Yesterday we learned that four teams are in on A.J. Burnett, but the Yankees feel that the Pirates are the best match. One of those four clubs is on Burnett's no-trade list, which reportedly includes ten West Coast clubs. Here's the latest on Burnett and the Yanks..
- New York is insistent on getting the "right players" in a Burnett trade, tweets Marc Carig of the New Jersey Star-Ledger. Carig's source notes that this is "not a give away" of Burnett, and says that the two sides intend to keep working toward a deal (Twitter links).
- The Yankees likely will pay $19-23MM of $33MM remaining on Burnett’s contract and receive multiple minor leaguers in return, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Those prospects would not be players on the Pirates’ 40-man roster, the source said.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter) guesses that two of the other teams in on Burnett are the Royals and Indians. The Indians could defray some money by dealing Travis Hafner, who is owed roughly $15MM between 2012 and his '13 buyout.
- The Pirates are more concerned about prospects than money, so they're more likely to compromise on the amount of money they'll pay Burnett, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.
- It's doubtful that a deal will be completed today, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
- The Yankees don't love the two minor leaguers that the Pirates offered for Burnett, tweets Heyman. Heyman still thinks that a deal gets done with the Pirates paying $13-15MM of the $33MM owed to Burnett.
- The Yankees know they can make a Burnett deal with the Pirates but they first want to make sure that nothing else is available before pulling the trigger, tweets Sherman. All signs point to the Yankees moving Burnett in the coming days and trying to sign Eric Chavez and a left-handed DH with the money saved (Twitter link).
- The Bucs and Yankees have a framework for a possible deal in place, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The deal is not done but the two teams have a lot of common ground and Pittsburgh is still the frontrunner, Olney tweets.
So long AJ, appreciate 2009! I wonder if there is anything more included in this framework or if it’s simply AJ -> Pirates and they take on 35-50% of contract.
I think he’s making a bit too much for an Alex Rios-type unloading. Pirates must be taking some. Hopefully he won’t hurt them nearly as much, but I cannot wait to see him pitch in Cincinnati. Yikes.
I know AJ has $33 mil reasons as to why he would get over any dispatch out of NY but I sort of feel for the guy. He genuinely seems like he enjoyed the clubhouse and teammates in NY and I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about him outside of his performance. Still, probably sucks to know that your employer desperately wants to get rid of you to the point that they are willing to pay someone else to take you off of their hands. If he ends up being traded then I’ll still wish him the best.
When the deal was signed the biggest risk was his ability to stay healthy. Almost no one could imagine the deal would end bad based off of performance. Thanks for 2009 buddy.
nice post. I still remember when Farnsworth got his walking papers. Here’s a guy who rearranged people’s faces on the diamond on national TV, now balling his eyes out.It puts into perspective how close these guys get sometimes. I felt really bad for him.
well said sir
this would be the best thing for both the Yankees and Burnett. This has been a bad marriage from the get- go. Time for a divorce.
If the Pirates are only picking up $8-12 MM, this’ll be a solid addition for them. Plus they wouldn’t have to start Kevin Correia anymore.
determining whether or not he is a solid addition has nothing to do with how much money either team becomes responsible for. He has been virtually the worst starting pitcher in baseball for each of the last 2 years. He’ll be in that category again this year regardless of who pays him and who doesn’t.
Worst starting pitcher? John Lackey begs to differ.
Worst starting pitcher? John Lackey begs to differ.
No. Lackey’s 2010: 4.1 WAR. Lackey’s 2011: 1.5 WAR. Burnett was 1.4 and 1.5, respectively.
More like disrespectively AMIRIGHT?!
Fangraphs WAR for pitching is a joke. First of all it lists CC higher than Verlander in 2011, and second of all, there’s no way a pitcher with a 6.41 ERA is above a replacement level pitcher, let alone an entire win and a half
-1.2 WAR sounds about right (on B-Ref)
Burnett had -0.5 WAR in 2010 and 1.1 WAR in 2011
Lackey had a 1.8 WAR in 2010 and as I posted, -1.2 WAR in 2011.
Personally, I think they should make a WAR system based off SIERA. Until then, simply using the middle ground between rWAR and fWAR makes the most sense.
