Is Burnett Still On Anybody's Radar?

[CubsWin]

BA has a new members only article on A.J. Burnett being the top free agent on the market this off season. The Cubs are mentioned as being one of the teams in the running.

Both Chicago teams figure to enter the mix. Cubs personnel man Gary Hughes was part of the Marlins group that originally acquired Burnett from the Mets, who drafted him in the eighth round in 1995 out of Central Arkansas Christian High in North Little Rock, Ark., before the 1998 season. The White Sox nearly traded for Burnett in July, and manager Ozzie Guillen remains a backer from his days as a Marlins coach.

I personally have him down the list of priorities for the Cubs with Giles being at the top. But maybe someone out there can show me the light on why he should be higher. I know Tim had originally pushed for Burnett and B.J. Ryan, if I'm not mistaken. Do you still feel that way, Tim? Anyone?

[CubsWin]

I found this quote from the article particularly interesting...

After a crushing loss to the Braves, Burnett was all too candid about the state of affairs in the Marlins clubhouse claiming that the team played scared and that the entire organization expected things to go wrong creating a culture of negativity that had brought the team down.

Hmm, a culture of negativity that had brought the team down. Maybe the Cubs wouldn't the best place for this guy after all. :wink:

[Outshined_One]

Well if the Cubs get Burnett, at the very least, when the inevitable Kerry Wood injury and Mark Prior freak accident happen, they'll have some one to make pillow forts with in the clubhouse while Burnett nurses blisters/elbow soreness.

[NorthsideAvenger]

BA has a new members only article on A.J. Burnett being the top free agent on the market this off season. The Cubs are mentioned as being one of the teams in the running.

Both Chicago teams figure to enter the mix. Cubs personnel man Gary Hughes was part of the Marlins group that originally acquired Burnett from the Mets, who drafted him in the eighth round in 1995 out of Central Arkansas Christian High in North Little Rock, Ark., before the 1998 season. The White Sox nearly traded for Burnett in July, and manager Ozzie Guillen remains a backer from his days as a Marlins coach.

I personally have him down the list of priorities for the Cubs with Giles being at the top. But maybe someone out there can show me the light on why he should be higher. I know Tim had originally pushed for Burnett and B.J. Ryan, if I'm not mistaken. Do you still feel that way, Tim? Anyone?

 

I don't believe Burnett will recieved even a call from the Cubs. If the Cubs get another starter, I expect it through trade. And believe it or not....it is Furcal (imo), not Giles who tops Hendry/Baker OFF-SEASON wishlist, with Giles (either) being a close second.

[Sabermetrician]

He never has been on my radar...

[Larry Horse]

He never has been on my radar...

 

Seconded

[E.J.]

Thirded. We need an innings eater who doesn't have health issues.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm not opposed to signing Burnett as he is a talented pitcher. On the other hand, we have other needs, mainly the outfield. I'd like to improve in those areas before we add a starter that we don't really need.

[RockTheIvy]

I think Burnett is the "sexy" option for a team. He throws real hard, and has shown flashes of brilliance. But I think there are more intelligent ones, that will provide equal or better performance at a discount, and still be damn good looking in their own right.

[JeffH]

I'd rather sign B.J. Ryan to team with Dempster in the pen, but that's not going to happen, so I have some interest in Burnett.

 

Especially since BGiles to the Cubs probably isn't going to happen.

 

There's enough payroll room for a couple of mid-priced outfielders (Wilkerson and Bradley?), Furcal, and a $9-ish pitcher.

[TB_11]

Two knocks on Burnett:

 

1) He hasn't shown any durability - he's only made it over 200 innings twice in his career.

 

2) His home/road splits show him to get a decent benefit from pitching half the time in Pro Player/Dolphins stadium. It's the reverse of Derrek Lee.

 

I say let some other team pay too much and not get the performance out of him.

[Tim]

BA has a new members only article on A.J. Burnett being the top free agent on the market this off season. The Cubs are mentioned as being one of the teams in the running.

Both Chicago teams figure to enter the mix. Cubs personnel man Gary Hughes was part of the Marlins group that originally acquired Burnett from the Mets, who drafted him in the eighth round in 1995 out of Central Arkansas Christian High in North Little Rock, Ark., before the 1998 season. The White Sox nearly traded for Burnett in July, and manager Ozzie Guillen remains a backer from his days as a Marlins coach.

I personally have him down the list of priorities for the Cubs with Giles being at the top. But maybe someone out there can show me the light on why he should be higher. I know Tim had originally pushed for Burnett and B.J. Ryan, if I'm not mistaken. Do you still feel that way, Tim? Anyone?

I'm still very high on Burnett if he comes at the right price, which he may or may not. I'm a little less high on him than I used to be, thanks to Goony pointing out his limited road success in recent history. But he has simply overwhelming stuff when he's on. I guess my feeling about it is that between he and Wood, one is likely to stay healthy and be the dominant start we want in addition to Z/Prior. I think my offseason priorities right now look like this:

 

1 - Giles

 

-- big gap --

 

2 - SS (I'm actually starting to lean towards Furcal over Nomar after looking more deeply into the defensive difference between the two)

3 - SP (I like Burnett best, but wouldn't overpay to get him at this point. So I probably wouldn't)

4 - RP -- one of the available setup men for the eighth. I think the rest of the pen is pretty well set.

