SPECULATOR: Searching for the next A.J. Burnett

Building on last week's search for the next Edwin Encarnación, this week we turn our eye toward the pitchers. Our subject for this exercise will be Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett, who last year finished 16-10 with a 3.51 ERA, 105 BPV, and earned $15 in 5x5 value. The trick, of course, is that Burnett hadn't posted that level of value since 2007-08.

So, if we want to cast a net for pitchers who might replicate Burnett's unlikely resurgence, our search criteria might look something like this:

• age 30 or older;
• has multiple seasons of sub-4.00 xERA (or 90+ BPV) in his past;
• did not achieve that sub-4.00 xERA (or 90+ BPV) in 2012;
• has changed teams or other circumstances this year that might portend a "fresh start" akin to what...

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