Latest Gammons update
The Fish cannot sign Burnett away from free agency, and the fireballing right-hander has made it clear that he probably wouldn't sign an extension with the White Sox but would with the Red Sox if the money is right.
The White Sox have the best record in baseball without Burnett. The Red Sox lead the AL East by 1½ games and essentially haven't had their most important 300 innings -- the combination of Curt Schilling as a No. 1 starter and Keith Foulke as a premier closer. A month from now, as they prepare to play 24 of their last 36 games at Fenway Park, they could have Schilling and Foulke in place.
Still, both the White Sox and Red Sox keep thinking that October is the power pitching month, and that Burnett, along with Rich Harden, might have the best stuff in the game. Of course, the Marlins know that, and are just two years removed from seeing how important his stuff is in October.