Dec 10 2008
Braves raise ante on Burnett as Yanks land Sabathia
Atlanta now offering Toronto righty five-year, $80-million deal
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — For those of you in the Atlanta area, that’s not thunder you hear rumbling outside your window today.
It’s merely the sound of the biggest domino in the free-agent puzzle finally tumbling.
According to published reports today, the New York Yankees are close to signing big C.C. Sabathia – and I mean big as in big-time talent on the mound, and big as in big-time statue, with his 6-foot-6, 300-someodd pound frame – to a contract that is well, massive.
Seven years, $160 million, according to some sources. Others have the deal at six years, $140 million.
Either way, it’s a huge move for the jovial, lovable lefty who willed Milwaukee to the postseason in 2008. And, with Sabathia apparently heading to the Bronx, the door is open for more dominos to fall.
As far as Braves Nation is concerned, the emphasis shifts even more toward A.J. Burnett, the hard-throwing right-hander who won 18 games for Toronto last season. The Yanks were poised to offer Burnett a four-year, $64 million deal, $4 million more than the Braves had previously offered the 32-year-old.
And this is not to say the Yanks – who have a seemingly endless supply of coin – won’t make a run at Burnett even with Sabathia in the fold. But the conventional wisdom now says the Braves’ biggest threat to landing Burnett is not as much of a player in that space now. And that’s good news for a team that desperately needs an ace to top a rotation that, with the addition of Javier Vazquez in between Jair Jurrjens and Jorge Campillo, and may be bolstered by the old (John Smoltz) and the new (Tommy Hanson), doesn’t look too bad at all.
Burnett’s agent has stated his client likely won’t sign a deal at this week’s Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. It very well may come down to guaranteeing a fifth season in the contract, something the Braves would be hesitant to do but, if push comes to shove, will swallow the lump in their throat and do nonetheless.
And it appeared by lunchtime Vegas time the Braves had done just that, upping the ante on Burnett to $80 million over five years, according to published reports.
The Braves have to get an ace. Sabathia, who the Braves knew they couldn’t afford to pursue, looks pinstripes-bound. Derek Lowe figures to end up either in Boston, where he helped pitched Boston to its first World Series title in 86 seasons back in 2004, or the Bronx.
The feeling here is the Braves will land Burnett. May not happen this week, but especially with the big fella Sabathia now out of the market, things will start happening. And when they do, my gut says the Braves end up with Burnett atop their rotation, especially now that Atlanta has raised the ante at the poker table.
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UPDATE 7:30 p.m.: Top of the evening, good people, and some developments on the Burnett front that are not good for the Braves.
First, multiple big-league sources are reporting the Braves have not, as of yet, guaranteed the fifth year.
Second, and even worse, the Yankees — according to a published report on ESPN.com — have guaranteed Burnett a fifth year, and the total value of the deal may approach $90 million.
Wow … wonder what Plan C is, Frank Wren?
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Couple all that with the fact that the Mets got JJ Putz and this is all very disturbing. Braves need pitching cause the Mets are loading up. Plus they have K-Rod. Phils have Lidge.
Definately can’t give the Cardinals Gonzales like they wanted for Ankiel. Burnett is a must get or its crawling back to the Padres for Peavy.