PieOnMyHands

Yeah, why wouldn't he until he at least fielded offers at the Winter Meetings? Pie!?

Who'd they give up?

But this is all assuming that our payroll stays the same. For all we know, we budged up to an extra $5 million a year. That'd be like signing Burnett for $5-6 million each year. I genuinely believe that extra money was available for the right guy; so please, do not say that the money could've spent elsewhere.. This is all purely hypothetical, of course.

I didn't post until I saw the Scout.com link. I just don't find it coincidental that there's an airport topic followed by a link less than an hour later. Could I be wrong? Yeah. I just feel that he's more than likely a Cardinal, and it would be a hell of a coincidence if this turns out to be false. It's not like the Scout.com article came up, then somebody made the "OMEG I SAW HIM" topic.

OK, that's true. Anyway, here's my thoughts: if it's like 5/$50 or even 5/$55... I'm OK with it. Furcal just got $40 million for 3 years. Is it a risk? Yeah. But it's hardly a crippling contract, and I think he's well worth the risk.

Exactly. Because if you say, "Hey, we're raising payroll," then don't use the money, you look like a pompous ass. He didn't do that. For the right guy, he'd budge a little. That's what happened.

New stadium. We just made millions auctioning off things from the old park. A bunch of extra revenue just came in... In reality, I don't think this really cripples us at all. The contract is backloaded. We'll be trading Marquis... When you factor out the $5 million or so Marquis would cost us, Burnett might only be making like $4-5 million this year. Heck, even less? I really think that, provided the right guy was out there, DeWitt would give us a little extra money to play around with. Jocketty and LaRussa convinced him Burnett was that caliber player. And then, by the time the backloadedness (@_@) of the contract picks up, Edmonds will be off the books, and he'll likely be replaced by a Colby Rasmus, if all goes well. It's going to work out pretty well, I think.

However... this scout.com site used to be the Cardinals Birdhouse, co-owned by Brian Walton and Ray Mileur. One of those two broke the Albert Pujols re-signing. ESPN credited whichever one broke it when they put it on their site... Also: I do see what you're saying. They also guaranteed Renteria would re-sign. The next day, he had a Red Sox had on. Still.. I think that airport topic (which popped up before the link, mind you), almost guarantees it. I could be wrong, though.

Nope. Read the Scout.com link. Jocketty postponed his flight...

Here's what happened, by the way... About an hour or so ago, a topic broke out at Cards Talk. Somebody claimed to have seen AJ Burnett in a St. Louis airport... http://forums.stltoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=317818 Roughly an hour later, that Scout.com story broke.. I'd say it's about as close to official as we can get.

I think they kinda panicked. They had to get a deal done before the Winter Meetings.

Heh...yeah, you mean how Furcal was as good as a Cub? Last year Brian Walton (the one claiming this) also guaranteed that Edgar would re-sign... so take it for what it's worth. Burnett is a Cardinal, though. We knew he'd sign if we'd offered that fifth year...

More... General Manager Walt Jocketty has reportedly delayed his original Sunday departure for the Winter Meetings in Dallas due to the Burnett situation. Our belief, yet to be confirmed, is that Burnett is en route to St. Louis late Sunday night or Monday to complete his physical, the passing of which is a contingency to complete the deal. ...it's from Scout. I'm happy, but uhm.. 5 years guaranteed? *sigh*

(Updates at the bottom of the first post/last post) ...An unconfirmed but reliable source has informed me that free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett has agreed to terms with the St. Louis Cardinals. It is believed to be a five-year guaranteed deal, the approval of which by Chairman and General Partner Bill DeWitt was apparently the final step. General Manager Walt Jocketty has reportedly delayed his original Sunday departure for the Winter Meetings in Dallas due to the Burnett situation. Our belief, yet to be confirmed, is that Burnett is en route to St. Louis late Sunday night or Monday to complete his physical, the passing of which is a contingency to complete the deal. Not good... Five years guaranteed. Whoa boy. Update: 12/5 - Early AM Per Rotoworld: Team sources told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the Cardinals won't guarantee A.J. Burnett a fifth year, something they'd likely need to do in order to sign him. Four years and $40 million isn't going to be enough. Sure Burnett's a gamble, but he should get a five-year, $60 million contract in a market that values Rafael Furcal at $13 million per year and Esteban Loaiza and Paul Byrd at $7 million. Dec. 5 - 3:14 am et Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch DRAMA! By the way, if you're new to the topic, http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/474652.html then that link explains why many thought he was a Cardinal (including myself). Update: 12/5 - 1:18 PM ALSO, a Toronto newspaper had the following to say, in an ar: It still wasn't looking good for the Jays, despite their offer reportedly being longer than and superior to the four-year package of roughly $40 million (all figures U.S.) proposed by the Cards. The word is that Burnett is so gung-ho about playing in St. Louis that all it would take is for the Cards to guarantee a fifth year — or even an easily-vesting option for a fifth. Full Article: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Render&c=Article&cid=1133780165681&call_pageid=968867503640 Update: 12/5 - 4:59 PM Toronto reportedly on the verge of signing Burnett to 5 year deal worth $55 million... I heard that Burnett's agent is giving one last chance to St. Louis to make a counter-offer. Gammons reports deal could be done within the hour.

