On January 5, 2009, Burrell and the
Tampa Bay Rays (the same team that Burrell, as a member of the Phillies, beat in the previous World Series) reached a 2-year agreement worth around $16 million.
[10] Burrell had reportedly turned down a 2-year, $22 million dollar offer from the Phillies immediately following the World Series, presumably because he felt he could get a better offer from another team. Soon after, the Phillies signed left fielder
Raúl Ibáñez, effectively ending Burrell's tenure with the team. Burrell had said numerous times that he wanted to stay in Philadelphia. In December, it was reported that the Phillies never made the previously reported offer. In a column by
Philadelphia Daily News reporter Paul Hagen, Burrell was quoted as saying "To be honest, nothing specific was ever talked about. Nothing official was offered."
[11]