There’s a feeling the Yankees and Pirates will complete a deal involving A.J. Burnett and judging by the most recent rumors, Pittsburgh would take on $10-15MM of the $33MM remaining on Burnett’s salary if the trade goes through. Here are today’s rumors:
- A fourth team has checked in on Burnett, Heyman reports.
- The Hafner for Burnett deal is no longer on the table, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch tweets.
- The Indians have checked in, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links). Talk between the Yankees and Indians has revolved around Burnett and Travis Hafner, though the Indians aren't sure they'd make that trade.
- The Angels are interested in Burnett, but they're on his no-trade list, Rosenthal tweets.
- Momentum for a deal stayed strong last night, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The Yankees continue to engage two other teams, but the Pirates are the favorites to land Burnett. Pittsburgh has offered to pay $10MM and if they raise their bid to $13MM, the Yankees would be more inclined to accept lesser prospects in return. The Pirates view the Derek Lowe deal as a relevant point of reference for their discussions with the Yankees.
- The teams are still trying to decide which players would head from Pittsburgh to New York, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (all Twitter links). Some Yankees people oppose trading Burnett now, and believe they could obtain more in return at the trade deadline.
UltimateYankeeFan
It’s getting close to that time when when fans across the county will be singing:“Take me out to the ball game,Take me out with the crowd.Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,I don’t care if I never get back,Let me root, root, root for the home team,If they don’t win it’s a shame.For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,At the old ball game.”
…and please Brian make AJ Burnett disappear like a puff of smoke. JUST DO IT!!!
$7562574
for free!
2001morecowbell2001
Seriously I cant even put into words what my level of excitement will be to not have to watch him take the hill every 5 days. Its like a cycle of depression I can do without this year. Seriously just pay him to play elsewhere already
captainjeter
why do you think I keep checking the computer. I got my fingers crossed that this mistake will be off the team soon.
We’ll just have to have Swisher be the pie thrower, since that is all Burnett has been good for on the Yankees,
User 4245925809
“I don’t care if I never get back”
In NY.. That phrase for some would be changed to “I don’t want him to ever come back”
Poor AJ.. He never knew when he had it good, being on those old Marlin teams.
ellisburks
They still love him in Toronto. I have no idea why. I have friends who insist he had a great year in 2008 when i reality is was very mediocre and they were lucky to have him opt out when he did.
User 4245925809
I liked him with the Fish also, it was a perfect stadium for him and when he was teamed with beckett? They had a fearsome pair of young aces.. Just couldn’t afford them and then beckett with his blister problems.
I see no problems with him going back to the NL and if the Fish had not gotten that psycho Zambrano, would have loved for them to inquired on Burnett.
Pam Caldwell
I agree. Give the guy a break
Smrtbusnisman04
Unless he pitched for the other team?
He won a world series for the yankees in ’09. Pitched good in one game against the phillies.
Pam Caldwell
Well he has 2 worlld series from the Marlins and one from the Yankees, how many pitchers you know got those bragging rights?
User 4245925809
Sort of.. He was hurt a lot of the times the Fish were good..
Don’t get me wrong now.. I liked AJ when he was with the Fish and have mentioned in various of AJ topics here that would have liked for the Marlins to have looked into getting him back over that psycho Zambrano.
Beckett and Burnett were at one time the future Aces of the Fish staff, just Burnett had constant, various health issues and beckett was always having problems with blisters.
Victor Kipp
But who’s gonna throw pies in players faces after walk off wins? Finding someone else to do that is gonna be hard. Yankees should think about that before doing this deal.
captainjeter
good one.In the words of Chris Carlin, the words no Yankee fan wants to hear, “A J Burnett is on the mound”.
Do it, Brian. Time for that divorce. Burnett has been a major bust and he needs to go somewhere else.
And Neal, stop being so picky. You don’t have one starter who eats innings. Either cough up more money or give Cashman something of value back.
And to the Yankee people who want to wait , what you nuts ? Suppose he is as bad as he was in 2010 ? Then you won’t be able to give him away in July. Time to cut your losses and move on.
Pam Caldwell
Maybe he well be better than he was in 08.
Pam Caldwell
Are you kidding me? He help win the world series. Just don’t watch every 5th day
JohnnyC
Burnett will have no trade value at all if they put him in the pen. Who wants a $16.5 million long relief guy? Swallow your pride already and get whatever you can for him. It’s beyond shamockery as it is.
Chris
they wont put him in the pen just for that reason. Hughes has an option left and they would just send him back down to the minors and put garcia in long relief.
