A.J. Burnett Rumors: Saturday

Instead of trading for Peavy, why don't the Cubs go after Burnett? I don't like the 5 years offer, but 3 would make sense.

While Burnett is insisting on a 5 year deal, obviously he will sign with the Cubs for just 3!!!

what a ridiculous post

Wouldn't it make more sense for the NL teams to sign Sheets rather than Burnett? Sheets is rumored to be asking for 2 or 3 years. Both are high risk, high return guys who are great when "on". The commitment to Sheets would be for less time.
I can see the Yanks and Sox going after Burnett over Sheets because Burnett has had success in the AL, more specifically the AL East.

These reports are so inconsistent. Didn't an earlier report say that the Yanks initial offer to AJ was for 5 yrs/80? If not then what was it? I wouldn't mind the Yanks offer him 4 years/60 with innings/starts/awards incentives that could push it to $20 mil each year. I think AJ's people have to be realistic that his health is a concern with any team interested in signing him. In good faith I think they should jump at that offer.

But the bottom line is Wang and Joba are the only definites for nest year. CC is a must. If we can't get him then that would be a bad look for us and the rotaion. If we get CC but don't get AJ on a more realistic deal then I wonldn't be too upset.

Question though. If AJ does get a 5 year deal for someone then does that give Sheets the power to ask for guaranteed 4 or 5 as well? Does anyone think Sheets will sign before AJ?

I'm really hoping LeBron James, who is good friends with CC, will help sell CC on coming to NY. On the other hand though, despite being a die hard Knicks fan I think I'd rather see LeBron stay in Cleveland...lol. I need at least one Cleveland team to be worth a damn if I'm stuck here.

"But the bottom line is Wang and Joba are the only definites for nest year."

The only thing definite about Joba is that he will land on the DL and cannot be counted on to throw 30+ starts for the team. The kid has basically never thrown more than 100 professional innings, and you're marking him down as a definite?

Right now the Yankees rotation has one pitcher - Wang. That's it.

I think people are worried about his arm.. AJ hasn't had any "tommy john" injuries.. Sheets has... Forearm trouble is one of the tell tale signs of tommy john.. MRI showing damage or not...

Pavano didn't show any signs of "structural damage" before his Tommy John surgery...

09/17/2008 0 days out Right forearm tightness, elbow pain

That's what is scaring teams.. I think once the other chips fall - he'll get a deal somewhere...

no.. they're starting him in the rotation with an innings limit.. I think it was around 150-160 Innings.,

so Joba gets injured in the middle of the year while being rushed to be a starter and he cant be reliable starter. Yeah, that makes perfect sense.

"so Joba gets injured in the middle of the year while being rushed to be a starter and he cant be reliable starter. Yeah, that makes perfect sense."

I read that Joba has never crossed the 130 inning mark, at Nebraska, in the minors and in the bigs. Never topped 130 innings in a season.

Combine that with the injury concerns which accelerated his drop in the first round, and you've got plenty of data to support the argument Joba is not a dependable starter. Maybe he will one day become just that but it's certainly reasonable to argue that he currently is not...nor ever has been.

Joba's not a starter. His arm (at least at this stage) cant take throwing 97-101mph during a game. The only guy who's ever thrown as hard as Joba, started, remained a starter and been successful, is Randy Johnson, second on the all time strikeout list. Joba is NOT Randy Johnson. Joba is a reliever with an electric fastball and hard breaking slider that would be much more effective after being set up by a Wang or Pettite. Even Jorge Posada said it. Get 100 innings out of the pen from him and be happy with it. I dont see why every pitcher who's got good stuff is assumed to be a starter.

Santana -- I for the most part agree with you. I would rather see Joba being groomed for Rivera's job.. but, at this stage also they're in need of rotation help... see if he can handle it... if not, then put him back in the pen..

You can you a few examples for both ways... I mean look at Gagne... he was incredible for 2-3 years.. that was it.. so his arm is going to be able to take it or not... regardless of a pen, or starters role...

Phil Hughes by the way should not be relied on to be a starter right off the bat next year also. I think he should be groomed in SWB and called back up maybe a month or two in. You need to secure a 5th starter thats not Kennedy/Hughes. As far as kennedy goes i dont think he's ever going to make it at the majors level and i've been saying it since watching him play minors ball. He doesn't have enough pop to his fastball, and he doesn't have the control that Tom Glavine or Mike Mussina does to work around that. I dont see him being effective at least in the rotation, most likely at all. Hughes is still a kid. Don't bring him in immediately expecting him to perform. You are going to bring down his confidence when he gets hammered his first or second game and then you are going to have a repeat of last year. Let him work out some mechanics and get his confidence up in Triple-A.

Suggestions? Someone like a Paul Byrd to fill that spot. Just someone who will give you a few good starts until Hughes is ready.

well that too. what stuff? are we referring to? His 88-89mph flat fastball? Sure he's gone nice break on his breaking pitches, but doesn't make a bit of difference if you dont control them and keep them down in the zone. Kennedy still cant seem to keep the ball below the batters waist, let alone at the knees.

I think having Joba as a set up guy for the next 3 years is a waste. He's always been a starter. As long as the Yanks limit him to a 150 innings then I think he;ll be fine.

The Yanks already have a possible replacement for Rivera in Mark Melancon (missed all of 07 due to tj surgery). He was set to be a 1st rnd pick but dropped down to the 9th rnd because he needed surgery. The Yanks knew he would bounce back and last year he blew thru A, AA and AAA w/ combined totals of 8-1 in 44 games, 89 so's in 95 innings w/ a 2.27 era.

The scouting report on Melancon is above-average fastball with command , a power curve that some in the organization equate as an out pitch to Chamberlain's slider and an ability to hide the ball in his delivery. However, what every Yankees official cites as Melancon's greatest asset is a serious, professional, determined makeup.

The fact that Kennedy is lights out in the minors but struggled in the bigs makes me feel like it's more his nerves than anything else. He should start the season in AAA and be the 1st to come if there's a need. This is what I think the staff should be provided that we sign CC and one other guy.

CC
Wang
Burnett/Perez/Sheets
Joba
Pettite

Hughes (6th starter to rest Joba. Can get 10-15 starts. Long relief guy. he can rack up 130 innings w/ less pressure. If he succeeds then he becomes a starter in 2010 and replaces Pettite).

Mariano (closer)
Bruney (set up)
Marte (lefty set up)
Coke (lefty specialist)
Ramirez
Robertson

Minors waiting: Melancon (bullpen callup), Aceves (rotation callup), Kennedy (rotation call up).

A sign has be sent to all rookies that the Yanks will give you a shot but that you have to make the most of it when a spot is available.

okay whoever thinks that the yankees sign two pitchers with injury problems (burnett sheets) are very stupid. they did that in the past and it failed(pavano, wright) yes when sheets is healthy he is very good, so is burnett. you want a guy for a lot of innings like cc. lowe isnt aposibility becuase u cnt have 2 sinkerball pitchers pitch in the same series. it just doent work