[SCCubbieFAN]

What is the date eligible FA players must declare FAgency?

[JeffH]

Players eligible to declare free agency have a 15-day window to do so, starting today.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

BA has a new members only article on A.J. Burnett being the top free agent on the market this off season. The Cubs are mentioned as being one of the teams in the running.

Both Chicago teams figure to enter the mix. Cubs personnel man Gary Hughes was part of the Marlins group that originally acquired Burnett from the Mets, who drafted him in the eighth round in 1995 out of Central Arkansas Christian High in North Little Rock, Ark., before the 1998 season. The White Sox nearly traded for Burnett in July, and manager Ozzie Guillen remains a backer from his days as a Marlins coach.

I personally have him down the list of priorities for the Cubs with Giles being at the top. But maybe someone out there can show me the light on why he should be higher. I know Tim had originally pushed for Burnett and B.J. Ryan, if I'm not mistaken. Do you still feel that way, Tim? Anyone?

I'm still very high on Burnett if he comes at the right price, which he may or may not. I'm a little less high on him than I used to be, thanks to Goony pointing out his limited road success in recent history. But he has simply overwhelming stuff when he's on. I guess my feeling about it is that between he and Wood, one is likely to stay healthy and be the dominant start we want in addition to Z/Prior. I think my offseason priorities right now look like this:

 

1 - Giles

 

-- big gap --

 

2 - SS (I'm actually starting to lean towards Furcal over Nomar after looking more deeply into the defensive difference between the two)

3 - SP (I like Burnett best, but wouldn't overpay to get him at this point. So I probably wouldn't)

4 - RP -- one of the available setup men for the eighth. I think the rest of the pen is pretty well set.

 

I pretty much agree with you here, Tim. On the other hand, I think CF neeeds to be pretty high on the list. I know we have some internal candidates, but it is something that should be addressed.

[CubfaninCA]

Since the Cubs aren't desperate for pitching like a few of the Northeast teams, he won't be on the radar for long. Boston, NY or Baltimore will overpay him.

[YearofDaCubs]

I would be happy if we grabbed Furcal and Giles, and moved Cedeno to 2B, but I would also be happy with leaving Walker at 2B, Cedeno at SS getting Giles and signing Burnett.

[TB_11]

I pretty much agree with you here, Tim. On the other hand, I think CF neeeds to be pretty high on the list. I know we have some internal candidates, but it is something that should be addressed.

 

Agreed..... if CF isn't high on Hendry's list, my fear is that he believes Pie will be ready next year to play full time.

[CubsWin]

BA has a new members only article on A.J. Burnett being the top free agent on the market this off season. The Cubs are mentioned as being one of the teams in the running.

Both Chicago teams figure to enter the mix. Cubs personnel man Gary Hughes was part of the Marlins group that originally acquired Burnett from the Mets, who drafted him in the eighth round in 1995 out of Central Arkansas Christian High in North Little Rock, Ark., before the 1998 season. The White Sox nearly traded for Burnett in July, and manager Ozzie Guillen remains a backer from his days as a Marlins coach.

I personally have him down the list of priorities for the Cubs with Giles being at the top. But maybe someone out there can show me the light on why he should be higher. I know Tim had originally pushed for Burnett and B.J. Ryan, if I'm not mistaken. Do you still feel that way, Tim? Anyone?

I'm still very high on Burnett if he comes at the right price, which he may or may not. I'm a little less high on him than I used to be, thanks to Goony pointing out his limited road success in recent history. But he has simply overwhelming stuff when he's on. I guess my feeling about it is that between he and Wood, one is likely to stay healthy and be the dominant start we want in addition to Z/Prior. I think my offseason priorities right now look like this:

 

1 - Giles

 

-- big gap --

 

2 - SS (I'm actually starting to lean towards Furcal over Nomar after looking more deeply into the defensive difference between the two)

3 - SP (I like Burnett best, but wouldn't overpay to get him at this point. So I probably wouldn't)

4 - RP -- one of the available setup men for the eighth. I think the rest of the pen is pretty well set.

If Maddux's opts to retire, then I can see putting starting pitching ahead of SS even. I still think he will return, but I did recently talk to Maddux's cousin, and he seemed to think he was going to call it quits. I don't put much stock in that, however. He was pretty drunk at the time. Assuming Mad Dog does return, I think Williams can be really solid as a 4th starter. But it would be great to acquire someone more count-on-able than Rusch or Hill or Wood to be the 5th. That way, if Wood does come back and stay healthy, the Cubs have a really good problem on their hands. I'm just not sold that Burnett would be worth it.

 

I also agree with vance that CF does need to be addressed. Only if Giles is acquired could the Cubs go into the season with Corey still in CF. The other internal CF options like Hairston are okay, but if the team can be improved (like by signing Lofton and platooning him with Hairston) then why not? Thats what the off season is for...supposedly.

[YearofDaCubs]

Maddux won't opt to retire. He personally said he is coming back.