YanksFanSince78
there’s ZERO chance that Hughes will be demoted to make room for AJ or Garcia. He might be traded though. But if healthy then he stays in the majors…….w/ someone.
Ron Loreski
This is starting to get annoying. Just make the trade already.
Ron Loreski
It’s not quite as annoying as the “Roy Oswalt Rumors” which never have any new information.
Lastings
Split personality?
funkytime
Maybe he meant to reply with his other account?
stl_cards16
It’s not quite as annoying as the “This is starting to get annoying” crowd.
2001morecowbell2001
I laughed and you beat me to it. Who would have thought rumors on a rumors website would be so annoying. If you want hard news go to….well Im not sure there is an unbiased site to provide you that.
Chris
and i thought the yu darvish bidding was getting old quick. this deal wont get done and i can see the pirates losing out on another veteran pitcher. guess they expect everything for free.
User 4245925809
Darvish rumors got old before he ever got close to crossing the “pond”. If we use Darvish “meter” for time typo here used, the AJ and Oswalt both should have months left before we can label them as repetitious news
seeking28
Go on take the money and run
dkiller88
While I am far from being a Yankee fan (Emperor knows I hate them as much as I hate cold boiled mutton) I would not mind seeing Andrew McCutcheon become a Yankee. Why? Because McCutcheon is a great player whose talents and best productive years are being wasted by that parsimonious owner in Pittsburgh. Would much rather see McCutcheon become a Phillie, but I just want to see him out of Pittsburgh contributing his talents to a contender, rather than wasting away in Nowheresville.
Ron Loreski
You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about. McCutchen can’t go anywhere until 2016 and if he were headed to New York, AJ Burnett would certainly not be the return. Pittsburgh is changing their ways.
Chris
and im sure yankee fans would love to see mccutchen too, but we even know its not realistic in getting hiim for burnett. now tabata would be nice or alverez but again that isnt realistic either. pirates are going to lose out on another veteran pitcher.
Matt Weaver
Blasphemy!
Todd Smith
Who is this McCutcheon guy everybody keeps talking about?
Grant Harrigan
Yeah, and all those Devil Rays players in 2007 should’ve just quit and found new teams. There’s never any hope for teams that are in last place…Don’t know if you now this, but the Pirates had an okay season last year, compared to other years at least. There is hope for this team. They just need some decent pitching. I understand Burnett sucked on the Yankees, but he was also in the hardest divisions in baseball. Now he’s going to the weakest divisions in baseball. A.J. can help this team, I believe.
Dave Pierce
A spot for Burnett in the Yankees rotation is very far from a guarantee, plus if he did build up value by trade deadline, then the Yankees would be less likely to be deal him. He will go now, and the only real suitor is the Pirates, and they know it, so they are playing hard ball (or so that is how it appears). I thought the Indians may work with Pronk as bait but they seem content with keeping him and praying for health and using guys like Garland.
Encarnacion's Parrot
They should make a poll asking: “would trading AJ Burnett strengthen of weaken the Yankees’ rotation,” for simply I have no clue. Neither Betances or Banuelos look MLB ready yet judging from their insane BB/9’s and average FIP’s.
vwnut13 2
Well, as it is right now, Burnett is figting with Hughes/Garcia for the fifth spot.
Encarnacion's Parrot
Actually, with Pineda, Kuroda and Sabathia as your top 3, the last 2 spots are fairly muddied with Burnett, Garcia and Hughes, nevermind the 5th spot. If he were to remain a Yankee, are you telling me that you’d place Hughes in front of him, solely based off of salary?
TY
I would say Nova has a pretty good handle on the #4 spot given his performance last year.
Encarnacion's Parrot
I knew I was forgetting someone haha.
SixAces
It isn’t about salary. If I was a GM I’d pick Hughes any time over Burnett for the 5th spot (ignoring Garcia for now). Hughes at his current age, can still have a chance to right his ship. While Burnett on the other hand, has no “growth” left what-so-ever. Heck it doesn’t even have to be Hughes, it could be any of the young SPs they have left in the AAA (BESIDES Banuelos or Betances).
oldyankfan
would indians and yanks do burnett for hafner
Chris
one big contract for another? i doubt it especially since they can get a left handed DH for cheaper then what Hafners making.
mwach1
except that Hafner crushes righties. look at the splits. he would clearly be a better DH option against righties than anyone else available. also, both players become FA’s after 2013.
I am surprised this trade proposal has not been discussed in greater detail.
Chris
because the yankees are trying to cut payroll to try to get under the luxury tax line or close to it not try to add. plus isnt hafner often injured?
