A.J. Burnett is gone…….

TORONTO — A.J. Burnett is headed for the open market.

The agent for the flame-throwing right-hander informed the Toronto Blue Jays of his client’s intention to opt out of the remaining two years and US$24 million on his contract Tuesday.

“It’s not official yet but we’re in the process of doing the paperwork,” Darek Braunecker told The Canadian Press in an interview from the general managers meetings in Dana Point, Calif. “It’s a formality at this point.”

Burnett’s decision ends months of speculation and leaves the Blue Jays with a massive hole in their starting rotation.

Coming off a career season, Burnett was widely expected to become a free agent. He signed a $55-million, five-year deal in December 2005 that included an opt-out clause after the 2008 season.

After going 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA in 34 starts, throwing a career-high 221 1-3 innings with 231 strikeouts, Burnett is expected to command upwards of $15 million a season for four, possibly five years.

The Blue Jays can still re-sign Burnett, but general manager J.P. Ricciardi has repeatedly said that the team can’t afford to enter a bidding war for him.

The New York Yankees, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox are believed to be among Burnett’s potential suitors, making it unlikely that the Blue Jays can keep pace financially.

“Our talks with them have been productive and we will still continue our talks with them,” said Braunecker. “This is something we needed to do just to give us the opportunity to assess the market and who the other interested parties are.”

Burnett joins the upper-tier of free agent pitchers available, a group headlined by CC Sabathia. Also up there are Ryan Dempster of Gibsons, B.C., Derek Lowe and Ben Sheets.

At least the Blue Jays now have a clearer picture of Burnett’s intentions. They had hoped to use the period before he exercised his opt out clause to make some inroads on a new contract, but were unable to do so, even with the help of new CEO Paul Beeston.

Burnett’s uncertain future loomed over the club all season and many thought he wouldn’t be with the team beyond the July 31 trade deadline.

He caused a stir in June when he mused about the possibility of being dealt to the Cubs to a Chicago reporter, later defending his comments by saying, “who would not want to play for the Cubs, bottom line?”

But his importance to the Blue Jays increased as he began to fulfil his potential and helped ace Roy Halladay carry the load when injuries struck starters Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum.

Those injuries leave the Jays with a paper-thin rotation heading into the 2009 season, with Halladay and Jesse Litsch the only confirmed starters.

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