A.j. Burnett To Boston?

[bigpapi349]

CHICAGO - With Major League Baseball's trading deadline less than 10 days away, the first dominoes began to topple last night with the news that pitcher A.J. Burnett was headed to the Baltimore Orioles.

 

According to sources, the Orioles, Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays are on the verge of consumating a deal that would bring Burnett to Baltimore along with infielder Mike Lowell and minor league outfielder Eric Reed. In return, the Marlins were to receive outfielder Larry Bigbie, starter Hayden Penn and relievers Jorge Julio and Steve Kline.

The final stage of the deal would be for the Orioles to find a home for starter Sidney Ponson in order to clear payroll to take on Lowell's salary.

 

Sources said Baltimore wanted to send Ponson to Florida, who in turn would ship him to the Devil Rays in exchange for one of three relievers - Trever Miller, Travis Harper or Lance Carter.

 

Despite much speculation in Boston about the Red Sox' interest in Burnett, the defending world champs were never really close to a deal for the right-hander, according to sources. While the Marlins, like the Red Sox, were looking for bullpen help, the Sox also were reluctant to part with right-hander Bronson Arroyo. The Sox' 28-year-old righty is not eligible for free agency until after the 2008 season and remains one of the more cost-efficient performers on the club.

 

As for the Orioles, the addition of Burnett will give them a powerful arm to help combat the Red Sox and New York Yankees in the AL East. Baltimore is expected to employ Lowell as a first baseman and DH on a club that already features one of the most explosive lineups in the AL.

 

Sox officials were wary of Burnett, 28, both during the offseason and in recent weeks primarily because he has had a history of injuries over the first six years of his career.

 

BOSTON HERALD

[bigpapi349]

While the Baltimore Orioles were front and center on the A.J. Burnett (6-6, 3.68 ERA) front yesterday, the Sox remain very much alive for the Marlins pitcher, as well as for J.C. Romero, the Twins' lefthanded reliever. The Orioles stepped up their attempts to acquire Burnett by involving a third team in the deal, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. But Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson, who would have wound up with the Devil Rays, reportedly would not waive his limited no-trade clause, which included the Devil Rays. Under the proposed deal, the Orioles would have acquired Burnett and third baseman Mike Lowell for reliever Jorge Julio, rookie pitcher Hayden Penn, outfielder Larry Bigbie, and Ponson. The Marlins would have sent Ponson to Tampa for reliever Trevor Miller, with the Devil Rays responsible for paying just $2 million of Ponson's $11 million deal next season. The Baltimore Sun reported in today's editions that the Orioles are no longer willing to accept Lowell as the part of a Burnett deal, and may be talking to the Padres about a deal that would swap Ponson for first baseman Phil Nevin.

Gordon Edes of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

 

BOSTON GLOBE

 

heres the link to the BALTIMORE SUN

[schillingouttheks]

Phil Nevin...great, even more power to the O's lineup <_>

[bigpapi349]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.trade23jul23,1,909673.story?coll=bal-sports-baseball

 

Orioles slow down pursuit of Burnett

Team wants to keep Penn, is wary of extension issue

By Dan Connolly and Jeff Zrebiec

Sun Staff

Originally published July 23, 2005

 

Several new wrinkles have emerged in the Orioles' two week-long pursuit of Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett, including potentially dealing beleaguered starter Sidney Ponson, but the holdups apparently haven't changed.

 

If anything, one club source said, the Orioles are even more reticent to trade top pitching prospect Hayden Penn, relievers Jorge Julio and Steve Kline and outfielder Larry Bigbie because they don't believe Burnett will sign a contract extension.

 

The source said the team, including owner Peter Angelos, has cooled on the idea of dealing for the 28-year-old Burnett because he is expected to file for free agency at season's end - making him a two-month rental.

 

And there are those within the organization who wonder if Burnett, who has never won more than 12 games in a season, would make the transition to the American League quickly enough to lead the Orioles to a postseason berth.

 

To further hamstring the proposed deal with Florida, the Orioles have all but decided they don't want to acquire Florida third baseman Mike Lowell, even if half of the $21 million owed to him through 2007 is picked up by the Marlins or another team.

