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Bucs ink Burnett to one-year deal
Burnett, who is expected to miss almost all of the 2005 season while recovering from reconstructive left elbow surgery, will make $321,000 in the major-league portion of his split contract. Burnett's minor-league portion totals $150,639, but he will collect the major-league portion while he is on the 60-day disabled list during the season.
Burnett, 22, was 5-5 with a 5.02 ERA over 13 starts in his rookie season. He had a five-game winning streak before developing elbow problems that led to Tommy John surgery on Sept. 22.
Burnett is the 12th player with less than three years of service time to sign a one-year contract. That leaves 16 unsigned players on the 40-man roster.
Right-hander John Van Benschoten signed late Monday night. He will miss the entire season because of right shoulder surgery and collect the $316,000 rookie minimum while he is on the 60-day disabled list.
In other news, the Pirates released their television broadcast schedule Tuesday. Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh will televise 120 games (54 at home, 66 on the road), starting with the April 4 season opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park.
The cable outlet also will televise 11 of the Pirates' 12 interleague games against the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. All six road games against the Yankees and Red Sox will be televised. The only interleague game that won't be televised will be the June 11 game against Tampa Bay.
Three spring training games also will be televised from Florida: March 14 against the Yankees in Tampa, March 20 against the Red Sox in Bradenton and March 26 against the Philadelphia Phillies in Bradenton.
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