12
2012
A.J. Burnett Close To Being Traded To Pirates
An article by Hojo's Mojo
It looks like A.J. Burnett is on his way to the Pirates. According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Pirates and Yankees have a framework for a possible A.J. Burnett deal in place.
The deal is not done but the two teams have a lot of common ground and Pittsburgh is still the frontrunner.
Yesterday, ESPN’s Wallace Matthews reported that their were negotiations between the Yankees and the Pirates to move A.J. Burnett and his hefty contract between now and the start of the season.
According to a source, the hangup is “money and players,” namely, how much of the $33 million remaining on Burnett’s contract the Yankees are willing to eat and which player(s) the Pirates are willing to part with.
Rightfielder Garrett Jones, a left-handed bat whom the Yankees coveted, is definitely off the table. Still, the source said “This thing has legs and it is real. There’s a chance something will happen there, although not today.”
About the Author: Rob Johnson
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It should be noted the deal is for PLAYERS not the singular PLAYER!
We paid ALL of Beltran’s salary the Yankees are negotiating a partial payment and Beltran is a lot better than Burnett is!
Will be interesting to see what they get back!
This deal just shows the arrogance of the NY Yankees. They have a team, the small market Pirates no less, willing to take on $10 million of Burnett’s contract and the Yankees aren’t satisfied with that. No, they want them to eat 1/2 of the remaining $33 million! Be happy that someone, ANYONE, is willing to take ANY part of his contract and be rid of him! They signed Burnett, they gave him that ridiculous contract, so they should be happy that anyone at all is willing to take him off of their hands. To me, only owing $23 million and getting rid of him would be worth while if I were the Yankees. But, when you’re the Yankees, I guess you’ve earned the right to want your cake and eat it too!
Well, wouldn’t you hold out for the best deal you can get? What’s wrong with that?
Let’s see, in the last two years Burnett is 21-26, 5.20 ERA, 1.472 WHIP, and 56 HR allowed. That ANYONE wants him at all at this point has to be considered a miracle. AJ Burnett has been to the Yankees what Jason Bay has been to the Mets: an albatross of a contract. It’s okay to TRY for the best deal possible, but if the deal falls apart because of money and they end up stuck with him, that’s called being greedy. The only other option would be a swap of bad contracts, say Burnett for Adam Dunn. So, if I’m the Yankees I’d settle for $10 million in salary relief, one or two middle of the road prospects and be done with it.
It’s not arrogance, it’s the product of a team that really doesn’t HAVE to make a trade because they are not a team that cares about pinching pennies!
Perhaps the holdup by the yanks is because the Pirates aren’t giving away any decent prospects we have no idea who the names are in this deal other than Burnett!
The Yankees aren’t making this trade to save money. They are making it to save a roster spot!
They don’t want to carry him for the next 4 years and would be happy to pay all of his salary if they were getting something good in return.
My guess is they aren’t getting anything all that good in the package they have talked about and as a result want them to pay more of the Salary instead! Or insisting on more money to get the Pirates to give up better players in the deal!
And while Burnett @23Mil is a bad deal. Burnett @11-12Mil is right in line for what he is going to give you.
It’s not about the money? Really? Then why are they asking the Pirates to take on 1/2 of Burnett’s remaining contract? If was about a roster spot, they’d take the Pirates offer and be rid of Burnett. I just don’t see how you can say this is NOT about money, when the Yankees are insisting on Pittsburgh taking on more of the contract. No, they are not going to get a great return for Burnett player wise. They just want to be rid of him. They are one of the few teams, if not the only team, that can absorb a $23 million hit and not be too adversely affected. And if it’s better talent you’re looking for you don’t insist another team take on more money AND give you better talent at the same time.
Because thats the market rate for a Pitcher like Burnett!
Untill you know what players they are getting you can’t really make any assesment of what they are getting in return.
