John Burkett Starting Pitcher Boston Red Sox Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM W-L IP H K ERA 34 12-12 219.1 187 187 3.04

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox added another veteran pitcher to their rotation on Wednesday night, signing free agent right-hander John Burkett to a two-year contract, $11 million contract.

Burkett was 12-12 with a 3.04 ERA for the Atlanta Braves last season. He is 141-119 with a 4.23 ERA in 14 major-league seasons with the Braves, Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants.

However, 2001 was his first good year in several seasons. He hadn't had an ERA under 4.24 since 1994. In his three full seasons with Texas from 1997 to 1999, his ERAs were 4.56, 5.68 and 5.62.

	How the Red Sox shape up
	Lineup DH Jose Offerman CF Trot Nixon SS Nomar Garciaparra LF Manny Ramirez 1B Tony Clark C Jason Varitek RF Brian Daubach 3B Shea Hillenbrand 2B Pokey Reese Rotation Pedro Martinez John Burkett Dustin Hermanson Derek Lowe Frank Castillo / Darren Oliver

"In John Burkett, we like his durability and his leadership ability over the last couple of seasons," Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette said. "For a 37-year-old, he's in very good shape as far as his shoulder and elbow are concerned."

Burkett had a career-high 187 strikeouts, held opponents to a .230 average and was named to the National League All-Star team.

"(Burkett) has transformed himself from the last time he was in the American League," Duquette said. "He's developed an overhand curveball that he can throw for strikes and also has developed a cutter that he can get over. I think those two pitches are the primary reason for his success last season.

"He gives us another quality starter who has the ability to give us numbers in terms of innings pitched and strikeouts."

Boston has already acquired left hander Darren Oliver from Texas and right-hander Dustin Hermanson from the St. Louis Cardinals in trades this offseason in an effort to bolster its pitching staff behind Pedro Martinez.

"I think he's real excited about it," Burkett's agent, Tommy Tanzer, said Tuesday. "It gives him a chance to play on a winning contending team. You don't often find a team where the manager (former Boston pitching coach Joe Kerrigan) is a pitching guy. That's an exciting team to be on."

Tanzer said Kerrigan played "a major part" in the discussions, and that the two got along well when Burkett toured Fenway Park last week.

Burkett had sought a three-year deal but settled for two years at $5.5 million per year plus incentives, Tanzer said.