Contrary to earlier reports that Jeromy Burnitz was about to sign with Baltimore, the player that Dallas Green treated like a son (ignoring him, burning him with cigarettes, criticizing him in front of family and friends, etc.) has a new suitor in the form of the Pittsburgh Pirates. From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazeete’s Dean Kovacevic.
Multiple reports out of Baltimore last week said Burnitz had agreed to a two-year deal with the Orioles worth between $10 million and $12 million. But Howard Simon, Burnitz’s Connecticut-based agent, insisted yesterday that no deal had been struck and that he had told reporters only that he was “staying in close touch” with the Orioles.
Simon’s focus in the past three days has shifted to discussions with Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield.
Simon declined to offer specifics, but it is believed that Burnitz’s contract would be for two years with a total value in the range of $12 million, which would make it the richest free-agent signing in the Pirates’ history. However much they are offering, it appears it is more than still-on-the-table offers from the Orioles and Houston Astros.
Though I cannot argue that Pittsburgh will be an improved team in 2006, there’s something very sobering for Bucs fans about the words “Jeromy Burnitz” and “richest free-agent signing in Pirates history” being in the same sentence. Even Derek Bell shuddered when he read that.
let’s not forget Pat Meares’ 4-year, $15M contract extension that he signed in 1999 (after he had just signed a 1-year $1.5M contract as a free agent). somewhere in the Tampa area, Cam Bonifay is currently feeding $20 worth of quarters into a parking meter to pick up his dry cleaning.
Meares also earns praise for this entry on his page at BaseballLibrary.com:
“June 26, 1999: Shortstop Pat Meares of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on the disabled list recovering from surgery on his left hand, participates in a sausage race at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. Meares, dressed as a 10-foot bratwurst, wins the race defeating a giant hot dog and a polish sausage. Two days ago, Meares was caught on videotape sunbathing in the upper deck of Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium for the first six innings of game.”