 

If Lowell and Penn, a 20-year-old right-hander considered the Orioles' best minor league pitcher, were removed from the deal, the Orioles would be more apt to trade Julio and others for Burnett, the source said.

 

Since the Orioles are not the only team interested in Burnett, though, it's unlikely the Marlins would jump at such an offer.

 

The source refused to pronounce the Florida deal dead, but said it was "highly unlikely" that the trade will happen if it involved Lowell or Penn.

 

The Orioles had hoped to get a 72-hour negotiating window and persuade Burnett to play in Baltimore, near where his wife grew up in Bowie. But the Orioles are resigned that Burnett, only two months away from testing the free-agent waters, wouldn't agree to an extension now.

 

He is believed to be seeking a four-year deal worth at least $8 million a year. Any contract extension with the Orioles would have to represent "free-agent-type money," one industry source said. The Orioles have been reluctant in the past to give such large deals to pitchers.

 

Meanwhile, the Orioles front office continues to look at other ways to fortify the team for a stretch run, and Ponson has become the latest prominent Oriole mentioned in trade talks.

 

One growing possibility, according to several industry sources, would be to trade Ponson to the Texas Rangers for outfielder Richard Hidalgo, who makes $5 million in 2005 but is a free agent at season's end. The Orioles would have to absorb most, if not all, of Ponson's salary to make that happen, one industry source said.

 

The Orioles also have talked to San Diego about trading Ponson for first baseman Phil Nevin, who is owed $11 million next year.

 

Nevin, 34, is hitting .262 with nine homers and 47 RBIs after a season in which he hit 26 home runs and drove in 105 runs. Nevin recently returned to the Padres lineup after missing a month with a strained oblique muscle. He is an attractive option for the Orioles, who are looking for a power-hitting, right-handed bat and a player who would be able to spell 40-year-old Rafael Palmeiro on occasion at first.

 

One industry source said the Orioles would "do it in a heartbeat" if they could get Nevin for Ponson, even if it meant an extra $1 million next year.

 

For the Rangers, Hidalgo, 30, is hitting .216 with 15 homers and 40 RBIs. The right-hander is a career .269 hitter with 170 home runs but has struggled since joining Texas this season.

 

At one point yesterday, there apparently were serious discussions among the Orioles, Marlins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays that would have sent Ponson, Bigbie, Julio, Penn and possibly Kline to Florida for Burnett and Lowell, according to sources. The Marlins then would have traded Ponson to the Devil Rays for left-handed reliever Trever Miller. The Marlins, who would have shed Lowell's contract, reportedly would have paid about eight of Ponson's $10 million salary for 2006.

 

However, Ponson, who is scheduled to start tonight against Tampa Bay, has a limited no-trade clause that prohibits him from being dealt to 10 specified teams without his permission. The perennial-doormat Devil Rays are one of those teams, and it is unlikely that Ponson would give the Orioles approval for the trade.

 

San Diego and Texas are not on Ponson's list, so he could be traded to either place, one industry source confirmed.

 

"Neither Sidney nor I have been approached by the Orioles seeking Sidney's consent to be traded to Tampa or any other team," said Barry Praver, Ponson's agent.

 

The Orioles have grown frustrated with Ponson's struggles on the mound and off, which includes two offseason arrests. He is 7-8 with a 6.04 ERA, the third-worst mark among starters in the majors. Opponents are hitting .329 against him.

[bigpapi349]

palm beach post -

The Orioles are not the only team pursuing Burnett. The Boston Red Sox still are said to be intent on landing the right-hander. But multiple industry sources said they felt a trade with Boston, if it happened, would come closer to July 31.

[schillingouttheks]

AHHHH! Dude we get it lol...

[riverside sluggers]

im just settin on my sights on seein the deal be confirmed on ESPN, these newspaper artlces are going every which way

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

AHHHH! Dude we get it lol...