Like I said the yankees would probably pay more of it if the players they were getting back were better prospects and this insistence on the Pirates paying more is more likely to get those better prospects than more money from the Pirates!
“It’s not arrogance, it’s the product of a team that really doesn’t HAVE to make a trade because they are not a team that cares about pinching pennies!”
Then why is it hung up on the Pirates taking on more of Burnette’s salary?
“The Yankees aren’t making this trade to save money. They are making it to save a roster spot!”
Then why are they not just making it?
I already told you WHY but I will repeat it for the reading challenged…
PERHAPS the Package the Pirates are trying to trade to them is not good enough to warrant paying more than half of his contract?
11-13 Mil for Burnett is about right for his stats!
Should the Yankees take A ball Table scraps in trade and STILL pay most of his salary?
Why would they do that?
I know you would applaud that if Sandy did it but the Yankees don’t have the same Salary focus he does right now!
If 11-13 is just about right for Burnett’s stats, then why are people griping about Pelf? He must be a screaming bargain at only 6 or so.
Well he’s only getting that 6 because he has yet to hit FA!
As for why people are screaming about his salary…Well ask the ones who are screaming about it!
I haven’t once said Pelf is paid too much…
My posts regarding Pelf have been about wasted talent not lack of it or overpay for it.
He has the pitches to be a good pitcher, maybe even a great pitcher….
His problem is he throws instead of pitches and if and when he learns to pitch he will get way more than just 13 Mil!
He has to start to think deeper about his approach as opposed to thinking about what is working that day and throwing it until the Coach says they hit that pitch enough your done!
I think we can all agree that the NY Yankees are an arrogant group (more so their bandwagon fans), but, if the other team involved is willing to accept the terms, how does that make the Yankees arrogant?
It may make the other team “not to smart”, but it doesn’t mean, in this case, the Yankees are arrogant.
The whole “pinching pennies” comment is what I think is arrogant, as well as ignorant. As if those making the deals for the NY Mets today are “pinching pennies” for sport and not necessity. That or someone just has their head under a rock.
Yeah well if the mets are being FORCED to pinch pennies then why didn’t they do that with Francisco and Rauch?
Why weren’t they forced to pinch pennies there?
You buy their excuses fine but whose head is under a rock and hiding from the truth here?
The truth here is they are wasting just as much money only wasting it on 5 players as opposed to one!
no we don’t all agree the Yankees are an arrogant bunch. Sounds like sour grapes to me.
You ever see Brian Cashman interviewed? He’s a stand up guy, honest as can be, and not arrogant at all. You want arrogance? Look no further than your own GM.
And Metsie is right it’s all relative. Sandy is wasting money on all kinds of bad moves and we can all see that because other GMs are signing good players for the same money the Mets could have had. And yet the fan base is not united in outrage over the job this GM is doing.
You get what you deserve than.
Cashman’s honest? Must be just in his capacity as GM, because he sure hasn’t demonstrated honesty in his personal life.
Not arrogant? You’re talking about a guy who tried to buy off a former mistress who was stalking him only to finally come to the conclusion she’s a total whack job and no amount of money was making her go away.
If that type of story was dogging the Mets GM, the media would be all over it like white on rice.
Just goes to show you how much can be ‘excused’ when the team is winning.
I’m talking about baseball. You’re talking about an entirely different subject and completely off topic.
Hey, but we gotta defend Sandy at all costs, right?
Like I care if another GM fools around, meanwhile he’s making smart trades and smart decisions for his baseball team. I wish Sandy would fool around if that’s what it took. Last time I checked, being a faithful husband is not a prerequisite to being a good GM.
But that’s neither here nor there, i could not care any LESS and it’s not my business. And I’m not going to judge cuz I’m not perfect either.
Anyway, back to baseball – and that’s where she has NO argument to begin with.
First, where in my comment did I defend SA. Maybe you should take your own advice and stick to the subject.
