Burnett Says He Regrets Not Pitching Well With Yanks

From WCBS:

“I can’t even imagine what that place (Yankee Stadium) would have sounded like over there,” Burnett said before his Pirates lost to the Mets on Tuesday. “And there was maybe like two words that came out of the crowd here.”

Burnett eventually settled down and got the win, allowing just three hits and two walks over seven innings pitched. It was a stark difference for the right-hander, who was known for his puzzling mid-game meltdowns while with the Yankees.

“I guess that’s why CC (Sabathia) is so good, because he could care less,” said Burnett. “He just pitches. Obviously, (Yankees fans) love him because he’s dominant, but I don’t think it would matter either way.

“I maybe went out there and tried to overdo it.”

...

“I had my good times there,” said Burnett. “I don’t regret it at all. I don’t. I regret not performing better.”

Burnett also sounded optimistic about the Yankees chances going forward, saying he's "sure they’ll do fine once they put it together”. Amazingly, that's a hell of a lot more optimistic than I am.

Welcome to the NL, AJ

From the AP:

Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a fractured right orbital bone.

The right-hander injured himself Wednesday at the team's spring training facilities in Bradenton, Fla., after a bunt attempt caromed off his face. He flew to Pittsburgh late Wednesday to be further evaluated.

There is no immediate timetable for Burnett's return.

To make matters worse, one of the reasons he wanted to go back to the NL was so that he could hit again. Like they say, be careful what you wish for.

Thanks to Robot Devil for pointing out that there was video of the incident:

Excuses From AJ

From Kevin Kernan:

No more excuses for A.J. Burnett and no more Yankee thoughts.

Burnett the Pirate took some blame for his failures with the Yankees yesterday at Pirate City, but also said he may have let too many people in pinstripes mess with his mechanics.

“Without getting too far into it,’’ Burnett explained, “I would just say I let a few too many people tinker with me and when you let that happen, you get out there, you start doubting yourself sometimes, like, ‘Am I doing it right? Is this the way it is supposed to feel?’

“In ’09 nobody messed with me,’’ Burnett said of the Yankees’ World Series championship season. “I was able to do what I wanted to do on the mound, whether it was turn all the way around, close my eyes; pitch upside down, whatever it was. Then you have a few bad games and you start changing and listening.’’

...

Asked by The Post his view of the Yankees staff, Burnett responded: “Without sounding too arrogant, I don’t care, they’re good dudes over there and they got a good leader in CC [Sabathia], but I need to get over here and learn my staff and I’m looking forward to that.’’

...

“It was fun the first couple of years,’’ Burnett said of his time with the Yankees.

Kernan may say no more excuses, but that sounds like an excuse to me. I was terrible because too many people tried to help me? Yea, OK. Whatever you say, AJ.

AJ to Pirates To Be Done By The Weekend

AJ Says No To Deal To Angels

From Bill Madden and Anthony McCarron:

The Yankees were hoping they could bring back Bobby Abreu to be their designated hitter by swapping A.J. Burnett to the Angels, but the righthander would not waive his no-trade rights, according to two baseball executives with knowledge of the talks.

So rather than having their winter business concluded and a DH in place, the Yankees Wednesday were still working on sending Burnett to the Pirates for two marginal prospects, one of the executives said. The executive said the trade could be consummated by the weekend — Burnett is slated to report to Yankees spring camp Sunday.

“It’s not a deadline, but it doesn’t make sense for him to go to Yankee camp if he’s going to get traded,” the executive said. Some deal for Burnett appears likely — the Yankees are talking to two other teams about him, too. The Yankees have suspended their pursuit of free agent DHs such as Raul Ibañez until the Burnett matter is settled.

Burnett is allowed to pick 10 teams he can refuse to be traded to and the Angels are one of them, as are the Mariners and the other West Coast teams. Burnett and his family live in Maryland.

Abreu still draws his walks, but at this point in his career that's about all he does. With that said, I really hate that AJ has a no trade clause, because that's certainly not something he's earned.

AJ For Hafner?

After a slew of injuries, Pronk never regained his 2004-2007 form, but he has been solid over the past three seasons. Over that span he's averaged 14 HR and 52 RBI while hitting a respectible .277/.364/.456. He's also left-handed, which is always good in the Bronx (unless your name is Mark Teixeira).

UPDATE: There is also other report out of Cleveland that say there aren't any talks going on with the Yanks and Indians, but that talks had previously taken place and the deal is dead. So, like most rumors, take this one with a grain of salt.

