am I the only one who thinks Burnett is another Carl Pavano or Matt Clement waiting to happen?

If Toronto won't give him the $$$ and the years, that's the most telling sign that any Red Sox fan needs to know about his future health and productivity as a starter. Let the Yankees bite, they need a replacement for Carl Pavano!!

3 years with this guy would be too much. That opt out clause the Jays gave him are going to make Toronto look like geniuses

I say sign him..he is a great talent, but if it slows down our pursuit of Texiera...its not worth it

I don't understand the demand for this guy. I know he had a solid season last year and can strike guys out, but is there a more injury prone pitcher in baseball today? Okay, maybe Pedro and Mike Hampton, but after them is this guy. His only two seasons of note were both contract years and he has spent more time on the DL in his career then on the mound. And no one can talk about potential anymore like they did when he was with the Marlins, he is now 32. After C.C. and Peavy via the trade market, I don't think the rest of the pitchers in demand are worth huge deals. Certainly not this bumb or a 35 year old Lowe has been staying just above sea level in the NL West the past few years. To me teams that offer these guys big deals are desperate teams. There are much less risky options, solid options, for teams looking to bulk up the back end of their rotations or add some insurance to their young arms. Guys like Paul Byrd, Brad Penny, and Livan Hernandez could be low risk, low cash options. Then the wild cards out there that I would value above Lowe or Burnett, are Sheets and Pettitte. Obviously they both have risks attached to their names, Pettitte and his age and desire to keep playing or to play for anyone besides the Yankees and Astros, and Sheets with his injuries. Then again Sheets has had a more successful career mixed in with injuries, then Burnett.

I wouldn't do more than 1 year w/this guy. Same feelings as previous commenters: injury risk, spend that $ on Texeira instead. Has anyone else heard of this new Sox "logo" and new alternate uniform being unveiled Thursday night @Game On..?

Burnett has topped 30 starts in a season only 3 times in his career. 2002 when he was about to ge arbitration elligible, 2005 when he was about to hit the free agent market, and last year when he had the opt out clause. HUGE red flag there. The Sox are probably just doing this to drive up the price. NY can have him, and Ben Sheets while they are at it. Apparently they learned nothing from the Pavano signing.

If we can get him for a good deal, I say go for it, but im weary after hearing he only gives it 110% during contract years.

NO WAY!!!!!!!! Take the checkbook away from Theo right now! Don't waste your time with this guy. It's the 2008 version of Carl Pavano.

Any time an agent is this public about a team's interest be wary... the team is being used to drive up interest / $$. My guess is this guy figures Hank and Hal will dig deeper in the pockets if they think the Sox are serious. Which is fine by Theo.

Naw, let AJ go. Lowe may be a little unhinged from time to time, but he's a big gamer and will pitch in any situation he's called on.

m1020us,
I see it more like this if Burnett comes to Boston:
Lester
Burnett
Dice-K
Beckett
Masterson

As far as I'm concerned Beckett needs to prove himself as a #1, because he was far, far from that last season! Masterson would be better in the #5 now that we have Ramon from KC. Between Ramon Rameriz, MDC and Oki. Masterson is better suited as a #5. He deserves a shot for the full season. Did they resign Wake? I love him, but I'd bounce him around where needed. Maybe a filler for all 5 starters to give them all a rest during the season. As so they don't burn out in October. Besides...you know someone 's (if not more than one) will go during the season.

It would be a dangerous 5 though....wouldn't it?

Huge mistake. This guy is the pitching version of JD Drew. He will be hurt most of his time here. Don't do it!!

This could also be a ploy by the Sox to jack up his price for the Yankees. I do not see this guy the way some baseball experts do. Perhaps that is why I am just a fan and not an executive. I think he is too fragile and will not make it through October and that is when the Sox need him. Let's get a big stick and get Lowe back in the rotation. See if we can get Tejada at a reasonable price and ship Lugo out.

Texiera should be primary objective not an additional pitcher.He would solidify the middle of the order ,be a gold glove firstbaseman and would give the Sox many other options for the 2009 season.Burnett would be nice to have , though.

Juggernaut, you are absolutely right! This guy has done NOTHING except in contract years. He is OVERRATED folks!!

Juggernaut, you are absolutely right! This guy has done NOTHING except in contract years. He is OVERRATED folks!!

Can't say I'm excited about Burnett. I'd rather re-sign Byrd and if Clay or Bowden develop he's tradeable. Or another middle reliever and let Masterson start. Prefer to see him in the Nat'l League though.

Kidding right? Nothing, not a single thing that an agent says should be taken as even wistful rumor... he's there to make money for his client and, by virtue of that, himself. If he hints the Sox - the same Sox that have a great reputation for evaluation - are more interested than before, he's trying to up the price and keep teams interested.

I don't think other GMs necessarilky fall for that type of obvious self-fluff, but once he starts the rumor and it's bandied about enough, noone really pays attention from whence it came -- it just becomes, 'The Sox are upping their interest on Burnett'.

It was "Certainly more substantive than our last communication". Great. Not knowing what was said in either communication means they could have asked what his price was before, and now they want to see his medical records -- Theo is already on the record as saying they will kick everyone's tires. Helps the Sox' position with other pitchers if those pitchers think they are not the only pursued hurler by the Sox.

I'm not even going to debate Burnett's viabilty based on HIS agents rumor.

NO NO NO NO!!!! $15 million for a #4 starter? Are you crazy? D-lowe is more dependable, and with the better defensive team behind him, he would flourish. 18-10 is Burnett's best season, .500 pitcher before this season, 32 years old (plus 5 years is 37), and is injury prone. Everything being equal, sign Lowe.

This one reeks of Lugo/Drew/The Sox having an obsession with one guy and not being denied. Henry is rumored to have LOVED Burnett as a person, and he just had his best year on the field.

I have a hard time thinking the Sox go to 5 years 90, but I really wouldnt rule it out given some of the strange contracts they have given out in the past. It would make our pitching staff virtually unbeatable.

FENWAY PARK IS NOT A RETIREMENT VILLAGE.WE DON'T NEED BURNETT
WE DO NEED TEXIERA AND SALTAMACCIO.THAT'S THE STORY IN A NUTSHELL.

His agent called the dialog "significant." His mom also said he's the best in the world.

i hear the sox are inquiring about carl pavano...rather have burnett than pavano

I think Burnett has a huge possibility of being a Clement or Pavano! This guy is not worth it. Picture JD Drew x 3 only as a starting pitcher. I would rather have Masterson in the rotation or even Bowden or Buccholz there. If they need to add a vet for insurance like Penny, Garcia, Hernandez, then fine...do it. Bottom line, Burnett has not had 1 year in his career that merits a 5 year 80mill deal.

Everytime a rumor comes out, you guys do this. I've simply learned to trust Theo. Yes, there is Lugo. But for every Lugo, there is a Bay, Dice-K, etc. Just trust Theo- he certainly knows what he is doing.

thanks but no thanks, save the money and spend it on texiera, give the young arms a chance and if anybody sign D Lowe, i dont trust burnett and honestly couln't care less if the yankees signed him and cc, because burnett is an injury waiting to happen and we've proven that we can kick sabathia arund the yard if we have to