Staff Blog
Does Anyone Want Pat Burrell?
 |
Over at Beerleaguer, Jason Weitzel brought up an interesting point yesterday: no one wants Pat Burrell. Here’s Weitzel:
According to FoxSports Ken Rosenthal, both the Rockies and Mets, considered active shoppers for right-handed pop in left field, want no part of Burrell, who turned 32 last month and ended the 2008 season in a wicked slump. The life-long Phillie has already turned down a 2-year, $22 million offer to stay in Philadelphia, according to an Oct. 31 story in the Daily News. Burrell is seen as an ideal candidate for DH duty, although at least one report says he’d rather play the field.
The article he’s referring to is HERE. From Rosenthal:
The Rockies, after trading left fielder Matt Holliday to the A’s, are content merely to listen to trade offers for third baseman Garrett Atkins and new closer Huston Street. The team also does not plan to pursue free-agent outfielder such as Pat Burrell or Adam Dunn, believing it needs more speed in the vast left field at Coors Field.
[snip]
The Mets are not high on Burrell, and free agent Raul Ibanez, a left-handed hitter, is not an ideal fit. Though Ibanez hit lefties better than righties last season, his career batting average against lefties is 25 points lower.
If the Rockies and Mets aren’t interested in Burrell, who is? The typical big spenders seem to be looking in other directions, Blue Jays have holes in left field and at DH but haven’t even kicked Burrell’s tires yet. I suppose that the Dodgers might be an option if they miss out on Manny, but all things considered it seems to be looking more and more likely that that ‘home town’ discount Bait is always asked about might not be his to give.
