John Lott

 

Sunday, June 15, 2008

TORONTO — The last time A.J. Burnett scorned his home fans, he apologized.

This time, he says he does not care what the fans think.

After his Toronto Blue Jays lost to the Chicago Cubs Sunday, Burnett said he would welcome the chance to switch sides. He stressed that he remains loyal to the Jays, but reiterated what he earlier told a Chicago newspaper: Given the choice, he would prefer to pitch for the Cubs.

“Who would not want to play for the Cubs, bottom line?” he said.

In a post-game media scrum, Burnett took pains to emphasize his commitment to the Jays. If Toronto fans take exception to his comments, so be it, he said.

“I don’t really care if the fans take it,” he said. “If they can’t read the part that I said where I’m at right now in my mind, then whatever. I’m a Blue Jay now. I’m a Blue Jay until they tell me otherwise. I’m proud of that.”

On June 7, Burnett apologized after he sarcastically tipped his cap to booing home fans on his way off the field in the fifth inning. He had allowed eight runs to the Orioles. After the game, he acknowledged his mocking display was “was something I should never have done.”

An interview published Sunday put Burnett back in the spotlight. A Chicago Sun-Times reporter asked him how he felt about the possibility of a trade to the Cubs, who seek to strengthen their rotation.

“If something were to happen and I’d have the opportunity to go to a place where baseball is breakfast, lunch and dinner, that would be awesome,” Burnett told the Sun-Times.

”Right now my focus is with this club, but if something like that were to happen, I’d accept it with open arms.”

Toronto’s appetite for baseball does not measure up to the Windy City’s, he said Sunday.

“Nothing against Toronto,” he said. “That’s just how it is in Chicago.”

Burnett, who is 6-6 with a 4.90 ERA, signed a five-year, US$55-million deal with Toronto before the 2006 season. His contract allows him to opt out and become a free agent after this season.

If Burnett left on his own, the Jays would likely get two draft picks in compensation. But in a bid for a better return, they will likely test the trade market before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Contending teams might well covet Burnett as a rental pitcher in a pennant race. The question for Toronto is how much a trade partner would be willing to give up.

General manager J.P. Ricciardi refused comment Sunday on Burnett’s remarks. So did manager John Gibbons.

Teammate Vernon Wells said Burnett “seemed shocked” at the Sun-Times story when the two discussed it before Sunday’s game. Wells did not say who initiated the discussion, but was ready with his own answers when reporters approached him.

“[Burnett] knows the situation,” Wells said. “He knows he can opt out at the end of the year, obviously. He’s a grown man. He can say what he wants to say. All we care about is if he’s still loyal to this team, which I know he is.”

Wells added, “There’s been a lot worse things said by teammates I’ve been with than that.” He might have been thinking of Shea Hillenbrand’s infamous “This ship is sinking” remark in 2006, which earned Hillenbrand a confrontation with manager John Gibbons and a quick release.

Wells said he does not consider Burnett’s comments distracting or divisive.

“He said he wouldn’t mind playing for a first-place team. Obviously, Chicago’s a great city. He knows what his job is. His job is to pitch for us, and he answered a question truthfully, I guess. He’s going to have to answer questions about it.”

When the questions came yesterday, Burnett said: “My focus and my intent right now is I’m a Toronto Blue Jay and my focus is toward this team and helping this team win.”

And despite punctuating his reply with a peculiar mathematical reference, Burnett suggested he might still be a Blue Jay in 2009.

“Everybody’s talking about me opting out but nobody’s talking about me staying. There’s a hundred percent chance of that just as well,” he said.

That percentage may have just taken a dip.

© National Post 2008