Olney: Framework In Place For AJ Deal

Yesterday, Peter Botte reported that Burnett wasn't upset about the rumors:

“He is getting ready to go to spring training, whether it’s with the Yankees, Pittsburgh or anyone else,” Darek Braunecker said in a brief phone interview. “A.J. understands this is a business and will do what he has to do. He’s healthy and he’s looking forward to pitching for somebody.”

Well, it appears that he'll be doing that pitching it Pittsburgh. Stay tuned....

In Defense of a Straight Salary Dump

The following is being syndicated from The Yankee Analysts.

It seems all but inevitable that A.J. Burnett will be toeing the rubber in PNC Park come April, and my feelings are surprisingly mixed on the subject. While I do genuinely believe that he may be the best option of the fifth starter triumvirate (mostly due to the higher beta of Phil Hughes and the blase nature of Freddy Garcia), I cannot help but feel that Burnett's quirkiness, the minor spats with Girardi and Rothschild, and the endless trade speculation will result in nothing short of distractions, if not genuine dissension. It is always a thrill to see Burnett fire off a 96 MPH heater followed by a knee-buckling curve with startling command, but those instances have come fewer and further between ... and most memories of Burnett revolve around his confrontations with the coaching staff (both on the mound and in the dugout) and meltdowns that generally culminate in towering home runs. The sort of promise that Burnett offers, in short, is that which we may drool over with a starting pitcher in his early 20s, hoping and praying that he can get his head on straight - at 35, I doubt even the most unabashed optimist would cross his fingers for Burnett.

In dealing Burnett, Brian Cashman et al would spare the team, the fans, and the brass of one of the most distracting Yankees (non-Rodriguez division) in recent memory. Such a distraction can be acceptable, as is/was the case with Rodriguez, where production is a guarantee ... yet Burnett's replacement-level adventures in 2010 and 2011 cannot be obscured by his surprisingly decent peripherals where $33 MM and consistent inconsistency are ubiquitous. And for this - for all of this - I do believe that it is time that A.J. Burnett is shown the door. At this juncture, it does appear that the only questions involve the return and the savings (which may as well be a single issue). To me, Burnett represents a sunk cost, and any money that Cashman can recoup for the team's coffers is a veritable bonus. The likelihood of Burnett rebounding in pitcher-friendly PNC Park is astronomical, particularly with the departures of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder from the NL Central, but that does not somehow improve Burnett's stock as a pitcher - and yes, this is my likely futile attempt to stem any hindsight-driven lamentations that would stem from a 2009-ish line with the Pirates.

None of this is to say that the Yankees should not attempt to extract something of value from the Pirates. Garrett Jones seems like a safer and smarter bet than Raul Ibanez, Johnny Damon, or Hideki Matsui, and his arbitration request checked in at $2.5 MM (right in-line with what some expect one of those three to command). Michael Eder penned an excellent write-up on Jones yesterday, and I suggest you check it out. Should Jones not be an option (which I don't think he is unless the Yankees pick up all $33 MM or add something of at least minor value to the deal), a lottery ticket type prospect would be very appealing. To be perfectly frank, I would settle for a low-risk, moderate reward minor leaguer like Justin Wilson, who appears destined for a fine career as a lefty specialist. With an organization as deep as the Pirates, there exists an almost limitless supply of both gambles and Justin Wilsons, and I am quite sure that Cashman will do his due diligence.

With all that being said, however, my endorsement of a straight salary dump stands. This may not be the most classical sort of 'addition by subtraction,' but it represents a clear-cut 'yes' decision insofar as the roster is concerned.

Follow me on Twitter - @DomenicLanza

Yanks, Pirates Talking AJ Deal

From the NY Daily News:

In an effort to rid themselves of underperforming pitcher A.J. Burnett, the Yankees are turning to a familiar trading partner.

A team source confirmed Friday that the Yankees have held discussions with the Pirates about Burnett recently, with the understanding that the Bombers would have to absorb a "significant" portion of the flighty righty's contract, which has two years and $33 million remaining.

...

One source termed the trade talks with the Pirates as "still in the preliminary stages," but the Yankees clearly believe that the more money they pay the better the prospect they will demand in return. ESPN.com reported that the Yankees request for first baseman/outfielder Garrett Jones already has been rebuffed by the Pirates who are seeking to add a veteran presence to a young pitching staff.

It was also mentioned in the article that the Yankees would use the money saved by trading AJ to sign a bat to fill the DH role (Ibanez, Damon or Matsui), and that the Yanks are still considering bringing Eric Chavez back.

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, and if they can unload AJ for anything of even a little value I would assume most Yankees fans would be pretty pleased.

