Jays' $55 million Burnett to go on DL

Talented right-hander has scar tissue in pitching elbow, will miss 2 starts

Mike Carlson / AP

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher A.J. Burnett signed a $55 million, five-year contract during the offseason, three years after elbow surgery.

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updated 2:44 p.m. ET March 29, 2006

TORONTO - A.J. Burnett won’t make his first two starts of the season and will go on the disabled list.

Burnett threw off a mound on Tuesday for the first time since taking himself out of a game March 18 complaining about elbow pain.

An MRI exam showed it was just scar tissue breaking away from his right elbow, and the team has been cautious. Ricciardi said Burnett will make his first start against the Chicago White Sox on April 16.

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“He’s going to miss his first two starts,” Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said Wednesday from Dunedin, Fla. “We could probably bring him back a little quicker, but I think all things being equal this allows him to keep him totally on track to where he’s supposed to be.”

Burnett signed a $55 million, five-year contract during the offseason, three years after elbow surgery.

Ricciardi said Burnett will pitch three or four innings Saturday in Toronto’s final spring training game. He will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list and make rehab starts April 6 and 11.

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Burnett signed with Toronto after going 12-12 with a 3.44 ERA for the Florida Marlins in 2005. The 29-year-old right-hander was a key piece of Toronto’s offseason overhaul. The Blue Jays also added closer B.J. Ryan for $47 million over five years, and traded for slugger Troy Glaus and first baseman Lyle Overbay.