That’s a fair way to do it.
Injurhan Santana begs to differ with you Lackey
Lackey was pitching all of last season needing surgery also. I (for one) am curious to see how well he does at Boston.. Fully healthy, as not even the nanny-always ragging and whiny press, such as Shaghnesy have ever given a athlete a break and that includes Yaz, Williams, Rice.. It’s like dig up dirt.. or flat out invent it if it’s not there..
If they were as diligent at digging up dirt in other areas, other than sports, most of those news rags may be better regarded.
No he hasn’t. He had a WAR of 1.4 in 2010 and 1.5 in 2011. That’s better among qualified starters than Saunders, Leake, Richard, Lannan, Niemann, Wolf, Davis, Blackburn, and Arroyo. Plus, it’s better than Kevin Correia’s 0.0 WAR in each of the last two seasons.
No he hasn’t. He had a WAR of 1.4 in 2010 and 1.5 in 2011. That’s better among qualified starters than Saunders, Leake, Richard, Lannan, Niemann, Wolf, Davis, Blackburn, and Arroyo. Plus, it’s better than Kevin Correia’s 0.0 WAR in each of the last two seasons.
ACTUALLY, aj has been pretty good for the Yanks
I wouldnt say pretty good, ok i mean he did start the collapse in boston after he beat the redsox in the first week of september and he only pitched a 5 and 2/3 innings in game 4 of the ALDS while only giveing up 1 run on 4 hits.
The Boston collapse started well long before that.
The Boston collapse started well long before that.
Yeah, but Olney also tweeted that they haven’t agreed on either PLAYERS or MONEY.
Which basically means, they have nothing.
Pitt you better be getting paid to take this mess off their hands!
A mystery west coast team? Woohoo. Gotta be the M’s. Figgins for Burnett. Figgins can be a utility guy leading off giving the Yankee geriatric core to have many days off at DH.
Burnett’s K/9 were still reasonable last year. He would fit well in Safeco.
I’m sure the M’s are probably on his no-trade list since it was said the 10 teams were all on the west coast.
Where are the trolls asking for Cole, Taillon and Bell?
I like it for Pitt if they get him for cheap
Aj will do better with a small market club. If he goes to the Bucs watch him have a good season. Hes become a headcase in NY , but he still does have great stuff. And he was great in 2009.
“Hes become a headcase in NY”
I’m pretty sure that started in FLA and carried through his career…
Pit is about to obtain one of the better starters in baseball. Its not enough to turn them around but they r headed in the right direction
Top 50th percentile
Pit is about to obtain one of the better starters in baseball. Its not enough to turn them around but they r headed in the right direction
Burnett for Alvarez, Tabata, and Andrew Mcutchen and 25 mill. Seems like a fair deal, dont you guys think so?
It’s not bad. I really think Pittsburgh should throw in Taillon and Bell, just to sweeten the deal
How much kool aid you drinking I wouldnt even trade Mc Cutchen for that headcase
whoosh!
unless he was just way more sarcastic than all of you and you got ‘whooosh!”ed!
If Dave Littlefield were still GM, that could actually happen.
The world will end before Mccutchen is shipped for burnett
whoosh!
hmm… it’s close, but i wouldn’t do that. how about the Pirates throw in Taillon, Cole, and Bell and the Yanks throw in a bag of baseballs autographed by Derek Jeter? i’d do that in a heartbeat… 🙂
Maybe the Pirates can sign Xavier Nady real quick and flip him over in the deal for Burnett, Banuelos and Betances. I know how much the Yankees love giving away prospects for Nady.
ehh I wouldn’t exactly call him one of the best starters in baseball… Hes certainty better than people perceive him to be, but lets be reasonable now.
ehh I wouldn’t exactly call him one of the best starters in baseball… Hes certainty better than people perceive him to be, but lets be reasonable now.
He can eat innings—he may just be someone who isn’t cut out for a big market. Burnett is more Steve Trachsel than anything.
Why doesn’t Pitt go all in. Corria for Peavy. Make the money even.
burnett is their new ace. he has the capability of being that dominant too
He’s been a decent starter. He pitched in a hitter-friendly park in the AL East and had flashes of brilliance, but look where else he pitched – Dolphins Stadium and Rogers Centre. Two very pitcher friendly parks, so that probably helped AJ as much as anything. Not too familiar with PNC, but maybe the change of scenery clears his head.
As for what the Yankees get in return? Meh, maybe a C+ or C guy.
Rogers is a hitters park, and Sun Life/Whatever/Whatever/Whatever is pretty neutral
Rogers is a hitters park, and Sun Life/Whatever/Whatever/Whatever is pretty neutral
So, correct me if I’m wrong; this is primarily a salary dump by the Yankees and we shouldn’t expect anyone substantial in return
???
There’s been no mention of anything the Yankees will get for AJ who is a good pitcher, likely he’s just a guy who couldn’t cut it in NY, lots of them around.
Looking that way so far. I wouldn’t go getting excited about anybody we get in return unless it’s someone who’s very raw and has a miniscule amount of upside.
I guess the yankees could always add a few prospects if they want an actual return.
They should salary dump him and sign Oswalt I would have said salary dump earlier and then get CJ Wilson but its too late for that now
i think the pirates know hes a good picture, but they might be worried about how good of a painting he is
Hahahaha
i think the pirates know hes a good picture, but they might be worried about how good of a painting he is
The pressure of not being in New York, plus moving to the National League, can only help Burnett as I see it.
This is a good deal for both teams. The Pirates haven’t been unable to attract any FA pitchers this winter and AJ gives them a pitcher that can give them innings and will probably do well outside of the “spotlight” of NY Baseball (Media, Fans and pressure). For the Yankees they get a little bit a salary relief and perhaps just as importantly they free up a roster spot.
Who’d they get lol?
How do you call something a good deal when nothing is close to completed?
Would it make you feel better if I said “This would be a good deal for both teams”?
Just so you know, from my perspective any deal to move AJ Burnett is a “good deal” and since the 2nd bullet point from the bottom of the article in part states and I quote “The Yankees know they can make a Burnett deal with the Pirates…” I wrote my initial comment from that perspective.
I hope that answers your question.
It would only be a good deal for the Yankees if the PIrates pay a good amount. I’d rather the PIrates pay more and get noboody in return than the Yankes pay about 1/3 and get 1 or 2 players in return.
Obviously we have differing opinions on what would make this a good deal for the Yankees. And there is nothing wrong with that.
“The Pirates haven’t been unable” uhh?
All Yankee fans have the same thought in their mind. “Get this deal done”
The Pirates are A LOT closer to being a serious contender than people will give them credit for
And when they actually do anything worth while, they might get a shred of credit.
being in first until july 25th isnt worth while? I thought that was a major improvement concidering they have been cellar dwellars for how many years now.
They’re not going to get past their reputation by being in first on july 25th. They need to start winning, and doing so on a consistent basis each year and show players that it’s a good organization to play for. So no, it’s not worth while. Not even close. A small sample size doesn’t make up for years of crap.
but you can’t just ignore the fact that they’re making progress. they are clearly improving, not by a huge margin, but they are improving. they’re still years away from being a legitimate playoff contender/threat, but at least they’re going in the right direction. why is that so hard to understand?
I’m not ignoring that fact, I just see no reason to throw them a bone until they put together a team worth watching.
being in first until july 25th isnt worth while? I thought that was a major improvement concidering they have been cellar dwellars for how many years now.
The Bucs and the Indians were much improved at the beginning of last year, they are moving in the right direction.
In that terrible division they are.But so are the Mets ,other than the leadoff spot they have a very good lineup with 3 potential 25+ Hr guys and thats not including Bay.Add in a decent-high OBP Murphy, a decent bounce back Bay and they have a very good lineup.
I laughed when I read “so are the Mets”
The Mets are a nightmare, last place in the East!
mets vs. astros for most screwed championship. Neither of them has a farm system either,
I hope Burnett actually gets better than he was the past two seasons. Getting out of Yankee stadium and pitching to weaker lineups will certainly help. If they get him for 5M a year it will be reasonable. I don’t have a lot of faith in advanced stats “predicting” the future for some of these guys who’ve had crap seasons, but if AJ cuts down the HR rate, he could be solid.
helps out the brewers are with out braun for 50 games, pujols is gone and the astros and cubs are in full rebuild mode. the only offensive threat in the division he will have to worry about is Cinci, not saying that the cards wont be a threat but not as big of a threat as cinci with out pujols
I still think the Cards lineup will be pretty good. The division has gotten weaker overall but Milwaukee has always given Pittsburgh problems. I also heard that the Pirates don’t play Milwaukee throughout the first 50 games of the season, didn’t look it up to see if it was true or not though.
The Pirates don’t play Milwaukee until Game 51, which is ironic. I know that your point was more about how the Brewers should falter without Braun, but he’ll miss no games against Pittsburgh.
I think you are right on St. Louis. Yes, Pujols is gone, which blesses the Pirates more than any other team, but that lineup is still capable of scoring many runs.I agree with you on the Reds, which is weird, because so few ‘experts’ seem to be talking about them. I mean–Votto, Phillips, Bruce, etc.? Come on.
Truthfully, I don’t think we should be in such a huge hurry to trade Burnett away. He’s not great, but he can be an innings eater. He’s making a fair bit of money, true, but especially given the troubles with pitching in 2011, the Yankees should be happy to have an overabundance of starters. Especially when two of the starters (Nova, Pineda) are under 25 with zero 200-IP seasons under their belts. And perhaps most especially when two of the starters are over 35, both with a fair amount of injury history. And, God forbid, if Sabathia were to get injured? An extra arm can’t be a bad thing.
They need to shed money to avoid the new CBA luxury tax rules. If it was just about having his arm they’d keep him but it’s not that simple.
they have pitchers in the minors who are more then ready to come up and fill in i.e. betances, banuelos, phelps and adams. and you cant go on by saying pienda and nova have zero 200 ip under their belt, they both were rookies last year, not awhole lot of rookies can do that their first year
I’m certainly not trying to say that rookies should be expected to reach 200 innings right away. I am saying that they shouldn’t be expected to be cornerstones of the rotation immediately after their rookie season. This also applies to the young arms you mentioned like Banuelos and Betances. We need to have some veteran arms for support.
4-6 million per year for 2 years is worth it. He’s trying to rebuild whatever kind of value he has left and the Bucs are trying to deepen the rotation with a guy that has pitched well in National League and against the NL in inter league play. Not to mention, he’s in the NL central. It’s not exactly the AL East. I think he’s worth the risk. Chances are he’ll be dealt by the trading deadline anyways.
4-6 million per year for 2 years is worth it. He’s trying to rebuild whatever kind of value he has left and the Bucs are trying to deepen the rotation with a guy that has pitched well in National League and against the NL in inter league play. Not to mention, he’s in the NL central. It’s not exactly the AL East. I think he’s worth the risk. Chances are he’ll be dealt by the trading deadline anyways.
I wouldn’t be surprised if AJ is very good in the NL. As a Yankees fan I’m happy to see him go and allow Hughes and Garcia battle for the 5th spot even though AJ could probably be the best #5 in baseball. However, I think it’s just time for him to move on. He has good stuff though and could do well against teams without the DH.
The way AJ has been pitching he isn’t the best #5 in the AL East let alone in baseball. Get rid of the Yankee level offense and he’d be 4-17. I’d rather take Jamie Moyer just getting off tommy john surgery as a #5 then AJ Burnett.
I wouldn’t be surprised if AJ is very good in the NL. As a Yankees fan I’m happy to see him go and allow Hughes and Garcia battle for the 5th spot even though AJ could probably be the best #5 in baseball. However, I think it’s just time for him to move on. He has good stuff though and could do well against teams without the DH.
It’s a salary dump for the Yankees!!! I love it for the Pirates. They get a guy who will pitch above .500 in the NL Central. If his salary was 5 million a year he would be a steal. From my understanding the Pirates are spending around 10 million over 2 years.
Hello. There are only 6 West Coast clubs.
Mariners, Giants, A’s, Dodgers, Angels, Padres.
I’m guessing the A’s were in on Burnett and they were on his NTC.
i hope not, maybe if he was just under contract for one year, but more than that, no thanks
Umm….D’backs, Rockies, Astros and Rangers are considered west coast as well. Basically, draw a line from North Dakota’s eastern border straight down thru the eastern border of Texas and that’s basically considered “west coast”.
Not really considered west coast…just west
So when you became a Yanks Fan in ’78, Atlanta was on the West Coast since they were in the NL West back then, right?
There are truly only 6 “west coast” teams. I live in CA but I’d never think of calling the Royals, Cardinals, or Brewers an “east coast” team. The state you are in needs to touch the ocean to be a “coast” team.
It’s probably the 10 westernmost teams (farthest from his home in Maryland). So after that, maybe Diamondbacks, Rockies, and the two Texas teams, something like that.
If a West Coast writer called St Louis or Kansas City or Milwaukee an East Coast team, he’d never hear the end of it from those on the East Coast.
i would laugh if the yankees find a better deal in one of the other 3 teams involved and snub pittsburgh. pittsburgh then would be telling them selves they should have given up Jones lol.
More likely they’ll be laughing along with you, knowing that another team gave up too much.
-C
i would laugh if the yankees find a better deal in one of the other 3 teams involved and snub pittsburgh. pittsburgh then would be telling them selves they should have given up Jones lol.
Maybe they’ll throw in the parrot?
I wonder if Toronto is on his NTC after bailing on us for the Yankees… I’m sure he knows to never show his face around here.
Burnett’s only redeeming qualities over the duration of this contract have been his ability to stay healthy and pitch a lot of innings, albeit poorly. Watch him blow out his arm as soon as he takes off the pinstripes, I’m shocked he hasn’t spent any serious time on the DL yet.
Why would he suddenly be a DL candidate? One of Burnett’s biggest strengths is his durability. He has relatively clean mechanics and, despite his performance in NY works to keep himself in very fit pitching shape.
Because his major concern when he was a FA in 2009 was his injury history. He had missed significant time in the 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 seasons.
Because he’s going to the Pirates and they are cursed when it comes to starting pitching.
IMHO The Cleveland Indians and The Yankees could work out alot better they were trying to spend 12 to 13 Mil on outfielder by trying to sign Beltran at 2 year 24 – 26 mil.
At the time they still thought Carmona was still going to be on the payroll at 8 – 9 Mil with 2 more option years left at 11 and 13 mil for 2013 & 2014 so with the
Indians this off season wanting to deal for Swisher all off season also and the hang-up being Yankees not wanting to eat any of Swisher’ contract and wanting Brantley in return the best thing that would improve both the Yankees and the Indians would be the following.
The Indians want a vet guy to be the #5 in a rotation of Masterson / Ubaldo / Tomlin & Lowe IMO AJ would be the perfect fit No Pressure in Cleveland plus no pressure involved at the #5 he would be able to relax and just pitch again.
The Yankees are said to perfer a LH DH who better than Hafner IMO Hafner in Yankee Stadium at least Would improve his homer total back into the 20 homer range and Swisher is the Vet Bat the Indians would perfer in LF
So I perpose a DH LH Bat Hafner / LH Bat Lf / CF Lead-off Guy Brantley young team control long term
For
Swisher + 3 mil for this season & AJ and the Indians pay 1/2 of all remaining monies owed to AJ.
And this also makes AJ valued piece to the rest of the league again if he has a bounce back year and the Indians fail to contend AJ would again be a piece that the Indians could pick up 2 or 3 mil of the 2013 contract and deal him at the deadline for a couple decent prospects to a contrender.
Hafner is a Free agent at the end of this season and Brantley will be at right around league Min over the next 3 seasons All Yankees owe is 8 mil of AJ’s contract next season. Win Win all the way around.
The Yankees end up saving about 11 mil this season and with Hafners buy out for 2013 The Yankees save 6 mil in the deal for the 2013 season.
The Indians then are able to balance there line-up with Swisher in right and being able to use some type of platoon with a Combo of Duncan / LaPorta / Canzler w/ Santana getting about 20 games rest as a RH bat at DH during the season Win Win again.
