Braves Make Offer to A.J. Burnett

by gondeee on Dec 4, 2008 12:19 PM EST in Free Agents Comment 28 comments

Via DOB at the AJC during the press conference introducing Javier Vazquez:

General Manager Frank Wren confirmed Thursday that an offer had been made but declined to discuss financial terms. Wren did say that, contrary to a published report, there is no guaranteed fifth-year in the proposal. It is believed to be a four-year offer with a fifth-year option at an average annual salary of around $15 million.

Not as aggressive as originally thought, but still a strong play for Burnett.

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That won’t get it done…

by coldriver10 on Dec 4, 2008 12:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

how do u know…. theres no details of the deal at all… only that there are only 4 garuanteed years… maybe the 5th years is a vesting option, or a player option, or a club option with a high buyout…. theres no indication of what this deal entails so how cna u possibly say it wont get it done.

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Dec 4, 2008 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well the way I read it, I assumed it was just a club option. And since his agent already said that he would need more money per year if the deal is only 4 years, then if that was the case I don’t see this deal being signed.

Now you’re right, if it’s a vesting option (as someone said below), then that’s totally different and could potentially get it done.

by coldriver10 on Dec 4, 2008 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

im personally a huge fan of vesting options… i wish they were used more… although i understand from a players perspective they would rather have garuanteed money but vesting options seem to be a middle gorund between a club option and a player option

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Dec 4, 2008 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

4 Years 60Million and a fifth year option?...

I cant remember the last time the Braves been this aggressive in the free agent market. Frank Wren in his second year as GM has been great so far. Trading Rentaria for Jair Jurrens, getting Javy for nothing except maybe Flowers. Now that we have Javy in our rotation(Dont understand why we didnt get Jemaine Dye)the Braves are making a ouch for Burnett.

I think if Frank wants Burnett we have to get him know. If CC decideds to poitch in the West Coast, the Yankees will go after Burnett and over pay him at the same time. Sign Burnett ASAP before the Winter Meetings or pray CC goes to the Bronx.

PS after we finally get our top-of-the-rotation-guy, we go after a righthanded batter and maybe add another free agent pitcher like Garland, Brad Penny,etc… Iam still not sold on Burnett, Javy,Jair,Campillo, ?…still weak, need a soild #3 or #2..

by AlRoBraves95 on Dec 6, 2008 7:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

:stabs you in the dick:

NO JON GARLAND

I probably care about sports way too much. Like, waaaaaaaaay too much.

by bigjoe on Dec 6, 2008 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That puts them in the ballpark. If AJ considered the ATL a serious contender for his services, he can ask for the 5th year to be guaranteed or the contract to be loaded, front end or back end. Either way, I wouldn’t say that the current offer doesn’t get it done. It’s a starting point. Proves Atlanta is serious and puts the onus on AJ.

by NorCalAtlFan on Dec 4, 2008 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Finally

It’s good that we got our offer out there first to show how determined we are to make a deal. Hopefully he doesn’t decide to wait until CC makes a deal before deciding. It would be nice to get him wrapped up and move on to a power hitting outfielder.

by Fischerking on Dec 4, 2008 12:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

According to Mark Bowman, the offer is 4 years with a vesting option for the 5th. He says a Major League source says that the vestiing option is a “very attainable” option.

by heap16 on Dec 4, 2008 1:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

to me that sounds like a perfect deal… esp for an injury risk pitcher… make it a number like 150-175 innings he must attain in teh 4th year and then the 5th year vests…that way we arent stuck with 15M of useless contract

"We win today, that's two in a row... if we win tomorrow, that's called a winning streak. It has happened before..."

by Swo12bv on Dec 4, 2008 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, I thought it sounded like a pretty good deal myself. I think if he stays healthy, IF, then it might actually be somewhat of a bargain. maybe that vesting 5th year would motivate him a little more

by heap16 on Dec 4, 2008 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

not a bad start

If Burnett says guarantee the 5th year and I sign today, what do you do if you are Frank Wren. I get the deal together and have him sign the damn thing today. This gives us the splash in the FA market that we were after and it gives us a nice potential staff in 2010 after Hudson comes back from TJ surgery. We will also look much more appealing to a Bat or be in a much better position to trade for one. We will still have all of our pieces sans Flowers to make a deal for a Bat if we so choose.

by mauck98 on Dec 4, 2008 1:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

totally agree

if he says gaurantee that 5th year and he will sign today, wren should bit the bullet and do it.

by heap16 on Dec 4, 2008 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

*bite

by heap16 on Dec 4, 2008 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

15 million a year with a non-guaranteed 5th? this has to just be a preliminary offer…hopefully the yankees don’t go like 5/90

Following the Braves...one long hard drink at a time.

by bigjoe on Dec 4, 2008 3:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

First offers are usually low ball

Unless you’re the Yankees.

by 10-4 on Dec 4, 2008 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly, I’d rather the Yankees make a big offer and just sign Burnett. That way, we won’t be paying him $18 million in 2013 to sit on his ass and do the crossword.

by drdonkeypunch on Dec 4, 2008 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Yankees

The Yanks are putting all their eggs in the CC Sabathia basket. We need to make the offer of the 5th guaranteed year and sign him before CC makes a decision and we might end up holding the mustard and end up with John Garland.

by mauck98 on Dec 4, 2008 3:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

don’t tease me like that. please.

Following the Braves...one long hard drink at a time.

by bigjoe on Dec 4, 2008 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah!

I literally just peed myself.

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."

by FrankyWren on Dec 4, 2008 3:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

DOB said in his blog today that one of his “sources” said the Yanks are preparing to offer Burnett a contract tomorrow. I doubt it’ll include a guaranteed 5th year, but it very well could beat our current offer, whatever it may be.

by coldriver10 on Dec 4, 2008 3:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Forgive my ignorance

but what exactly is a vesting option?

by antbogey on Dec 4, 2008 3:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

“if you do X, your contract will go into effect”

for instance, i think chipper had a vesting option for this season, which was something like “if you get 475 PA this year, you will be under contract for 13 million next year”

Following the Braves...one long hard drink at a time.

by bigjoe on Dec 4, 2008 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs