Multiple teams are discussing right-hander A.J. Burnett with the Yankees, according to yesterday's rumors. The right-hander vetoed a trade to the Angels, so it's down to the Pirates and at least one unknown club. Burnett will earn $33MM between now and the end of the 2013 season, and the question of how much money the Yankees absorb figures to shape trade talks. Here are the latest rumors as we await resolution on a deal:
- The Yankees and Pirates are nearing a deal that would send Burnett to Pittsburgh for two marginal prospects and $13-15MM in salary relief, reports George A. King III of The New York Post. "It will happen this weekend,'' said King's source. "Probably Saturday.''
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Yankees have countered the Pirates offer with a sliding scale, meaning they'd have to surrender lesser prospects the closer they get to eating $15MM of the $33MM left on Burnett's contract. He says it would be an upset if he's not traded before the Yankees open camp on Sunday (all Twitter links).
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday reminds us (on Twitter) that MLB will need to approve any trade because of the large amount of cash changing hands.
- The Yankees and Pirates know which players would go from Pittsburgh to New York if the Pirates take on $13MM in salary, Davidoff tweets.
- The Yankees and Pirates should complete a deal within 24 hours, according to Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio and ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- A team other than the Pirates and Indians made a proposal for Burnett yesterday and the Yankees appear to be approaching a decision, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (Twitter links). Burnett told the Yankees three weeks ago that he would block a trade to Anaheim.
- Considerable optimism exists that the Yankees and Pirates will work out a deal, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. Heyman adds that the Yankees will pay $20MM of Burnett's contract.
Mike Axisa contributed to this post.
I still think he should be traded to the Astros. Houston is a larger media market than Pittsburgh, the market could support his salary and the team could use another starter.
Burnett’s salary, even after the Yankees eat much of it, will consume too much of the Pirates payroll and would hurt the team. The Pirates will earn as much all season as the Yankees could make in a few games at home.
The Pirates can afford to pay $5 mil a year for a 200 inning starter. That’s not going to break them. AND if AJ performs well/decently and the Pirates aren’t competing then his salary would not be difficult at all for them to move to a contender looking to solidify the back of their rotation.
Only to a contender in the East, which limits the market somewhat…it would be ironic if they ended up shipping him back to the Yankees at the deadline though.
Wasn’t the stipulation only to a team in the east? I’m still baffled the Pirates are involved if he really wants to go to a contender.
He can’t block a trade to the Pittsburgh. He doesn’t have a full no-trade, it was just that he could block trades to certain teams (I believe all the west coast teams and maybe some in the mid-west).
Why? He and his family are based in Maryland. His wife does not want to move to the West coast. So, the Phillies, Nationals, Orioles, Pirates, Braves and Marlins are the best landing spots for AJ. As is the Indians , since that is not as far away from his home base
If he’s performing well, I could see the Phillies trying to get him for the back end. I don’t know the Phillies’ situation though. Is their projected rotation like:
1) Roy Halladay
2) Cliff Lee
3) Cole Hamels
4) Vance Worley
5) Joe Blanton/Kyle Kendrick?
I don’t follow them much, but If the 5 slots don’t work out due to injury/ineffectiveness Burnett(if doing well) could be a nice 5.Then again, the Phillies are already old as heck, so adding another old guy isn’t necessarily good.
The consensus seems to be that Houston and Texas are likely both in his no-trade clause.
He wont go that far west!!!
being a Mets fan , I don’t get why you are so concerned about the Pirates salary. You need to be concerned about the Mets now bordering on acting like a small market team..
Selig needs to run the Wilpons out of town and force them to sell. No, the Mets will never be able to comptete with the Yankees salary level, but it is still unacceptable to have a payroll under 100 million or bordering just over it when you are supposed to be a major market team that is based in NY.
Have fun in an empty Citifield as the Mets finish last and the Marlins and Nationals pass your team up and get better, while the Mets get worst.
Look up. At least next year, the Mets will be one of the first 6 teams to pick in the draft.
I like it that the Pirates are actually acquiring a player from the Yankees instead of the other way around, but A.J. Burnett?
Instead of the other way around? Tell me who was the last Pirates homegrown player that the Yankees signed as a FA? None come to mind. (Who knows, I might be missing a very easy one)
Are you sure you’re not thinking about all these trades that these 2 teams have done – Nady, Marte, Ohelndorf, Karstens, etc.
Since when does “acquiring” only mean “signing”? Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this AM.
If you’re talking about trades, then saying “instead of the other way around” doesn’t make sense. Obviously unless it’s a player straight up for cash (which might be a first for the Yankees) , a trade would have to involve players on both teams.
Seriously man, have some coffee. It’s very simple- usually the Yankees are attempting to acquire the established player from the Pirates in exchange for prospects, this time it’s the Pirates attempting to acquire the established player from the Yankees in exchange for prospects. Therefore, the trade is “the other way around” from what we’re used to seeing between these teams. Add a turbo shot too, maybe, on me ;)
“usually the Yankees are attempting to acquire the established player from the Pirates in exchange for prospects,”
So you were referring to Major League players? Well when you said player, I thought you were referring to any player, whether it’s a prospect or a current MLB player.
Seriously?
The Pirates/Yankees thing is obviously about MONEY. With the Yankees being a stand in for all teams with super high payrolls.
I was referring to past trades between the 2. Not this one.
Looks like you hit a nerve.
But I suppose I could have been a little more clear myself, so I’ll join you for that cup of joe.
Is it going to be one of those
$300 cups of coffee with like a billion shots in it?
Nah, I’m not on the Yankees payroll. The best I can spring for is Dunkin.
Just get yourself a coupon.
Hahah I saw that article, I want one of those coupons so I can make a more expensive one and be on the news.
How do you acquire a player from another team as a FA? Pretty sure he’s talking about trades.
It was the way he wrote it. By saying “instead of the other way around”, it seems as if he’s saying the Yankees get all Pirate players and the Pirates don’t get any Yankee players. Well unless the Pirates give up players and the Yankees only give up cash in previous trades, then obviously you can’t say “instead of the other way around”, considering both teams gave up players in trades.
Ah, hm, yes… I see what you’re talking about there. I think there’s a perception that the Yankees use their Pirates as a minor league affiliate by stealing players in lopsided trades. But, as Todd points out down there, that obviously hasn’t been the case in recent years.
I think the last time the Pirates traded a good player to the Yankees was in 1975 when they sent Willie Randolph and Dock Ellis to the Yankees for Doc Medich.
I’m sure most Pirate fans blame Bob Nutting for this move.
Didn’t they once find a way to trade for Bonds and Griffey without costing much of anything?
Yeah on a comedy show (my favorite show, well 2nd to Curb Your Enthusiasm)
tony womack
Well he didn’t go straight from Pittsburgh to NY. And he was HORRIBLE with the Yankees.
I know. I’m so sick of the Pirates trading all their players to the Yankees. Like Eric Hinske or Xavier Nady….and only getting players back like Tabata or Karstens.
what?!?! The Pirates and Yankees are talking Burnette… did NOT see this coming!
Really – I swear it came out of nowhere!
I feel like Burnett’s been a member of the Pirates for a year already.
Alfonso Soriano for AJ Burnett
Why would the Yankees want Soriano for three more years? Soriano’s 3 years plus age/production is what is keeping him from being moved, more than the money IMHO.
This better not just be a salary dump—despite his woes AJ is a legitimate #2 starter
Well as long as he doesn’t actually have to perform, he should be the best #2 in the league.
Legitimate potential but let’s not act as if he’s performed up the standards as a #2 over the last two years. If he PERFORMED like a legitimate #2 then I guarantee you the Yanks wouldn’t be looking to move him.
Salary dumps are usually for teams that can’t afford a guy and want someone to take all of their salary and ask for little in return.In this case the Yanks are probably eating $20 mil and want a couple of “decent” (no top 10 organization ranked is my guess) prospects in return.
I am sure you feel well rested after that two year nap you’ve taken
I can only imagine the atrophy that would have happened during that time.
he’s a legitimate #2 starter on the pirates, that’s for sure
Wake me when “considerable optimism” turns into a deal has been “consummated”.
Maybe this thing is FINALLY coming to a head.
I read this and feel a sudden urge to go for a stroll down by the 7-11
Thought about this AJ Burnett trade… I’ve fallen on the side of being against it. The dude is 35, has been out of his prime, and comes with a price tag of 15 million over two years. I asked myself, what is he going to do for this team? I don’t think he’s going to be a catalyst and I don’t think he has ever been a leader; so he is not going to really mentor the younger guys. I think the Pirates would make this move partially to bring in a name. I feel their intentions are not just to bring in a “good” player, but to also create a buzz in the fan base so they buy tickets (which jumped up a bit in prices this offseason). Overall, I think this trade is going against what the Pirates have been preaching to do. I understand they need to spend money, but I think this Burnett deal is them trying to make a desperate move late. We shall see.
I glad Neil Huntington is standing his ground and not being pushed around by the Yankees. The only thing he should do now is to set a time when the deal should be done or its off the table! It’s not like the Pirates need AJ, they just want AJ!! The Pirates have other internal options that could fill in just fine.
Could the mystery team be the Nationals ? Astros might be too far west
Although the Pirates might be the best matchup trade-wise Aye
Maybe they wont even trade him and try to get their moneys worth ??
The Nationals don’t need starting pitching. They have Zimmermann, Strasburg, Gonzalez, and Jackson before you get to Lannan, Wang, and some young guys. No chance they’d shell out for another starter making real money.
I’m convinced the mystery team is the Orioles. He wants to be close to home, and I’ve heard a rumor that the Orioles play somewhere close to Maryland.
mystery team has given Yanks a proposal for Burnett according to Buster (not Cleveland or Pittsburgh)
Baltimore for Jones :)
Burnett to a possible mystery team and the Yankees are expected to make a Decision soon.
South Beach?
The price tag for the Pirates will be somewhere between $5-6 million a year, and it’s only a two-year commitment. That’s pretty light by today’s standards. In return, they get a guy who should start 30+ games and pitch 190+ innings. Burnett’s ERA against non-AL East teams is a more reasonable 4.15, and add in a move to the DH-less NL, and it’s not hard to see Burnett putting up an ERA 3.90-4.10 range. Certainly worth the money.
He has the same career ERA+ as Jack Morris. $5-6 million a year is really low for a hall of famer.
Except that neither of them are HOF’ers.
I was obviously serious.
I wonder if Burnett’s no-trade clause allows him to block trades to Toronto.
Sure won’t be close to his home in Maryland there, thats for sure.
ok who th H E double hockey sticks is this other team?pirates, indians were one angels but aj blocked a trade to LA so who are the other ones?
Baltimore
Baltimore
Bowden (if you believe him) says that NY & PGH close to finalizing a deal and could be done in 24 hours. And that NY is weighing the other team’s offer
Matt Morris all over again for the Pirates. AJ isn’t a leader, and he won’t be a catalyst. Not sure if he is worth the money and prospects.
Except the Pirates took on the entire remaining Morris contract at the time. The Pirates were further from competing at the time and paid Morris twice as much.
My speculation on AJ’s NTC would be as follows:
1) LAA – this is almost confirmed.
2) LAD
3) OAK
4) SF
5) SEA
6) ARI
7) COL
8) TEX
9) HOU
10) MIN
Pretty much anything outside of the east coast and midwest.
Let me preface this by saying that I am a fan of Neal Huntington and I appreciate the fact that he actually has a plan and is sticking by it. However, he does need to get better with his major league acquisitions and it’s a tired act to keep pushing the window of contention further and further back.
With that said, if Dave Littlefield was making this same trade, he would be mocked to no end, but it’s seemingly ok because Huntington is doing it.
If Littlefield was doing it, he’d trade a useful player and get no salary relief on Burnett. Like the Matt Morris deal.
Who did the Pirates trade to get Matt Morris?
Rajai Davis. Not a star or anything, but someone who offered more to the Pirates than the rotting remains of Matt Morris.
Interesting thought, only when Littlefield acquired Matt Morris, I believe he agreed to pay all the remaining salary for Matt Morris and still gave up another player in Rajai Davis.
I think the Pirates are making a mistake if they give the Yankees any decent prospects in this deal. The Pirates hold the leverage of helping the Yankees out with some salary relief.
Cashman has been clear. More money, lesser prospects. Less money, better prospects.
If Pittsburgh doesn’t want him for $5 to $6-1/2 million per year and some middling prospects, either the Yankees trade him elsewhere or hold on to him until the trade deadline when the Yankees would be likely to get more for him anyway. No great shakes for the Yankees in any case.
Frankly, the trade has much greater implications for the Pirates and their pitching.
If it happens, I expect the Pirates to get the better of the deal, just as they always have in deals with the Yankees in recent years.
Those were mostly deadline deals where the Pirates could afford to take advantage of the Yankees’ desparation to contend. The Yankees don’t have to trade Burnett, but if they do there is no way they can “lose” the deal since he’s already proven failure in NY, his replacements will likely out-pitch him and they’re saving money even if the prospects never turn into anything.
Those were mostly deadline deals where the Pirates could afford to take advantage of the Yankees’ desparation to contend. The Yankees don’t have to trade Burnett, but if they do there is no way they can “lose” the deal since he’s already proven failure in NY, his replacements will likely out-pitch him and they’re saving money even if the prospects never turn into anything.
Agreed…but I’m getting a little worried. If I see Grossman or ZVR mentioned in the MLBTR report when this finally gets done, I’m going to throw up. Throw them Matt Curry or Calvin Anderson, or another low league guy. No way should they get a top-20 or so prospect.
I totally agree with you. No Grossman, ZVR, Dodson, Kingman, Black, Cain, Cunningham, etc. I don’t even want them to give up Curry. How about Quinton Miller and Calvin Anderson? Or David Rubenstein and Trent Stevenson?
The Yankees don’t have to trade Burnett, they choose to because they can. This trade will have little impact on the MLB roster so the Pirates don’t have any more leverage than the Yankees do except they have a ML need and the Yankees don’t when it comes to this deal.
The way AJ Burnett is burning a hole in the Yankees roster reminds me a little bit of the way Nick Swisher burned a hole in the Chicago White Sox roster — insofar as a little extra circumspection would probably lead / have led to far better trading terms. I’ve been a Burnett apologist ever since he single-handedly saved the ’09 World Series for us Yankee fans, and I’ve said it before over the past few days, but seriously: Does it really make sense to trade this guy at the precise moment that the spread between his trade-market value and his true value is at its least favorable to the team? The guy pitches six times this coming season the way he did against Boston on September 1st last year, and all would be forgiven, I guarantee it.
I’m with you. Good AJ is still pretty good. Bad AJ kills you, but with an offense like the Yanks they can save the game if its not that bad. AJ had a solid start to the season last year. Decent number by the break and fell off in August. I’m not saying he is worth his contract, but he is far from the dregs of mlb starting pitching.
On the other hand, saving $10M+ over two years and signing a DH is probably whats best for the team with their abundance of SP.
It will take more than 6 good starts to erase 2 years of mediocrity…I guarantee it.
Trade him to the unknown team for an unknown PTBNL
Why are there updates everyday about a guy with an ERA over 5 the last two years possibly getting traded?
Been asking myself the same question for days! We don’t need his rag arm or his expensive contract, and that that price; who does??
Why is such a mediocre pitcher getting so much press?
I guess I’m still getting hung up on the whole – “she won’t fly thing”. Since when is Pittsburgh a stone’s throw from NY? You’re talking an almost 7 hr drive each way. Can’t see the wife making that drive on a regular basis. If she’s in Baltimore then it’s still almost 5 hours.
That’s a heck of a lot closer than LA but is she really going to be traveling frequently to those other cities?
Why not get knocked out and fly on a private jet to the West Coast when you want to watch him pitch in person.
yeah that makes a lot of sense. take drugs and get on a tin can you’re scared of for 5 hrs orrrrrrrrr just hop in a car and be chauffeured there. it’s only 250 miles.
To the mets for Jason bay lol. Garbage in garbage out. (GIGO)
Makes sense that Baltimore would be the Mystery team. They are eating a huge plate of crow courtesy of Korean Baseball. Pittsburgh could use that arm. The Nats? No. Philly? Bullpen only. Miami? Perhaps….
I doubt that their is a mystery team. NY is trying to scare Pittsburgh but if that team did exist then the focus wouldn’t be on Pittsburgh everyday.
Maybe one of the players going to New York is Rhp Brian Morris.
HA! That way the Jason Bay deal would actually have paid some dividends!
My bet is on the mystery team. AJ Burnett will do well outside NY like RJ and K Rogers did after leaving the fishbowl
Hmm, maybe a three-way team swap.
Angels get McGehee
Pirates get Burnett
Yankees get Abreu
I don’t see the Pirates giving up McGehee. I don’t think they want to just give Alvarez the job at third right now.
Sounds good to me.
Sounds good to me.
I doubt mcgehee is getting traded he will be splitting time with both alverez and and jones at 1st and 3rd. so I dont see mcgehee being traded. i doubt its even a three team trade. but wouldnt mind Alverez going to NY, a lefty bat with some power. i would just take him for AJ and cash
Why the hell would the Pirates want Burnett?
Veteran leadership, innings eater.
I like Burnett going to Pittsburgh. I don’t think pitching in baseball’s toughest division for the past six years is the soul indicator of value. Looking on fangraphs, his xfip was nearly a run lower than his era the past two seasons, which shows that he is not a terrible pitcher but is just a victim of bad luck
It also could relieve the pressure off him…pitching in a small market. That is always the danger for the Yankees and Mets—can this pitcher A thrive psychologically in the NYC market?
I like Burnett going to Pittsburgh. I don’t think pitching in baseball’s toughest division for the past six years is the soul indicator of value. Looking on fangraphs, his xfip was nearly a run lower than his era the past two seasons, which shows that he is not a terrible pitcher but is just a victim of bad luck
Sent him to the NL !
Breaking News from NY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is now Thursday soon to be Friday and Burnett still sucks…..
Not going to lie I’m a little nervous about what Neal Huntington is considering a “marginal” prospect..
im curious on what he thinks is a ” marginal ” prospect. hope pedro feliz or send tabata back lol.
Pretty sure Pedro Feliz isn’t a prospect…or on the Pirates.
NO!!!! Don’t back down now Neil!!! Stand your ground!! Only $10.0 Mil is what you will take on…..No more!!!! Walk away if you have to because you don’t NEED AJ, You just want AJ!!!! STAND YOUR GROUND!!!!!
seems like its going to be from 13-15 mill. Not really sure what the Pirates are thinking, and how the Yankees made themselves look like they have all the leverage in the situation. crazy
AJ is going to be your ace. Wake up.
Burnett has to be traded before reporting to Yankees camp. There’s no way this headcase does well with NY after they actively shopped him. He’ll also get booed out of the Stadium when he pitches poorly.
Need another starter and we’re gonna get that. We wouldn’t be in this situation if we were able to lure in bigger named players like we tried this off season (Oswalt, Jackson) we couldn’t get them so take a chance on Burnett. He’s pitching in a tough division, going to a weak one might be what he needs. “marginal” prospect isn’t going to be a very good prospect. We built our system up for a reason. Taking the right steps.
Weaver, Haren, Wilson, Santana, an unspectacular farm system outside of Mike Trout, 4 huge contracts with Pujols, Wells, Hunter, Abreu. Why on earth are the Angels even being mentioned as a possibility?
According to John Heyman, the pirates would have to give up 2 non-roster prospects to the yankees and also eat money. The Pirates organization is probably thinking, “we are already taking AJ Burnett off your hands, why must we give you prospects too?!”
I think instead of signing Ibanez it makes sense for the Yanks to trade for Carlos Lee they tried for Hafner that deal fell apart, they tried for Garett Jones the Bucs said no, and they got Abreu but AJ said no, so I think it’s obvious they’d rather have a DH from trade then Damon, Ibanez, Matsui, or the recently acquired Russell Branyan or even Andruw Jones so I think Lee would be a great fit for the Yanks and I think AJ would be a good fit for the Astors plus Houston is sort of close to his home in Nebraska I think a bench with Jones, Nunez, Cervelli,