Talking Baseball

On the most important election day in the history of the United States, two very important pitchers in baseball made key decisions regarding their careers today.

Toronto Blue Jays righty A.J. Burnett decided to opt out of the final two years of his contract and become a free agent while rumors began to swirl that one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball and a sure fire Hall of Famer, Greg Maddux, will retire from baseball.

Burnett:

Burnett had two years, player options, remaining on his contract with the Blue Jays but has decided to forgo those years and test the free agent market.

Burnett joins other marquee starters C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Curt Schilling among those available to sign with the team of their choosing.

Burnett’s contract was worth $24 million and no one has ruled out Burnett signing a new longterm deal with the Jays. He signed a five year contract before the 2006 season with the Jays worth $55 million.

Burnett has seen interest from the Yankees, the Red Sox and the Orioles along with the Jays. He posted a career high in wins in 2008 with 18 and posted an American League best 231 strikeouts.

Maddux:

The other hot news of the day belongs to Greg Maddux. The veteran of 23 Major League seasons is about to call it quits. Maddux’s agent, Scott Boras, told media on Tuesday that Maddux’s decision about his career is pretty definitive.

If this news holds true, Maddux will retire with 355 career wins, 109 complete games and 35 shutouts. He lost 227 games and has a career ERA of 3.16. Maddux was 11-14 in 35 postseason starts.

Maddux was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs, whom he made his Major League debut with, and has pitched for the Cubs (twice), the Braves, the Padres and the Dodgers (twice).

Maddux has posted 20 win seasons twice in his career. He did it with the Cubs in 1992 and the Braves in 1993. He has posted 19 win seasons five times and 18 win seasons two times. Of his 23 years in the bigs, Maddux posted double digits in wins 20 times.

The last time he broke double digits in wins was in 2007 with the Padres when he went 14-11.

Other Contract News:

Other contract news from around baseball on Tuesday has to do with the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman announced that the team had declined its options on first baseman Jason Giambi and pitcher Carl Pavano for the 2009 season, making both players free agents.

Giambi’s option for 2009 was for $22 million and the team bought it out for $5 million while Pavano’s option was worth $13 million and the team bought it out for $1.95 million.

The other news story of the day has more to do with a possible trade than anything else. The Padres have officially told their trading counterparts throughout the league that shortstop Khalil Greene is on the trading block along with starting pitcher Jake Peavy.

Greene might be thrown into a deal that involves Peavy but this proves to Padres fans that GM Kevin Towers is in the midst of rebuilding the franchise.

Greene is guaranteed over $6 million in 2009 and the Padres are looking to trade him before he becomes a free agent after the 2009 season is over.

Teams interested include the Tigers, the Orioles, the Reds and the Red Sox. Greene hit only .213 in 2008 with 10 homeruns and 35 RBIs. He struck out 100 times and walked only 22 times.

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