Burnett signs with...

[Soxfan1]

Toronto. No link. i know a guy who knows a guy at the winter meetings. He's like 19/20. You should know I don't give a rats ass if you don't believe me so if you leave feedback like "yea right" it's just spam.

 

5 years 58 million.

[example1]

Thus creating one more thorn in the side of the Sox. Halliday, Burnett, Chacin, Lilly (still in TOR?).. those four are pretty darn good.

 

The Jays are as close to the opposite of Baltimore I can imagine. Jays: Great pitching and very solid defense; no bats. Baltimore: Great bats, equal with some of the best in the league; no pitching whatsoever. They just lost their best pitcher. In both cases I hate it that we have to play the Jays and Birds so much.

[YanksHater213]

Its not official yet. Theres still a chance Burnett would go to StL.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2248966

[yankeessuck013]

its true ESPNnews reported it from Dallas

[YanksHater213]

Haha, riverside got owned. He posted that he was taking it with a grain of salt, then deleted it... hahahaha

[26 to 6]

I had a feeling this would happen. Though I must admit that over the course of the last week or so I was a little doubtful, with all of the Cardinal rumors and whatnot.

[Soxfan1]

I told you. Riverside what did you say?

[Soxfan1]

The source is saying that Sammy Sosa is close to a deal with the mets.

[YanksHater213]

I told you. Riverside what did you say?

Haha, he said he was going to take it with a grain of salt. Then YS posted his little bit, then he deleted it.

[Soxfan1]

Our biggest posters deleting posts? you don't see that everyday.

[yankeessuck013]

The source is saying that Sammy Sosa is close to a deal with the mets.

 

is this the guy who posts on your site?

[Soxfan1]

Yep. i joined his site and he's good.

[Soxfan1]

I caught a bit of Primetime with Bob, Elloit freidman was suggesting that even if TO signed Burnett, they would still possilbly go after Zito. His reasoning was that even with TO's offence they could try and make a run at it with great pitching as he feels Boston and New York will not make anymore significant upgrades and this offseason and that could make toronto the front runner in the East.

 

I would be very worriedif this happened.

[ARod2212]

Toronto would've been really good had Giles signed. Regardless they'll win a few more games this year.

[Cityofchampions33]

Jesus I would be terrified Halladay, Zito, Lilly, Burnett, is a really good big 4. All potential Cy Young winners, and very very very scary combined with their offense.

[riverside sluggers]

foxsports is now announcing its official.

 

Free-spending Blue Jays get Burnett

Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com

Posted: 9 minutes ago

 

DALLAS - Free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett has agreed to a five-year, $55 million contract with the Blue Jays, FOXSports.com has learned. In a related move, Jays GM JP Ricciardi, who signed Burnett and free-agent closer B.J. Ryan to deals worth a combined $102 million, has received a three-year contract extension through 2010. The deal will be announced, with Burnett in attendance, at an afternoon news conference Tuesday at the baseball winter meetings.

 

The Cardinals, the only other team still in contention for Burnett, needed to do something "extraordinary" to land the pitcher, according to a source with knowledge of the talks. But the Cardinals barely budged off their initial four-year, $40 million offer. Burnett's representatives informed the Rangers and Nationals on Monday night that Burnett had narrowed his choices to the Blue Jays and Cardinals. The deal was finalized Tuesday morning.

 

The Jays' signing of Burnett, coupled with their earlier addition of Ryan, would give the team the two most expensive pitchers on the free-agent market to date. Burnett, 28, is 49-50 lifetime with a 3.73 ERA. He lost his last six decisions while pitching in a pennant race for the Marlins last season, and the team sent him home early after he criticized the organization.

 

The Jays' next step likely would be to trade right-hander Miguel Batista, who no longer would be needed as either their closer or as a starting pitcher. They also could move other players — second baseman Orlando Hudson would be one possibility — to clear salary. The Jays are targeting a number of hitters, including Brewers first baseman Lyle Overbay, Rangers outfielder Kevin Mench and Nationals outfielder Brad Wilkerson.

 

The Burnett signing is expected to spark other activity in both the free-agent and trade markets. Agent Scott Boras, for example, has been waiting for the Burnett deal to be completed before aggressively pursuing deals for his free-agent starting pitchers — right-handers Kevin Millwood and Jeff Weaver and left-handers Jarrod Washburn and Kenny Rogers.

[Soxfan1]

I'll keep you guys updated on what the source says.

 

 

JP ricardi met with the A's. Possibly a Zito deal is being disucussed.

[Soxfan1]

i'm hearing that Trevor hoffman is close to signing with the Tribe and that Todd Jones is close to signing with the O's.

[26 to 6]

Heard both of those today too.

 

Its pretty cool that you know a guy who's inside down there!

[Soxfan1]

If anyone wants me to ask the source anything PM me the question and i can try.