Marlins RHP Burnett sent home for rest of season

Updated: September 26, 2005, 11:40 PM ET
SportsTicker

MIAMI -- Florida Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett's season has come to an abrupt end.

One day after publicly criticizing the team, its coaches and manager during a postgame tirade, general manager Larry Beinfest on Monday announced that Burnett will no longer pitch this season and is no longer part of the team.

"In the best interest of the team and A.J., A.J. was advised to leave the team and has done so," Beinfest said. "Furthermore, there will be no multi-year contract offer to A.J. this season."

Beinfest also said Burnett is not suspended and is continuing to be paid.

Burnett, who will be a free agent after the season, suffered his sixth consecutive loss Sunday after Florida failed to hold a three-run lead in a 5-3 defeat against the Atlanta Braves.

After the defeat, which dropped his record to 12-12 with a 3.44 ERA, Burnett's frustrations boiled over.

"We manage scared, we coach scared and we play scared," Burnett said Sunday. "I'm sick of it. It's like they expect us to mess up and when they do, they chew our (butts) up. ... You give up a home run and it's a funeral. ... I'm over it."

"The guy didn't want to pitch here, did he?" Florida manager Jack McKeon said after Monday's 4-0 loss to Washington, which eliminated the Marlins from the wild card chase. "We gave him many chances." Florida will give 21-year old Josh Johnson his first major league start in Burnett's spot Friday. The 6-7 righthander has worked seven innings in three relief appearances in the past 2 1/2 weeks.

Burnett has spent seven seasons with the Marlins and has a 49-50 record with 3.37 ERA, including a no-hitter against San Diego on May 12, 2001. However, the Marlins all-time leader in wins missed most of the 2003 season after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery.

"Obviously, he's upset and he said some things that he probably shouldn't have," Marlins utilityman Lenny Harris said. "Now he's paying for it. He went overboard and maybe he'll learn from it."

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

ESPN Conversations

comments

MORE MLB HEADLINES