Second, was pointing out that IMO when one is not honest in one’s own personal dealings (especially when it comes to and important point like…I don’t know….one’s marriage?), then I have a hard time believing that same person is completely honest in his business dealings as well.
Cashman I’m sure does what all other 29 GMs do….spin what they need to spin. In that regards he’s no worse nor better than the others.
well said.
Agree.
cashman lies, BS’s, spins, and blows smoke like every other Gm. All part of the job. He just gets a hall pass as long as the massive payroll covers up everything.
oh so now the goons are ripping Cashman while holding on tightly to their blow-up Sandy dolls.
Sure every GM is not gonna tip their hand but whenever I see Cashman interviewed I see a straight up guy who wants to WIN, has worked for George Steinbrenner, and I can understand everything he says – and Sandy is no smarter just because he went to Harvard – they are ALL baseball gms. While Alderson comes across as a pompous ASS and as arrogant and snarky as his commune. Oh, and he likes using big words while knowing that when he’s interviewed a largely blue collar fan base is listening.
Cashman just happens to run circles around Alderson in every way, all the time.
Now they are ripping Cashman but love Sandy. There you go
And you give both of them the same expensive budget? Give me Cashman over Alderson still. Cashman will be trying to win while Alderson will be too busy trying to be clever and rationalize himself right into last place
” and Sandy is no smarter just because he went to Harvard – they are ALL baseball gms.”
Ah…
“And Bay is no smarter just because he coached some high school baseball– they are ALL baseball bloggers”…
LOL, have you noticed that more and more people are revealing how you are the polar opposite of what you say you are?
no i didn’t notice that – i usually take things from where they come – and that especially means you. Now go back under your rock.
Poor guy, I know it’s hard to understand but your days of bullying posters on this blog are done. There are more and more posters calling you out for what you are every day. Your childish remarks, crude behavior and hypocritical stances are being called out everyday because the posters here know your reputation and you are finding it difficult to have anyone take you seriously. While you can pretend that it does not bother you, you are basically withering away. Have fun buddy….
So you and your friend Alex68 share a brain cell – self proclaimed “true” fans that call out people for defending people in the organization they root for over people outside the organization. So you’d go to bat for Cashman before Alderson, like your buddy asks why Wright gets “excuses” but Hanley Ramirez does not. – SMH
Are you a fan of the NY Mets, or just a member of the He Man Sandy Haters Club?
Brian Cashman is a stand up guy? Really, so you are ok with him saying the Mets abused Pedro Feliciano AFTER he signed him and found out he was hurt? Yeah that’s so classy.
I guess you don’t have any friends that are Yankees Fans, if you did, you’d know clearly what they thought about how he handled Jeter’s latest contract.
It will be interesting to see if a return back to where it all started for Burnett is what ends up happening. Depending on how much of the remaining salary the Yankees were to take on would Miami with the new stadium take a shot? I wonder. Though Burnett has a number of teams he can block trades to. It’s possible Miami could be one of them.
I personally think the negotiations over the cash are all about getting a better player in the package from the pirates.
Would the Marlins be a player later on? Maybe but then again they would also have to put up the right package in order to get the yanks to pay more than half of the Salary.
And if the right package doesn’t come around they will try and get something for him at the trade deadline by using him hope the numbers get better by then and getting some better leverage.
I just don’t understand why Pittsburgh would even consider trading for a 35 year old pitcher.
By mid July they were the biggest surprise story in baseball – first place in the central division with a 51-44 record then nosediving , going 21-46 the rest of the way to eventually finish 4th at 72-90.
Do they really think an A.J. Burnett would help avoid such a finish this year? Or contribute to their almost two decade old “rebuilding” plan?
I agree that on the surface thee does not seem to be a good reason for the Pirates to be going after AJ. Do they really think he is going to rebound into some kind of top of the rotation stud to lead them to the playoffs this year?