YanksFanSince78
Hafner isn’t adding to anything and in fact they would save because the lux tax is based off of average of the contract.
oldyankfan
hafner is a free agent after 2012 after a $2.75 mil buyout for 2013 so an even up trade saves yanks about $17 Mil total most of it next year but they get their left handed DH for this year and he’s better than damon or ibanez and does crush righties – the problem i’m sure is cleveland will not want to pay burnett $16.5 in 2013 or probably anything close to that
YanksFanSince78
I would take Hafner with no regrets. He’s is exactly the kind of hitter that would fit in well with the Yanks if he’s healthy.
Simply consider what the role is he would play for the Yankees. it’s that of a lefty bat in a DH platoon.
2011 vs righties:
13% walk rate, .404 OBP, .482 slugging. Power and patience is exactly what the Yanks motto is when it comes to hitting.
AJ ($33 mil owed) plus $16 mil cash (2013) for Hafner and his $16 mil
Mike Mark Sopp
im not sure – as an Indians fan i’d wonder if it would be a good move for the team – they are almost out from under Hafner’s contract & swapping him for Burnett, even if the Yankees would eat as much of his coontract as they reportedly are willing to do for the Pirates, would end up saddling the Indians with another potentially bad contract for a few more years…
Harthan
Yeah, I thought about this, and I’m not really sure I buy it as a positive move for the Indians. I have a lot of confidence in our starting rotation. Only reason I’d have wanted to move Hafner is to move his salary, and Burnett wouldn’t change anything about that. Not sure there’s really a spot for Burnett on the roster TBH and Hafner will still destroy LHP like it’s nobody’s business, and might just have a comeback season yet.
Monkey’s Uncle
“A.J. Burnett Rumors: Tuesday”
Tune in tomorrow for the latest headline: “All Quiet on the Burnett Front”, and Thursday’s “It’s Exactly the Same Situation as Before, only we worded it differently”
For crying out loud, Yanks and Bucs, get it done already!
Magorphenger
The Yankees are in a dead sprint to get nothing in return for Burnett
Matt Malette
Problem with pointing to the Derek Lowe deal is that the Indians are only paying 5M of his remaining 15M and got one prospect. If the Yanks were truely settling for a Lowe type deal they’d be taking 11M and a one middling prospect from the Bucs. Sounds like the Yanks are getting greedy.
cano24
Since when do the Yankees dump players at the trade deadline, presumably who are pitching well, to a contender? That rumor makes absolutely no sense.
nestleraisinets
AJ for Kendry Morales and low level prospect and yanks eats salary similar to pirates deal
HerbertAnchovy
Is this a joke?
Chris
whats it matter morales hasnt played in two years, who knows if he will put out the same power numbers as he did. hes on a downward spiral to being medicaly discharged from baseball all together. plus what do the angels need him for? between trumbo and abreu they have DH set. but id leave out the prospect part. but the only problem about the deal (except morales maybe the problem to angel fans) is that burnett has a no trade clause for west coast teams
Cole
“burnett has a no trade clause for west coast teams”
Thank god for that.
redsx968
A broken leg is obviously not a good thing, but it’s hardly a medical discharge. The fact that Yankees fans are actually entertaining the idea (unless I’m missing blatant sarcasm) is ridiculous
bjsguess
Classic post.
With Morales you have a huge swing of probability. If healthy (he was just cleared for baseball activities) you are looking at 3-4 WAR player. A guy who can hit 300 and mash 30 HR’s. That’s pretty special considering he is making next to nothing.
Burnett is worth maybe $8m/season. How much they eat will determine the type of player coming back. The Yankees will not be getting anything back of value unless they eat more than what has been reported.
Chris
i can see this deal not getting done and pirates losing out on another veteran pitcher. but who are the other teams involved have they said yet?
stl_cards16
If the deal doesn’t get done, I don’t think many would think the Pirates are “losing out”.
Chris
and why is that? they tried to get an innings eater in edwin jackson lost him to the nats, now their trying to get that in burnett but they cant agree, burnett has a career ERA under 3.00 in PNC park and not having to face a DH, or even face pujols or fielder, braun out for 50 games more then likely, and the weak offense in chicago and houston he could end up having an era between 3.50 and 4.50 this season. not to mention should be able to get through 6 or 7 innings. only issue is when he has toplay the AL teams in June. plus cant forget he pitched good against the sox in september and pitched a gem in detroit in game 4 of the ALDS throwin a 4 hit 1 run game that he got the W in. not to mention on the road AWAY from yankee stadium. he pitched good in florida, and toronto. its the media pressure and fan pressure in new york that more then likely caused this disaster for him.