Here is what I've heard: - Not that this should come as a surprise, but it sounds like a decision might be made soon... because teams are starting to get frustrated with this waiting. They gotta move on. Thoughts: Again, that's not a shocker. St. Louis wanted an answer by Monday... - The Globe and Mail, a Toronto newspaper, had the following to say: Thoughts: Well now it looks like Toronto will have to guarantee a fifth year to get Burnett. It's not they're going to offer him 4/$48 and blow our offer away. - After St. Louis offered 4 years, $40 million with a $10.5 million option for a 5th year ($3.5 million buyout), the Cardinals received a fax back with a counter offer: 5 years, $60 million. Thoughts: From what I heard, the 4-year deal was essentially a take-it-or-leave it offer. I wonder how much they would budge? - AJ's agent claims it's more than just "Showing him the money:" Thoughts: I think that this is probably the only optimistic thing I've read today. Otherwise, it looks like we've made a 180 degree turn on him. Anyway, you've got to remember that AJ grew up in Arkansas as a Cardinal fan. Would he play here for less? Some players have been willing to do that. AJ's wife supposedly doesn't want to live in Toronto. Her preference, I heard, was the Nationals. However, it doesn't look like they're going to dish out a big enough contract to land him. Of course, it oculd just be his agent trying to act human and blow smoke up everyone's butts. (Is the other word banned?) It almost looks like things have degressed for the entire league with Burnett. I'm ready to move on, personally. He can take the $50 million with 5th year option, or he can shove it. You're too big of a risk to pay anything more. Yeah, I really want him... Even though the contract was long, it was at least (in the current market terms) affordable. I hope St. Louis doesn't budge from their offer. It's expected that these are the four "real" contendors left: - Mets - Cardinals - Blue Jays - Tigers I think it was Jason Stark yesterday that said he thinks that the Tigers might be the dark horse in this whole thing. With the way the Mets have been spending, I would've be even remotely surprised to see him land Burnett. I think it's pretty much down to Toronto and St. Louis, though. If the Jays aren't willing to go $12 million per year, you'd figure it would be $11 -- tops. So now you're looking at $40 million from St. Louis vs. $44 from Toronto. I wonder what he would choose if he got the following offers? - St. Louis 4/$40 (5th year option, total contract worth $50.5 million) - Toronto 5/$55 I just thought I'd keep you updated. Personally, I love hearing what the Cubs are doing, so maybe the reverse is true.

The one starting the Baseball Mogul league? Gimme the Cards! the very same. Gimme the Cards on the game!

I'm sure this has been posted, but the one time I saw it mentioned the offer was different... "Furcal stakes get higher Shortstop would earn $39 million in 3-year Dodgers deal" The Dodgers have offered the free-agent shortstop a three-year deal worth $39 million, a person familiar with negotiations told the Journal-Constitution on Friday. Los Angeles' bid came on the heels of a five-year pitch worth nearly $50 million from the Cubs. The Braves' offer is for less that five years and less than $10 million per year, according to a person close to the negotiations. That's not the whole article, though. But just part of it..

The one starting the Baseball Mogul league? Gimme the Cards!

LOL, yes, I saw that too and told him there was no reason to spy. :D Hey! I knew that pic looked familiar. I'm WinnieThePujols over there. Glad to know this is you, too! :D While I'm sure using that tag is a common play on his name, I have to ask...gamefaqs? Yeah... Retro Junk GameFAQs Cheap Ass Gamer Cards Talk A lot of sites, actually. And you would be...?

Guess it really doesn't say they guaranteed a fifth year. I really did think I read that, though.

Quote from the Cards Talk boards:

LOL, yes, I saw that too and told him there was no reason to spy. :D Hey! I knew that pic looked familiar. I'm WinnieThePujols over there. Glad to know this is you, too! :D

Yikes. Now I'm hearing that Toronto may guarantee a 5th year, and offer up to as much as $65 million? You couldn't blame Burnett for accepting that! I don't want to get into any bidding wars, here. Wayyyyyy too big of a risk to begin with, especially if his prices is continually driven up.

Good points! I'd rather see what he does in 2006 before signing him, though. His 2005 was good, not great. If he returns to his early Oakland days... extend that contract, baby.

But it was for two years. That's why he had so much value. Think about it... Mulder will get at least $9 million, even if he took a discount. Burnett - $9 million Carpenter - $7 million Mulder - $9 million Pujols - $14 million Rolen - $12 million Edmonds - $10 million Izzy - $9 million $70 million on 7 players? I don't think so!