This deal likely gets done. The Yankees want AJ gone badly. The ying-yang going on, is called ‘negotiating’. The Pirates want AJ ‘cheap’ and for not much in return The Yankees want AJ and as much of his contract as possible gone, in return for some jewels on the Farm.
Whatever, it gets done. And i don’t feel sorry for the Pirates or the Royals, etc., small market teams that’ve NOT invested in baseball, finish last each year, and get the top picks in the Draft! Meanwhile, i wish we could pull off a stunner.
I just can’t see why any team would take on more than a minimal piece of his salary, and give up legit talent at the same time.
Hell, the guy is probably in danger of being DFA’d if he has a bad spring, and they don’t have a rotation spot for him!
Bay, I’m shocked you haven’t noticed that more and more people are turned off by you and I would ask other readers to who think Bayonne is baseball savvy to say so in reply to this comment. Aside from maybe Alex and Maniac, I’m sure nobody would say they consider you a baseball Mensa. Your own behavior as a neanderthal not withstanding, and your inability not to attack anyone who doesn’t agree with your prehistoric views on baseball is widespread. Your social skills are even worse but on that I’m sure we are in agreement, surely your not that moronic. I’ve asked Joe numerous times if he could post a “Don’t Feed The Apeman” graphic on the sidebar.
LOL, see my response above. He’s gonna need a new blog to bully because on this one he has been exposed.
Randy is just an old fashioned guy. Watching the games while sitting on his empty milk crate on the covered porch, on his RCA 19 inch black and white TV and chugging down those 32oz Colt 44s is real baseball.
Or a 40″ Bravia with satellite in the living room, another flat screen in the bedroom that has cablevision.
Sorry i had to tell you that while typing on one of my 2 keyboards since i work with a PC AND a MAC with at least $4,200 worth of the latest video editing/authoring softwares.
Now go back to using fake screen names and asking complete strangers to be your FB friends so you can stalk them
Do you have your thumbs in your ears, waving your fingers and saying NAH NAH NAH NAH?
You see what you want to see. I don’t see any traditionalists calling me out
You’re just angrier than before because I’m telling Alderson directly what I think of his work on twitter and I dont’ hold back.
Well it’s hard to take anyone seriously who writes stories about how the Mets 2011 season was a “success”
and how last off season for Sandy Alderson was “remarkable” and how this off season was a “success”
My views are prehistoric? I could not care any LESS what a moron like YOU thinks of my baseball knowledge. Especially with your STUPID reliance on OBP and all you’re other STUPID rationalizations about the Mets. And that’s what you do when you write those ridiculous articles in where you’re practically going down on Alderson with every post not ever bothering to consider that maybe the moves he’s making are not in the best interest of a club in New York.
Maybe Joe D knows better than to post insulting graphics because that’s what your mother site does – Disgraceful Avenue. Joe D won’t stoop to that but you would – and you’re judging me? Dude you speak out of both sides of your ass and I can tell by your prejudiced writings and Alderson worship that you would not be able to have a PRAYER against me in real life debate, in real life baseball talk, in real life baseball. Period.
Now go back and create some new fantasy baseball statistics that lead to bad judgement
You are anything but traditionalist.
You are an ego that owns a keyboard, that’s all.
You defend everyone but the team you claim to be a “true” fan of. You put the blame on the wrong place, time after time.
A traditionalist would not be ok with a bullpen blowing over 30 games but killing one player for leaving Murphy on 3rd.
A traditionalist would is not ignorant to realize that things progress and accept it, even to some degree.
All you are, is a fraud.
Dude, this how the world works. 1. Alderson isn’t following you. 2. You have 20 followers in three years, lol. 3. Most of them are probably your family. 4. Social media requires basic social skills.
Do you really think your telling anyone how it is and how it be???
Ease up on those rum punches.
Hi Stalker with the big protruding eyebrows reminiscent of a neanderthal man,
Actually i’ve only had it for a few months and don’t use it a whole lot as i’m not a big twitter fan. I had quit it for awhile so get your facts straight.