EsquireMatt
I agree with you. I think he could be another pitcher like Javie Vasquez. For whatever reason, just couldn’t pitch in NY. He still has very good “stuff” and it wouldn’t surprise me if he resurrected his career in the NL somewhere.
Todd Smith
The desperation for a deal here is fully on the Yankees side. No reason for the Pirates to overpay. What makes AJ desirable to the Pirates is the low price. It takes away the risk in case he doesn’t do better in the NL as everyone hopes. If they can’t get him for the right price, then they just won’t take him.
TY
Given that those whopping 19 innings in PNC were against weak Pittsburgh line-ups, that sub-3.00 career ERA means nothing.
The rest of what you point out has a lot of validity to it and you should’ve just stuck to that. But repeating the bit about him having 3 good starts against Pittsburgh offenses (I mean only so many pitchers can accomplish that, right?) doesn’t make it mean anymore than the first time you said it.
Smrtbusnisman04
Its not a good sample size, but I think Burnett “could” thrive on the NL Central:
1. Albert Puljols and Prince Fielder are gone.
2. Ryan Braun is gone for 50 games.
3. The Reds traded their best young hitters for Matt Latos. They do still have Votto, Bruce and Phillips, however, but the Pirates owned the Reds last year.
4. The Astros and Cubs are nowhere near fielding good offenses this year. Unless Rizzo gets rookie of the year, I see the Pirates finishing no lower than 4th place right now.
MLB_Addict
But Rizzo is with the Cubbies. Besides that, I think Burnett could have a good year moving to the NL, specially Pittsburgh or San Diego, or if in the LA, then Oakland or Seattle.
EsquireMatt
I’m not sure how 10-13 mill and two low level prospects is “greedy.” One third of the remaining money left is $11 mil. Thats the same percentage as Lowe. Asking for a second prospect could be argued for two reasons, AJ is younger and is under team control for a second year. Is it more than Lowe? Yes, but its not like they are asking for $20mil and McCutchen or a top level prospect. Or maybe they are, and we don’t know.
bjsguess
Look at it this way.
A team could *theoretically* sign Oswalt for 1/$8m or so. He comes on a shorter deal, doesn’t cost you any talent, had a much, much better platform season, and is projected by every system to have a much better 2012.
If you look at the Lowe deal Cleveland got a better pitcher and only paid $5m plus some class A scrub.
A 2/$13m deal for Burnett + kicking in multiple prospects looks downright crappy in comparison.
User 4245925809
apologies.. Disquis is messing up on me…
MB923
“The Angels are interested in Burnett, but they’re on his no-trade list, Rosenthal tweets.”
Maybe they want the Yankees to get Vernon Wells
Chris
and the pirates are only going to be paying 10 million for both years, they can easily dump him off to someone else or release him. either way the yankees are eating most of the money. theres no issue on that part.
Chris
and this just in the mets are built for last place. Burnett for wright? slot arod in the DH hole, Jones to a bench player. yankees eat all but 5 million of the contract. hmmmm dream land is so nice lol
TY
You never know with the Mets.
dylanp5030
Maybe when he is presented with the choice, he’ll waive to go to LA instead of Pitt.
domaug
then why would they be on his no-trade list in the first place and not Pittsburgh?
Chris Barrows
AJ has always seemed like someone who if he’s uncomfortable, doesn’t pitch well. With all the interest in trading him, I think being on another team would make him feel more comfortable at this point. If that’s the case, he may not care about the no-trade clause and accept a trade to any team – more so a team that’s going to win (IE: The Angels).
Not saying he would, just throwing out a reason why.
EsquireMatt
When he signed his contract he obviously didn’t want to go out west. I believe you are only allowed 10 teams on the no trade list. He put the west coast teams on it, and not Pitt. Some people believe that he wants out of NY just as bad as NY wants him gone. Therefore, if that’s the case he would waive the NTC just to leave. Me on the other hand, thinks that he will veto any trade he can.
EsquireMatt
When he signed his contract he obviously didn’t want to go out west. I believe you are only allowed 10 teams on the no trade list. He put the west coast teams on it, and not Pitt. Some people believe that he wants out of NY just as bad as NY wants him gone. Therefore, if that’s the case he would waive the NTC just to leave. Me on the other hand, thinks that he will veto any trade he can.
Gibson17
AJ’s wife is afraid of flying, so he has the 10 western-most teams on his NT list.
