AJ Burnett might not be coming back. I've heard "recovery year for 2.5 million...NO WAY!" "Kris Beason hasn't recover yet, is it worth the gamble?" These quotes are what you might be hearing in the next couple of weeks and months leading up to the winter meetings. I stand by this statement "YOU MUST DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP AJ BURNETT" if it means Lowell or Pudge so be it. An arm like AJ doesn't come around that often. Management thinking is AJ won't be 100% until late May early June at best. The team is trying to find ways to keep the team intact and looking to make cuts.Is it worth the gamble? ABSOLUTELY! I understand he had nothing to do with this team getting and winning the WS but you can't let him walk. I would put AJ as the top priority in this offseason, no question about it!

i agree-we need 2 keep AJ-maybe even more than Pudge.

They better keep AJ.

I agree, AJ is a TOP priority

 

it's worth to invest in him, he is a potential Cy Young, 20 game winner.

 

Good Pitching beats Good hitting, like they always say

As much as I like AJ, it would be a lot smarter to keep Pudge and Lowell. Saying you'd rather have AJ even if it cost Lowell and Pudge is somewhat stupid. He didn't do crap for us this season and Lowell and Pudge have proven their big time players. AJ still has lots to prove especially after an injury. I want him back, but we did win without him so it's not like we're hurting ourselves.

pitching wins u games!we need a pitcher more!

UberUbi I respect your opinion but don't call me stupid or my opinion. First, Both Pudge and Lowell have capable replacement on the team RIGHT NOW. Castro is ready in my opinion, and if Pudge resign and Castro is traded you'll see it from a far. Cabrera do I need to say more. The only thing IMO that is holding the team back is the PR hit it'll take if they trade Lowell or don't resign Pudge. Pitching wins championship ie"BECKETT" AJ if health is equally if not better than Josh. This pitching staff IS what is going to take this team to next level (A Braves run)

I think the pitching staff is strong without AJ. OF course it's stronger with him, but at the expense of Pudge it's just not worth it to keep him.

Castro is ready for what, trial? How can you even compare him to Pudge?

UberUbi I respect your opinion but don't call me stupid or my opinion. First, Both Pudge and Lowell have capable replacement on the team RIGHT NOW. Castro is ready in my opinion, and if Pudge resign and Castro is traded you'll see it from a far. Cabrera do I need to say more. The only thing IMO that is holding the team back is the PR hit it'll take if they trade Lowell or don't resign Pudge. Pitching wins championship ie"BECKETT" AJ if health is equally if not better than Josh. This pitching staff IS what is going to take this team to next level (A Braves run)

 

I wasn't calling you or your opinion stupid. Maybe it was the wrong word. Anyway, castro hasn't proved anything expect that he can hit Pinch hit home runs. He doesn't call a very good game either. We lose everytime he plays.

On one hand, I think keeping AJ is important, but on the other hand, we've seen what the pitching staff can do without him. This is a tough call.

DaPennyFan please read my post carefully "capable replacement" is the key word. Nobody can replace Pudge. He's a future Hall of Famer but Castro is more the capable to be this team catcher. A guy with something like 50AB all season and 5HR/8RBI's pro rate that to 500AB?

I wasn't calling you or your opinion stupid. Maybe it was the wrong word. Anyway, castro hasn't proved anything expect that he can hit Pinch hit home runs. He doesn't call a very good game either. We lose everytime he plays.

Castro is definately ready. Ecanes is right on that. Everyone that has seen him has said nothing but good things.

 

Again, even the all-mighty Ivan Rodriguez said, and I quote,"This kid is going to be an All-Star in this league, and soon."

I don't care if Castro is an all-star soon, Pudge is an all-star NOW and is money! Keep Pudge! Catro can start his career at 29. Let's not forget the guy is in legal trouble too. Who knows where that will end up.

 

Has anyone heard anything about that lately?

It would be silly not to keep AJ at 2.5.

 

What is his contract situation after 2004?

We need AJ. He will only make us better, he came of a good solid season before getting surgery. He is recovering with that throwing program Rothensal has given him. I dont care how much he costs, we need him with our other 4 Young Future pitchers.

if AJ is gone, I, a 20 year old MALE, will cry

 

then comit

 

and possibly hang myself

Why would anyone compare Burnett to Kris Benson, a pitcher who was never good.

if AJ is gone, I, a 20 year old MALE, will cry

 

then comit

 

and possibly hang myself

lol better sell that jersey quick before aj leaves!

