A few years ago that statement would have seemed preposterous. Burnett was terrible in his final two seasons with the Yankees, posting a 5.20 ERA in his last 66 appearances with the team despite earning an annual salary of $16.5 million. After 2011, the Yankees were so eager to get rid of him that they dumped him on Pittsburgh and agreed to pay $20 million of the $33 million still on his contract. Much like David Justice in "Moneyball," Burnett was being paid by the Yankees to play for somebody else.
But somewhat unsurprisingly, Burnett enjoyed a career renaissance in Pittsburgh. Not only did he escape the brutal AL East for the more forgiving NL Central; on top of that, his new team offered a far more pitcher-friendly ballpark and one of the smartest shifting defenses in baseball. From 2012 to 2013, Burnett made 61 starts for his new team, threw almost 400 innings, and posted a 3.41 ERA. Last year, he led the league in strikeout rate and helped the Pirates reach the playoffs for the first time in a generation. Though he once carried the "injury-prone" label, he has actually made at least 30 starts in every season since 2008. Burnett's combination of performance and durability has transformed him back into a desirable asset.
Yet what really sets Burnett apart on the free agent market is the contract he'll be willing to sign. As a 37-year-old who flirted with retirement this winter, he's unlikely to command (or even want) a long-term commitment. A one- or two- year deal for Burnett carries virtually no risk, unlike the seven-year deal for Masahiro Tanaka or the four-year deal for Matt Garza. Plus, the Pirates did not extend Burnett a qualifying offer, which means the team that ultimately signs him will not have to give up their first-round draft pick. That makes Burnett a relatively safe investment who will require no long-term sacrifices.
The list of suitors for Burnett should be long. Any team that doesn't have a complete roster yet but still has designs on making the playoffs in 2014 should be calling his agent. That includes franchises like the Orioles, Mariners, Diamondbacks, Phillies, and Pirates. There should be a sense of urgency in this situation, because whoever misses out on Burnett will be stuck with choosing from the leftovers wasting away on the free agent scrap heap. And there's virtually nothing attractive out there; the "best" hitters and pitchers still available outside of Burnett are:
Ervin Santana, who apparently wants a four- or five- year deal even though he is just one season removed from a 5.16 ERA with the Angels ... and whoever signs him will need to give up their first-round draft pick.
Ubaldo Jimenez, who is even less trustworthy than Santana; who is also demanding a long-term contract; and who will also require the surrendering of a first-round pick.
Kendrys Morales, a first-baseman/DH who hasn't posted an OPS over .800 since 2010, and who will also require his team to give up a first-rounder.
Or (best of all) there's always Nelson Cruz, who supposedly wanted $75 million earlier in the offseason even though he's a 33-year-old corner outfielder coming off a drug suspension who can't play defense and owns a three-year cumulative on-base percentage of .319 ... and, yes, will also require a first-round draft pick.
There's only one free agent available right now who can safely provide high-quality value in 2014 without a long-term commitment or a draft pick price tag, and that's A.J. Burnett. He can be a godsend for a team like the Orioles by both bolstering their rotation and keeping them from throwing stupid desperate money at Nelson Cruz. Given the poor quality of the alternatives and the impending arrival of spring training, the bidding war should be fast-paced and intense. A.J. Burnett is the prettiest girl at the dance right now, and considering how dead his career looked a couple of years ago, he's probably enjoying every second of it.