Now why am I talking to this loser. The guy is a loser and sought solace in the shout box trying to befriend strangers on FB cuz during the Mets collapse i was killing his heroes (mainly Wright)
Go make up some screen names and stalk people. I’m sure i’m not the only one.
Bay, it’s ok buddy it’s over. You fought a good fight using ignorance as a tool, however this blog has surpassed your use of middle school rhetoric and imaginary superior-baseball knowledge that far surpasses the rest of the blogging world. You are exposed due to your own stubbornness.
I’ll tell you what,
You keep following me around and making ME the story in somebody else post – I will respond accordingly and we can do this all day and ruing the other persons post.
But you run a blog (chuckle) and you know how these things work, right? You’ve learned from Joe right?
I guess not….so try and separate your mind’s eye from reality okay?
Nananana nananana hey hey hey, good bye. It still seems you haven’t figured out what this was about. It was never about my blog but more about what I see as a great blog here and the fact that your use of ignorance and bullying changed the dynamics of a great blog. You can’t go back to that anymore and have anyone take you seriously. It’s over.
He would have one extra follower but he is too much of a wuss and blocked me.
And yet with each post you do more to yourself than any post we could ever write… again your days of being taken seriously on here are over. You are now just a clown without a circus.
I have a suggestion for you. Be happy and consider my days here over. Really, be happy with that.
In the meantime try not to take time out of your day to respond to me because i’m going to stay the exact same way. I have my beliefs on what baseball is and what I think is best for the Mets and will express them the way I like to.
So i suggest for your own sanity – try not to respond to me cuz if you respond to me..and the subject is ME and not baseball, then your asking for it.
Now go back and try to market your own little whatever it is and stop riding the coattails of this blog in order to attract attention to yours. Which by the way..if what you type is indicative of who you are…i don’t think any amount of marketing is going to help you
Bay, don’t be a sore loser buddy. We all just wanted to talk baseball but to get back to that your days of bullying others had to end. Again, have fun and I will look forward to actually seeing what your take is on baseball for once. You never know perhaps you will even learn to provide responses indicative of your actual intelligence instead of accusing someone who differs from you as to having a blow up doll… LOL. Again, you did this to yourself and for anyone to take you seriously on here will take lots and lots of time.
Did I do something to myself? (looks around)
Dude, i can just tell by the things you say you’re not qualified to do the things you’re attempting to do. You’re not wise in baseball and you’re not too wise in life it seems as well.
If you’re little bloggy thingy is representative of you – nothing is gonna change.
You still can’t figure it out huh? Your time here as being a bully is over. Poster after poster have now started calling you out for your use of ignorance and middle school rhetoric. You are basically meaningless and viewed more as a comic personality than an actual blogger that brings anything to the table at all. Once you do have to start discussing baseball itself you will actually out yourself even more. It’s a fine fine day.
Example here: “oh so now the goons are ripping Cashman while holding on tightly to their blow-up Sandy dolls.”
the interesting aspect of this debate? The post is about how awful Burnett has been, and how terrible the contract is.
And who is responsible for this particular train wreck of a deal? yes, Mr run circles himself, cashman.
I have no idea what he would do without the biggest checkbook of any GM, but I bet he wouldn’t be able to continually eat huge $$ mistakes.
and we aren’t going to know what Sandy would do with the same budget (since he isn’t getting it soon) but IIRC the last time Sandy had actual money to work with, he put together a dominant team. So it certainly could happen again.
and the reality of the AROD contract will expose itself soon enough. Still 6 years 150m plus 30m in bonus if he hits a HR milestone that no one wants him to hit.
Maybe they will take Mike Pelfrey instead. Less money and only for a year.. Why would anyone take Burnett? Heck, why would they want Pelfrey? I would take Pelfrey over Burnett though.