 

haha yeah thats for the info just check out http://www.prosportsdaily.com

[Tek4pres]

I think that one has to be especially cautious with the "new environment" talk this year. When a power hitter's skills prodigiously drop off this season like Lowell's have, the steroids question comes into play. If his numbers were inflated before due to steroids use, then a new environment won't make much of a difference. It's unfair to make acusations without proof, but when the money involved could prevent you from signing Damon or one of your other free agents in the off season, you at least have to consider it.

[ORS]

The more I think about the Burnett situation, the more concerned I get about what happens if the Red Sox get him. He seems intent on playing the free agent market at the end of the season, and I don't like the idea of giving up future talent plus Arroyo to get a guy we may only have for a couple of months. If Theo can work something out with him and his agent to sign him to an extension, then I think he's definitely worth it. But selling some of our future to improve our chances for this year alone is too pricey in my mind.

[bigpapi349]

Burnett deal 'killed' after Ponson trade

 

The Baltimore Orioles on Saturday have agreed to trade right-handed pitcher Sidney Ponson to San Diego for first baseman Phil Nevin.

 

Buster Olney reports that Nevin has a limited no-trade clause and he hasn't approved the deal yet. The Orioles are on the list of teams he does not want to be traded to.

 

With Ponson moving to the Padres, the Orioles deal to acquire Florida Marlins right-hander A.J. Burnett has been shelved.

 

A three-way deal with the Orioles and Texas Rangers, which would have sent Burnett to Baltimore, was "killed" by the Orioles this weekend, according to a baseball man familiar with the deal, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported. So the Marlins are believed to have broken off talks with Baltimore, at least for now, and are back to focusing on offers by the Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

 

Lowell, who is batting a disappointing .230 with just four homers and 39 RBI, is owed about $21 million through 2007.

 

Ponson was moved to San Diego once he refused a trade to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for left-handed reliever Trever Miller.

 

The Padres have a need for a starter with Adam Eaton likely heading to the bullpen. Troubled with elbow pain, Eaton can't throw his curveball, relegating him as a fastball-changeup reliever.

 

Now the Marlins have to try to find a taker for third baseman Mike Lowell with Burnett, or return to the possibilities with the White Sox and Red Sox.

 

The White Sox figure to head the list of other deals, with prospect Brandon McCarthy heading the package along with Jose Contreras. The Red Sox offer would center on right-handed pitcher Bronson Arroyo.

 

ESPN

[soxie thefangirl]

Sweet. This means we have a much better chance of getting Burnett.

[bigpapi349]

ya. now it looks like its either the redsox or whitesox who get him

[CrespoBlows]

Peter Gammons reported yesterday (WEEI Radio) , that the Red Sox would prefer to trade Wade Miller rather then Bronson Arroyo, and also that the Red Sox wouldn't need a 72 HR window to negotiate with Burnett. Gammons also said that Burnett wants to come to Boston.

[bigpapi349]

id much rather trade wade miller but i dont hink the marlins would except a trade not involving arroyo. they love arroyo because he has a long contract and isnt injury prone.

[CrespoBlows]

If the Red Sox have to give up one of the "Big six" I don't want to see it happen.

[bigpapi349]

maybe arroyo and miller for burnett and lowell??? if schilling is able to start. then trade millar,cora and maybe a prospect for Romero. we could keep mueller and lowell could play 1st

[ORS]

Isn't the White Sox Brandon McCarthy one of the top 10 pitching prospects in the Minor Leagues? If so, the Contreras/McCarthy deal may be sweeter than one Theo would be willing to put together.

[bigpapi349]

true, but i havnt heard much from the white sox agreeing to that trade. i doubt they'd give up some1 like mcarthy

[CrespoBlows]

Isn't the White Sox Brandon McCarthy one of the top 10 pitching prospects in the Minor Leagues? If so, the Contreras/McCarthy deal may be sweeter than one Theo would be willing to put together.

 

Brandon McCarthy will be an good pitcher some day, but he doesn't appear to be quite ready, which will hold that deal back. Contreras is 35 years old which also hurts, and the Marlins can't make up their mind if they want him or don't.

 

I think the Marlins should take the White Sox deal, because they might also offer Brian Anderson a CF prospect for the White Sox, (reminds me of a righthanded Jim Edmonds), and the fact that White Sox ownership has given Kenny Williams (White Sox GM) the green light to go get Burnett.

