Yankees Trading AJ Burnett to Pirates

The Pirates and Yankees have the framework that will send the Yankees bust to Pittsburgh for probably nothing. Burnett has 2 years, 33 million dollars left on his contract and the Yankees are willing to eat most of it.

I like the deal for the Yankees as they are dumping someone who has been a problem on and off the mound. Plus they have Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia still to be the number 5 pitcher.

As for the Pirates? Why not. There is a chance that in Pittsburgh he can thrive. There is no pressure and the hitting in the NL is a lot different than the AL East. It wouldn't surprise me if he won 12+ games for the Pirates.

Yankees/Pirates Talking A.J. Burnett Trade

The Yankees and Pirates continue discussing a possible A.J. Burnett trade. The report says the Yankees are willing to pay a big part of the $33MM remaining on the Burnett's contract that runs through 2013, yet the two teams are still a couple million away.

The reason the Yankees want to do the deal is to give them a little bit more money to go out and sign a DH/backup OF. The two leading candidates are Raul Ibanez and Johnny Damon. Ibanez seem to be of more interest, because at this point can play the field more often then Damon.

I actually would like this deal for the Pirates. I know Burnett has been a bust for the Yankees, but the guy still has amazing stuff and maybe if you get him out of the AL East and the pressure of NY he would have a bounce back year.

I guess it makes sense for the Yankees. They already have a set rotation of...

1. C. Sabathia
2. H. Kuroda
3. M. Pineda
4. I. Nova

And with Hughes and Garcia fighting for a rotation spot they really don't need Burnett.