AJ Burnett

Ah Allan James Burnett. What a complicated pitcher. Where do I begin? The ex-Florida Marlin pitcher has battled arm injuries his entire career. In fact, thats the primary reason he hasn't been mentioned as one of the most dominating pitchers of our era. Ladies and Gentlemen, he has the stuff. Lets break down his numbers from last year, only the third season in which he has posted 200+ innings. His main statistical stats:

221 1/3 IP- 211 hits- 86 BB-231 K- 4.07 ERA- 1.34 WHIP-1 CG- 0 SO

Very nice statistics. AJ could opt out of his remaining contract with 2 years and 24 million dollars left on the table. Would he be a great fit for the Red Sox? Yes. This acquisition might be the biggest and most realistic option the Red Sox could make in the 2009 offseason. Not only would it give the Red Sox a formidable rotation, but it would represent an addition by subtraction factor. With the Toronto Blue Jays in the same division as the Sox, it would remove a key pleayer from the foe.

FOX Sports has already reported that the Red Sox are going to make a strong push towards signing the 31 year old righthander if he does indeed optout of his contract.

With Burnett, the Red Sox have a dominating rotation and would be the clear strength of the team:

1. Josh Beckett
2. AJ Burnett
3. Jon Lester
4. Daisuke Matsuzaka
5. Clay Buchholz/ Tim Wakefield

With AJ possibly joining the staff, the Red Sox would enable themselves to keep sinkerballer Justin Masterson in the Boston Bullpen.

If there is one free agent that the Red Sox will go hard after, it is AJ Burnett.

Next Up: Mr. Carsten Charles Sabathia