Brave join in the hunt

Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.

Braves join Burnett pursuit
Add the Braves to the list of teams showing interest in free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett.

In a perfect world, the Braves would add two top-of-the-rotation starters, then slot righty Jair Jurrjens as their No. 3.

"They've shown no reservations acknowledging that they need that guy going forward, especially if (John) Smoltz and (Tom) Glavine aren't back," Burnett's agent, Darek Braunecker, said Monday.

"They see the significance long-term of having a guy who can be at the top of the rotation and have the desire and capability of leading a staff. They've communicated that to me better than any club."

Of course, "communicating" and "signing" are two different things, particularly with the Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Orioles expressing varying degrees of interest in Burnett.

To get Burnett, a team almost certainly will need to sign him for five years. The Braves haven't awarded a five-year deal to a pitcher since signing Greg Maddux to an extension of that length in August 1997.

Then again, Padres right-hander Jake Peavy likely would require a minimum five-year investment if the Braves ever acquired him in a trade. Peavy, who is owed $59 million over the next four years, almost certainly would want his $22 million club option for 2013 guaranteed and possibly an extension to waive his no-trade clause.

Burnett, 31, is four years older than Peavy, but could end up in the same five-year, $80 million range. Some teams will balk at that length of contract, knowing that Burnett has exceeded 166 innings only twice in the past six seasons. Giving Burnett five years would be out of character for the Braves, and the Red Sox, too.

For now, the Braves are intrigued by their addition of left-handed reliever Erik O'Flaherty, whom they claimed on waivers from the Mariners last week. O'Flaherty, 23, did not pitch after June because of a back injury, but the Braves consider him a potential sleeper.

The team's bullpen, in fact, could emerge as a strength — the Braves will either re-sign or replace Will Ohman as their main situational left-hander, and lefty Mike Gonzalez and righties Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan could form an imposing late-inning trio.

Moylan, recovering from Tommy John surgery, should be ready early in the season, if not Opening Day.

Hell's bells, Hollywood style?
Imagine "Hell's Bells" blaring at Dodger Stadium to herald the entrance of Trevor Hoffman in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Trevor Hoffman wouldn't be a bad fit for the Dodgers. (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)

The idea of the Dodgers signing Hoffman makes a lot of sense.

The Dodgers have so many holes, they might be unable to spend heavily if they replace closer Takashi Saito, who will be 39 next season and coming off an elbow injury.

Hoffman, 41, could serve as a one-year mentor for setup man Jonathan Broxton, who is still only 24. Staying in the NL West almost certainly would appeal to Hoffman. So would the chance to stick it his former team, the Padres.


The Red Sox's potential logjam
The Red Sox seem to believe that they will find a taker for third baseman Mike Lowell if they sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira.

Lowell could be a candidate for Frank McCourt's Los Angeles Red Sox if the Dodgers failed to re-sign free agent Casey Blake.

Other rival executives, however, are skeptical that the Red Sox could move Lowell quickly.

Lowell, who turns 35 on Feb. 24, is coming off hip surgery and guaranteed $24 million over the next two seasons.

The Red Sox are confident he will be fine, but one general manager countered, "I don't think anybody will take a chance on Mike Lowell until you see him play next spring."

The blueprint for a Lowell trade might be last winter's Scott-Rolen-for-Troy Glaus deal, in which the Cardinals and Jays exchanged high-priced, physically questionable third basemen.

Finding a match for Lowell might be more difficult. To further complicate matters, the Red Sox also are trying to work a salary exchange with shortstop Julio Lugo, who is less productive than Lowell and owed $18 million over the next two seasons.

As for trading designated hitter David Ortiz, good luck. Ortiz, as a player with 10 years of major-league service, five with the same team, has the right to veto any deal. Plus, as a designated hitter, his market would consist only of American League teams.