[bigpapi349]

i think it is dumb giving up 2 good prospects. i also dont no y the marlins would want contreras??

[Sizzlin22]

Peter Gammons reported yesterday (WEEI Radio) , that the Red Sox would prefer to trade Wade Miller rather then Bronson Arroyo, and also that the Red Sox wouldn't need a 72 HR window to negotiate with Burnett. Gammons also said that Burnett wants to come to Boston.

I actually heard about that Theo is so confident that he can sign him that they will waive that 72 hour period. Either that or Theo knows he has no chance of signing him and just wants to get him on the team. I would be fine with trading Arroyo so long as they know they can extend him.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Curt Schilling came out and said he wants to go back to the rotation. Who is our closer going to be now?? and we are still short a strong throwing lefty??

 

No timetable for Keith Foulke?? something must be getting close cause some more holes are about to be open. I think this would be a great time to see Arroyo put into the closer spot to see how he does.

 

...we need a couple more arms...Red Sox are the leading contender for AJ Burnett at this point...the time is starting to run down...something big is going to happen soon

[bigpapi349]

put schilling back into the rotation and letsget JC ROMERO!!

[bigpapi349]

i dont like arroyo as a closer. your closer should be someone who can throw 90+ and as youve seen with foulke who throws tops 87 this is true.

[ksushi]

Arroyo does throw 90 plus. If he only had to throw for one inning he would be throwing 90 consistently.

[bigpapi349]

if he can it might be a good idea. another good thing is he doesnt walk many batters. he cant be our closer if we get aj burnett because hell be in florida

[CrespoBlows]

Curt Schilling came out and said he wants to go back to the rotation. Who is our closer going to be now?? and we are still short a strong throwing lefty??

 

No timetable for Keith Foulke?? something must be getting close cause some more holes are about to be open. I think this would be a great time to see Arroyo put into the closer spot to see how he does.

 

...we need a couple more arms...Red Sox are the leading contender for AJ Burnett at this point...the time is starting to run down...something big is going to happen soon

 

Two Words.

 

Mike Timlin

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Two Words.

 

Mike Timlin

 

so then who will be the right handed hard throwing set up man??

 

See the Sox have something good going here with two situational pitchers in Myers (LHP) and Bradford (RHP). They had two hard throwing relievers in Timlin (RHP) and Embree (LHP). Embree is gone cause he sucks so now we need a replacement. JC Romero would be perfect. Having those four guys (2 situational righty and lefty and 2 hard throwing righty and lefty) gives you the perfect answer for innings 7-8. This team still would need a closer. I'm not saying Timlin can't do it I would just prefer having him as a dominate setup man for the closer. Arroyo, Schilling, and Foulke would be my choice for the closer role.

 

Schilling wants to get back into the rotation and I think Arroyo would be better served as a long relief pitcher. I think he should take on the role until Foulke gets back then move to long relief after. Its possible to get away with these moves but there is cause for concern in Foulke and Arroyo.

 

I would still expect a big move.

[CrespoBlows]

so then who will be the right handed hard throwing set up man??

 

See the Sox have something good going here with two situational pitchers in Myers (LHP) and Bradford (RHP). They had two hard throwing relievers in Timlin (RHP) and Embree (LHP). Embree is gone cause he sucks so now we need a replacement. JC Romero would be perfect. Having those four guys (2 situational righty and lefty and 2 hard throwing righty and lefty) gives you the perfect answer for innings 7-8. This team still would need a closer. I'm not saying Timlin can't do it I would just prefer having him as a dominate setup man for the closer. Arroyo, Schilling, and Foulke would be my choice for the closer role.

 

Schilling wants to get back into the rotation and I think Arroyo would be better served as a long relief pitcher. I think he should take on the role until Foulke gets back then move to long relief after. Its possible to get away with these moves but there is cause for concern in Foulke and Arroyo.

 

I would still expect a big move.

 

9th: Timlin

8th: Arroyo

7th: Bradford and Myers

 

But yes I do expect a trade.