The Phillies Have Signed A.J. Burnett

Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The first move worth applauding of the offseason… on the day the season unofficially begins.

First reported by Hayden Balgavy, a TV producer in Arkansas, and now by Ken Rosenthal and Todd Zolecki, the Phillies have signed A.J. Burnett to a one-year deal. The guy from Arkansas says the deal is worth $16 million. I like it. And here’s why [as written a few weeks ago]:

Signing Burnett, who has been very good in his last two seasons with the Pirates (3.51 and 3.30 ERAs, 389 total strikeouts), to a one-year deal would make sense, provided the Phils could stay under the $189 million luxury tax threshold (they’re at around $173 million now). They’re not shaping up to be very good, so, as I wrote the other day, why not stockpile aging vets to keep the team at least somewhat competitive?

More opinions here.

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I still hate Burnett from the 2009 World Series.