That would be a horrible deal for the Indians. What good is one year of Swisher for five years of Brantley?? Why are the Indians taking on half of Burnett’s salary when everyone else is only taking on 1/4-1/3??
I guess some of the Burnett salary is taken away via losing Hafner, but I don’t think it balances out…plus there’s still the other two players to consider.
They’re giving up far too much for far too little…
-C
You are forgetting that the indians are not going to have to pay Carmona or whatever they are call him these days that is another 7 mil and saving and you are forgetting they try to sign a few guys at up to 12 mil Beltran / Pena / Oswalt so they must have after signing Kotchman another 7 to 9 mil after you minus Kotchmans 3 mil.
Carmona has nothing to do with this deal, so I’m not sure why you bring it up. Just because they get savings there doesn’t make this trade good for the Indians.
The proposed deal itself is horrible.
-C
The Indians are delusional. Nobody will take Hafner even if they ate 90% of his salary.
Don’t know why the Yankees are so enamored with Eric Chavez. Seems like they could do far better than him.
I like Chavez, he is a gamer. Yanks like his defense and experience.
some of the commenters here must love trolling Pirates fans. “BURNETT IS HORRIBLE, WE SHOULD BE PAYING TEH PIRATES TO TAKE HIM OFF OUR HANDS!” turns quickly into “Burnett is a solid pitcher, we should get a good prospect from the Pirates to trade him.”
I’ve never understood why teams trying to trade mediocre players with bad contracts insist on getting actual prospects back. The Yankees not only don’t need Burnett, they don’t want him, and having him on the roster is actually hurting the team by preventing them from signing a better DH/carrying a better reliever. If you want to get rid of a contract like that you should be grateful even if the Pirates send you a kid from the mail-room back. It’s not like 10 million dollars isn’t nothing, plus the other benefits aforementioned.
i think the only way that comes CLOSE to happening is if the Yankees eat ALL of Burnett’s salary, which won’t happen. so the odds of this trade happening are about the same as me playing for the Pirates tomorrow: slim to none.
Deal will get done. And the Yanks wont pay all of AJ’ salary
it’s already been reported that the pirates are willing to pay $10 mil and it came from a pittsburgh reporter so why the doubt?
If the deal goes through, the Pirates will only be trading players who are not on the 40-man roster. If that is the case, who would be the player bumped off the bubble when A.J. gets added?
Jared Hughes or maybe Chris Leroux are my guesses.
Don’t think it will be Leroux since he’s out of options.
I will cry if the Indians trade Hafner for Burnett.
me too
I see Burnett traded by tomarrow!
Tim Alderson will more than likely be released before the season is over. You want him, take him then. His fastball is about 83 mph now. He isn’t going anywhere in the Pirates sytem.
Interesting situation right here. As a Jays fan I have to say its nice to see the Yankees looking human with payroll for a change.
Heh, hey we’ve got a “wrong player” and we want “right players” for him.
That’ll work out.
I also have to like the situation because the Yankees have the shed payroll to afford a 35+ yr old DH, and the payroll theyre shedding is one of the bad contracts they threw at (insert top free agent at the time here).
Hopefully this new Yankee way will help the other teams in the division over take them.
I’m a hardcore Yankees fan, and I wasn’t a fan of the Burnett signing from day one. He has had his fair share of issues, though he does have something left in the tank. I think a pitchers park, no DH and relief from the New York pressure would do him some good. With the amount the Yankees are going to pay they’ll have to get a “B” level prospect (Robbie Grossman, Jeff Locke or someone along those lines, Starling Marte is probably too much and also on the 40 man). Burnett is also still decent, his K rate remains high, and occasionally (one in every 5 starts or an inning a game) he will flash the tools that once made him such a sought after pitcher. Anyone thinking of acquiring a guy like Taillon, Cole or Bell (neither of who can be traded yet anyway) are crazy, because I don’t think the Pirates GM is smoking crack.
The yankees need to get Lambo. If Long canget his hands on him we might actuallt have something
Maybe it’s taking so long because the Pirates are having trouble getting the money out of the bank. I can only take out $200 max out of my ATM per day. Imagine $13mil?!?!