Burnett a wait-and-see for Ricciardi

If it’s true we tend to pursue that which retreats, the Blue Jays are playing things perfectly with A.J. Burnett as their main target.

Asked yesterday what he thought when he heard the New York Yankees were preparing a big offer for Toronto’s “No. 1 priority,” Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi breezed back: “Not much ... what do you want me to say?”

...With the economy in tatters, the idea of an increase to the team’s budget has vanished, Ricciardi said.

Recently, outgoing team president Paul Godfrey told the Star’s Richard Griffin there was no chance of an increase over last year’s roughly $100 million payroll.

“We’ve got growing concerns about what’s happening in the world,” Ricciardi said.

“It would be foolish of us to stick our heads in the sand and say, `We’re not affected by any of this.’ Our payroll hasn’t been adjusted, but everyone is aware of what’s going on.”

Thanks to Barnald the Canadian.