I'll be very interested to hear whether Burnett's deal includes a no-trade clause. I will assume that it does because of how important it is for him to play near his Maryland home. How that no-trade clause is structured is important because if the Phillies live down to our expectations for them this year, Burnett could become an extremely valuable trade chip come July, or even earlier. I've written before that it makes long-term sense to eat money if it means landing a blue-chip prospect, and the Phillies may have positioned themselves to do so. Of course, if Burnett turns back into the pitcher he was in his final years with the Yankees, the situation becomes lose-lose. But I think the odds say that as long as he stays in the National League and stays healthy, he should be, at the very least, a capable No. 3 starter.