The Tampa Bay Rays took a hit to their vaunted rotation recently, as young starter Jeremy Hellickson has fallen victim to arthroscopic surgery on his pitching elbow, which will keep him out for at least the first six to eight weeks of the season.
Last season Hellickson was pedestrian, going 12-10 with a brutal 5.17 ERA and career-high 1.35 WHIP. Still, in the two seasons prior Hellickson was a highly productive pitcher, and his in-house replacements are rather green.
If the Rays decide youngsters like Jake Odorizzi and Alex Colome and Enny Romero aren't ready, rumor has it they are eyeballing free agent veteran A.J. Burnett. As the weeks have progressed, Burnett has become a bigger priority because he is less expensive than Ervin Santana or Ubaldo Jimenez, and also doesn't cost a draft pick.
The Pirates have expressed interest in having Burnett return, should he decide to keep pitching. Although it appears clear he wants to pitch in 2014 there's been little movement on the Bucs front. Burnett's name has come up more when the Baltimore Orioles are in question--ESPN's Peter Gammons tweeted the O's are "all in" for Burnett's services.
While Baltimore has a clearer need for Burnett, who would probably slot in as Tampa Bay's fifth starter, he would face less pressure with the Rays. Both sides should consider Burnett's recent track record in the American League East as well. Six of his 15 seasons were spent with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees; with the Yanks in particular he was quite bad.
In the Bronx he went 34-35 over three seasons, with a 4.79 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He pitched better in Toronto, but his National League numbers for the Marlins and Pirates have been far superior.
Whichever team loses out on Burnett may turn to Bronson Arroyo, an innings-eater who has been holding up deals because he reportedly wants a three-year commitment. Right now the top suitor for Arroyo is the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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