Burnett, considered the finest starting pitcher available on the free-agent market, signed a five-year contract with the Blue Jays worth $55 million US on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old former Florida Marlin reportedly will earn $7 million US next season and $12 million US annually over the final four years.
"This is going to be a fun five years," Burnett said.
A.J. Burnett dons Blue Jays colours. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Burnett's pact with Toronto is the most lucrative committed to a free-agent hurler since Chan Ho Park received $65 million US over five years from the Texas Rangers in 2001.
"This is the reward for us running a good business," Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi told reporters during Tuesday's media conference at the winter meetings in Dallas.
"Five years ago, we were trying to get rid of contracts. Now, if you look at our club, we have very few diminishing returns."
Signing Burnett is the second off-season coup for the Blue Jays, who inked free-agent closer B.J. Ryan for five years and $47 million US on Nov. 28.
"One thing about the free-agent game is, if you're going to get in it, you cannot get in it halfway," Ricciardi said. "Either you're going to be a player or you're not."
Such big-name additions were made possible because Blue Jays ownership increased Ricciardi's player payroll from $45 million US to $75 million US for 2006.
"We used to just drive by Tiffany's," Ricciardi said. "Now we can stop and we can buy a bracelet every once in a while."
Baltimore and St. Louis also pursued Burnett, who reportedly grew up as a Cardinals fan, and whose wife, Diane, was raised in Maryland.
"I wasn't a Cardinals fan," he said. "My family was."
"This (Toronto) was the place he wanted to play in all along," revealed Darek Braunecker, Burnett's agent.
Burnett was hotly pursued by the Blue Jays, and even attended the Toronto Raptors season opener with pitcher Roy Halladay and Brad Arnsberg, his former pitching coach with the Florida Marlins.
"Him knowing me better than I know myself was a factor," Burnett said of Arnsberg.
Burnett possesses a 98-mile-per-hour fastball and tossed a no-hitter in a 3-0 triumph at San Diego on May 12, 2001.
"He's got one of the best arms in baseball," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "On any given night, he can shut out."
Burnett posted a 12-12 record last season with a 3.44 earned-run average and two shutouts in 32 starts for the Marlins.
The right-hander struck out 198 batters and walked only 79 in 209 innings, but fell into disfavour with management because of criticisms directed at manager Jack McKeon.
"Sometimes there's personality conflicts," Gibbons said. "He was frustrated (and) things were said he probably regrets."
"We think we've done our homework," added Ricciardi.
Burnett is 49-50 lifetime with a 3.73 ERA, 14 complete games and eight shutouts in 134 MLB appearances (131 starts), despite missing most of the 2003 campaign following reconstructive elbow surgery.
Ryan impressed with 36 saves in 69 appearances and 100 strikeouts over 70 1/3 innings with the Baltimore Orioles last season.
The 29-year-old southpaw finished with a 1-4 record, a 2.43 ERA and his first all-star selection in seven MLB seasons.
Ryan is 16-19 overall with a 3.54 ERA and 42 saves in 405 appearances for the Cincinnati Reds and Orioles.
with files from CP Online
