Toronto, ON (My Sportsbook) - The Toronto Blue Jays offered salary arbitration to star right-handed hurler A.J. Burnett on Monday. Burnett finished second to ace Roy Halladay in wins for Toronto a season ago, going 18-10 with a 4.07 earned-run average and an American League best 231 strikeouts in 221 1/3 innings over 34 starts. Since the 31-year-old is a Type-A free agent, the Jays would get two compensatory picks should Burnett sign with another team. A 10-year veteran who has logged the last three seasons north of the border, Burnett is reportedly being pursued by a number of clubs, the Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Braves and Phillies among them. In related news, Toronto declined arbitration on catcher Gregg Zaun and outfielder Brad Wilkerson. Zaun hit .237 with six homers and 30 RBI in 86 games last year. Wilkerson hit .216 in 85 contests with four home runs and 23 RBI after coming over from Seattle. |