AJ Burnett might not be coming back. I've heard "recovery year for 2.5 million...NO WAY!" "Kris Beason hasn't recover yet, is it worth the gamble?" These quotes are what you might be hearing in the next couple of weeks and months leading up to the winter meetings. I stand by this statement "YOU MUST DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP AJ BURNETT" if it means Lowell or Pudge so be it. An arm like AJ doesn't come around that often. Management thinking is AJ won't be 100% until late May early June at best. The team is trying to find ways to keep the team intact and looking to make cuts.Is it worth the gamble? ABSOLUTELY! I understand he had nothing to do with this team getting and winning the WS but you can't let him walk. I would put AJ as the top priority in this offseason, no question about it!

wasnt 2003 his recovery year?? hes not getting a raise. it shouldnt be a problem. late may at his best? thats still the begin of the season!! 2.5 mill for an ace is the biggest bargain in the world. if anything winning the WS w/o AJ was good because he could rest his arm for 2004 and stay cheap for us. we didnt lose a beat and AJ will be fireballing in 2004 for 2.5 mill. late may or june? what if he pull a d willy and does good from then on? he will be worth 2.5 mill no matter what. get rid of redmond and g williams also andy fox and you got 2.5 mill.

wasnt 2003 his recovery year?? hes not getting a raise. it shouldnt be a problem. late may at his best? thats still the begin of the season!! 2.5 mill for an ace is the biggest bargain in the world. if anything winning the WS w/o AJ was good because he could rest his arm for 2004 and stay cheap for us. we didnt lose a beat and AJ will be fireballing in 2004 for 2.5 mill. late may or june? what if he pull a d willy and does good from then on? he will be worth 2.5 mill no matter what. get rid of redmond and g williams also andy fox and you got 2.5 mill.

I doubt AJ will be his fireballing self in 2004. It takes about two years to fully recover from TJ. He'll probably pitch in 2004 but I'd guess he'll be pretty useless. The question is is it worth it to pay him $2.5 million in 2004 to be mediocre so we can pay him $3.5 million in 2005 and $7 million in 2006 (assuming he pitches like the old AJ in 2005).

 

I'd hate to let AJ go but I'd let him walk if it meant keeping Lowell and/or Pudge. At least those two can help us win games in 2004; AJ can't.

 

I'd kinda like to see us sign him to a 2-year deal at maybe $4-5 million total. This way AJ gets a little security and we get the second year of AJ, when he should be good, at a good price. But not if it means losing Lowell or Pudge.

It's the old "a bird in the hand...." cliche. I'm not going to be the least bit surprised if they let AJ go. There is a limit to the financial resources. I am going to be more surprised if Pudge is still around. He is going to command HUGE money, and Castro is the real deal.

 

It's the same kind of thinking that made it hard to see how obvious it was that Cliff Floyd had to go, or Preston WIlson, that makes it hard for people to see that some of these stars aren't going to be here next year. That's the nature of MLB these days. For every team. We're just not used to success and it's the fear of the unknown that makes it so hard to let go.

 

The variables here are the guys we don't know about who are being considered to fill holes when some of these guys go. That's part of the fun of being a fan. Growing with the changes.

 

On the other hand, you never know what kind of creative deal they may come up with for AJ, and whether or not AJ still wants to stick around enough to negotiate long term. Don't forget he was somewhat disgruntled about his situation last season.

... but Castro is more the capable to be this team catcher. A guy with something like 50AB all season and 5HR/8RBI's pro rate that to 500AB?

Nice stats honey.... However, you did not count the non-stats fact that this man is the heart and soul of this team and has an "irreplaceable" ability with the catchers... I do not know how capable Castro is, all I know is that what Pudge did for this team is hard to get...

I think the Marlins should let Pudge go to the Cubs. This way the Cubs can win it all next year. The Marlins need Pudge to win. This guy is the heart of the team. I hope management knows this.

I think the Marlins should let Pudge go to the Cubs. This way the Cubs can win it all next year. The Marlins need Pudge to win. This guy is the heart of the team. I hope management knows this.

I refuse to let the Cubs win anything.