Thurman8er
Can we fans exercise our No Trade Clause against Burnett? Please?
Brian M
Why would the Pirates take on 10-15 million bucks to add a bad pitcher to their rotation? Makes no sense! I’m sure the yankees are chomping at the bit to get this thing done!
Michael P. Ganley
Just when you thought the Pirates had come to their senses. As a Tribe fan, I am still trying to figure out why they would trade Hafner’s bad contract of 1 season to get Burnett’s bad contract for 2 seasons. At least Hafner has some value in Cleveland. Burnett is just awful.
Todd Smith
AJ Burnett had a 1.5 WAR last year. Correia, McDonald and Karstens had a 1.4 WAR last year. Combined.
They are getting a guy in Burnett that obviously has talent, and taking a chance that his numbers rebound once he gets out of New York and the AL East. At $5MM per year, there really isn’t any risk involved – and even if his numbers don’t rebound, he is still an upgrade over Correia in the #5 spot in the rotation
Lefty
Yankees turning this into a bidding war for Burnett. This is hilarious!
vtadave
Burnett and $20 million for Pedro Alvarez.
Get ‘er done Cash.
goner
:rofl:
vtadave
Burnett and $20 million for Pedro Alvarez.
Get ‘er done Cash.
UltimateYankeeFan
A trade with the Indians for Hafner would certainly satisfy the Yankees need for a left handed bat. Very interesting. I guess we’ll see if this rumor has any legs over the next 24 hours.
Skeeb Wilcox
As a Pirates’ fan I would be happy to see anything that would get rid of Pedro Alvarez. If was involved in this trade somehow, I would be thrilled…
zak1993
Really? He’s 23 years old and had one bad season and you want to trade him? Like it or not he is a key piece of our line-up and he will stay that way until he proves he can’t perform anymore.. And one bad, injury filled, season isn’t proof
Chris
i wouldnt mind having alverez on the yankees, could be a perfect fill in for Arod when the yankees decide to move him to DH
Todd Smith
Hello, Mr. Littlefield.
ARod's Ring
You should be the Pirates GM!
Monkey’s Uncle
You want to dump a #1 draft pick at age 23? I’m a Pirate fan too, just not a fan of the Old Pirate way of doing things, which is what your idea would be. That makes absolutely, positively zero sense.
UltimateYankeeFan
Sure would be nice if the Yankees closed one of these deals sooner rather than later.
Martus Kurtz
PLEASE pull this trade, Indians! I’m sorry, but this gives you a full lineup spot and a POSSIBLY(Although very unlikely) ace or 2nd spot pitcher. He thrived with the Marlins and BlueJays(Lesser known teams). Give them 5 million and call it a day. They wont get anybody close enough to Pronk with Pittsburgh.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
I hate to say it, but the Yankees actually become a better team without AJ Burnett…
Miguel Arias
Who would have thought the Yanks end up as winner, in an AJ Burnett trade?
bucconation15
ESPN New York’s online story about continuing talks somehow felt the need to mention that “Gerrit Cole isn’t involved in the talks”…what am I missing here? Does ESPN not know what it’s talking about when it comes to player value, or is this because the quoted Yankees source says that the Pirates have to include top-tier prospects if they only pay $10M. Anyone ever heard the word perspective?
Todd Smith
Did they mention if there was any chance the Pirates might get A-Rod in this deal? I haven’t heard otherwise yet.
Matt Weaver
I saw that too. The fact that Cole’s name is even in their mind when talking about a trade for AJ Burnett is crazy to me.
cookmeister
if Burnett waived his NTC (which i doubt he will) i could see some sort of Burnett for Abreu type swap (with money exchanging too of course).
chrisn313
This just in… AJ Burnett is terrible. He is undesirable at any cost. Please Pittsburg make the Yankees hold on to him to and somewhat regret giving awful contracts to awful players…
tadoyle
I would like the NYY to trade Burnett, and use Hughes out of the bullpen, so that they can have a first: an entire rotation with names that end in A. Sabathia, Pineda, Nova, Garcia and Kuroda.
johnny5alive
Question – if he accepts a trade to a team that was on his no trade list, is that no trade clause from there out waived or does it go back to being part of his contract with the new team? I don’t think the Angels would want him or do this trade, but let’s just say he changed his mind and approved a deal there, would he then get to keep his no trade, or could the Angels then automatically have the ability to trade him anywhere they wanted even if that team was previously on his list of teams he wouldn’t accept a trade to? In otherwords, once he waives it, is it waived forever until he signs a new contract, or is that waiver of it just for that trade and that trade only?