A.J. Burnett was a huge part of the Pittsburgh Pirates' success in 2013 and rumors have it that the organization want to keep the right-handed veteran away for retirement. Will the Pirates truly pick up the check on Burnett? Here are the pros and cons.
It was a positive season for the Pirates. So let us replicate the 2013 campaign. Bring out the good and then sour things out as the Pirates were eventually eliminated from the 2013 Postseason.
Bring Back Burnett Because... he is a veteran arm and prior to the 2013 season, one of the few with playoff experience on the team. Burnett has a World Series ring, which goes a long with, especially in such a young team like the Pirates. He won a championship in 2009, so he understands the pressure.
His numbers were not terrible. He went 10-11 with a 3.30 ERA. However, if a pitcher has a 3.30 ERA, it is decent enough to at least get him 13-15 wins. Burnett also proved he can strike hitters out, racking up 209 K's in 2013. His veteran experience proved clutch at the end of September when he allowed only five earned runs in 21.2 innings pitched in three starts. Also, in July, Burnett was unhittable, though he only had an 0-1 record to show for his 30.1 innings pitched. He only allowed seven earned runs in the span, but the Pirates could not get him the victory.
Burn it... the bridges built and the contract extension because he did not pitch well in the playoffs. In his lone start in the 2013 postseason, Burnett could not retire the St. Louis Cardinals. He did not make it to the third inning, which ultimately applied pressure on the Pirates and their bullpen.
Burnett wound up pitching two innings, allowing seven earned runs on six hits and four walks, while recording no strikeouts. Burnett had great starts in the past. In 2011, he pitched 5.2 innings of one-run baseball against the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS. Prior to that, he had pitched seven innings of one-run baseball against the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series.
The bad side to Burnett is that when he is terrible, he is terrible. In four of his eight starts he has allowed five or more earned runs, while allowing no more than two earned runs in the other four starts. He is a roulette and right now the Pirates need a veteran pitcher they can count on.
How Much? Burnett's qualifying offer would be worth around $14 million for one year.
