Minnesota has declined right-hander Jared Burton’s option for 2015, choosing to pay the 33-year-old reliever a $200,000 buyout rather than a $3.6 million salary.
Not so long ago that option looked like it might be a bargain, as Burton went from scrap-heap pickup to one of the league’s best setup men, but he showed major signs of decline this season while throwing 64 innings with a 4.36 ERA.
His strikeout rate went from 8.2 per nine innings in 2012/2013 to 6.5 this season and his walk rate jumped to 3.5 per nine innings. He also struggled down the stretch last season and his velocity has dipped as well.
