FoxSports reported some devastatingly predictable news this afternoon - Pat Burrell has signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays for $16 million.
This was inevitable when the Phils signed Raul Ibanez last month, but it officially closes the chapter on one of the most polarizing figures in recent Philadelphia sports history. Selected with the first-overall draft pick in 1998, Burrell went from uber-prospect in 2000 to budding superstar in 2002 to washed up in 2003 to comeback kid in 2005 before ending his career in Philly as a World Champion in 2008. In nine seasons, Burrell accumulated 251 homeruns, 827 RBI and a 119 OPS+ in 1306 games.
Burrell never won a batting title. In fact, his career average is just .257. He never won a homerun crown or an MVP, but for all of those idiot Phillies "fans" who booed Burrell when he stepped up to bat, the guy averaged 28 homeruns, 92 RBI and 87 walks in 145 games over his nine-year career. Was he a Hall of Famer? No. Was he a key player in the middle of a potent lineup, without whom the Phillies would never have won the World Series? Yes.
As I previously wrote in great detail, it is ludicrous that the Phillies passed on Burrell to sign an inferior, older and more expensive player (Ibanez). Apparently, I am not alone in this opinion. ESPN lead baseball analyst Keith Law (a former assistant GM for the Toronto Blue Jays) wrote the following in his blog today:
"Compare this to the deal the Phillies, who let Burrell walk without arbitration, gave Raul Ibanez: one extra year at a marginal cost of $14 million as well as the loss of their first round draft pick, for a player four years older and worse defensively."
Ouch.
Fellow ESPN writer Rob Neyer also LOVES THIS MOVE FOR THE RAYS.
With the acquisition of Burrell, Tampa Bay's lineup becomes quite the murders row. How many RBI will Burrell rack up with Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena hitting in front of him? 120? 130? Burrell will become Tampa's regular DH, meaning he will no longer be pulled from games for defensive purposes and his counting numbers should increase by 10% across the board. In other words, pick him up in your fantasy draft.
On a personal note, I'd like to extend a big thank you to "Pat the Bat" for everything he's done for my favorite team over the past nine years. Thank you for hitting some truly breathtaking homeruns, including two bombs in the NLDS clincher over Milwaukee. Thank you for your prodigious man-whore conquests. Thank you for hitting a 400-foot double in your last at-bat in a Phillies uniform in Game 5 of the World Series - which proved to be the game-winning run that captured the Phillies only World Series Championship in my lifetime. Most importantly, thank you for making me stop whatever I was doing to watch you hit every time you stepped to the plate. Maybe you would strike out. Maybe you would hit one out. Either way, I always paid attention. Despite his perceived reputation, Burrell will be sorely missed by more Phillies fans than most people know. He was our prodigal son. I know I'll be paying close attention to Tampa Bay this season.