Yanks Still Trying to Trade AJ

From Jeff Bradley:

Because future moves Cashman may or may not make this off-season hinge on whether the GM can move Burnett. A source with knowledge of the Yankee organization’s plan for the rest of the off-season said, “It’s a waiting game now to see if A.J. can be dealt. If he is, the Yankees will hope to get a bat in return, or save enough money to get a bat.”

It is tricky, of course, because the whole baseball world knows after the Yankees acquired (pending a clean physical) Michael Pineda from the Seattle Mariners and signed free agent Hiroki Kuroda that the next move Cashman would hope to make is to offload Burnett and a sizeable portion of the $33 million he is owed over the next two seasons.

“I think Burnett has some bounce-back potential,” said one rival executive. “And I think teams would be interested in him at the right value per year. Of course, that would mean the Yankees would have to eat far more than half of his remaining contract — closer to two-thirds, I would think. In addition to that, there are still decent free-agent options out there — Roy Oswalt and Edwin Jackson in particular — and a few other trade alternatives, so it’s hard for me to think they’ll be able to move him.”

For now, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is telling Cashman he’s out of money, so while the agents for free agents such as Vladimir Guerrero, Raul Ibanez, Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon have initiated contact with the Yankees, they have all been told not to wait around on an offer from Cashman. Of course, Steinbrenners have been known to change their minds in the past, and some money may magically appear before spring training, but for now, the Yankees mission is to see how much they can save on Burnett.

“Around the game, Burnett has become the symbol for wasted money,” said an AL East scout who also believes the Yankees will have to eat at least $20 million. “When you’ve got a guy who has managed to pitch below .500 (34-35) for a team with the Yankees offense, yeah, it’ll make you apprehensive. This is the question now being asked, even about guys like Oswalt and Jackson. How much do you pay for mediocrity?”

If the Yankees don’t want to eat a lot of Burnett’s salary, the other option is to take a chance on another team’s mistake.

Names that always seem to come to mind when you think of bad contracts include the former Yankee Alfonso Soriano, who is owed $54 million the next three years by the Chicago Cubs; Vernon Wells, due to make $63 million the next three years in Anaheim; and Jason Bay, whom the Mets owe $49 million over the next three years.

At this point I can't see how any other team would take a shot on Burnett, but stranger things have happened. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Whither the Fifth Starter?

This post is semi-syndicated from The Yankee Analysts.

I cannot fathom a scenario in which A.J. Burnett is a Yankee come the spring … a palpable scenario, at least. Over the past two seasons, a total of eighty-six starting pitchers have tossed at least 300 IP. Of those, Burnett ranks 85th in ERA, 84th in FIP, and 69th in xFIP (progress!). The pseudo-heroics of the 2009 World Series are a distant memory at this point in time, and his "electric stuff" and "potential" would be more impressive if he was 25 instead of 35.

Why, then, would any other team take him? He has demonstrated the ability to remain durable over the last several seasons, and he can likely be had for pennies on the dollar ... in a market where Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang were signed for two years and eight figures. Additionally, Derek Lowe was moved for a fringe prospect and roughly $5 MM in savings. Carlos Zambrano was moved for a solid back of the rotation type and a bit of salary relief. This, at the very last, tells us that Burnett is movable – and not necessarily at the rate of a true sunk cost.

The real issue should be the roles of Garcia and Hughes. At this juncture, I’d prefer to see Garcia starting. While his upside is certainly limited, I believe a reasonable baseline would see him as a fine fifth starter. I don’t see much of a deviation, either, barring injury. That sort of dependability is worth quite a bit more than most realize, and it is a welcome addition to any rotation.

What of Hughes, then? I would like to see him building up arm strength in the minors. He has certainly had success at every level, but it’s worth noting that he has very few innings in the upper minutes. It’s a good venue for him to refine his curve and command, and it would allow him to step into the rotation in the event of an injury or ineffectiveness. I suspect that this will not be the case, and that Spring Training will award him every opportunity to join the rotation ... or end up in the bullpen. In my mind, though, that would be a mistake.

Follow me on Twitter - @DomenicLanza

Rumor: AJ's Available But Nobody Wants Him

From George A. King III:

The Yankees have inserted A.J. Burnett into the trade market at the Winter Meetings, The Post has learned.

According to multiple teams, the Yankees have let it be known they will listen to offers for Burnett and are willing to pay $8 million of the $33 million Burnett is owed over the next two seasons.

“We will listen on anybody,’’ GM Brian Cashman said without getting specific.

Even with the Yankees swallowing about a quarter of Burnett’s contract, they haven’t gotten a nibble. First, Burnett, who will be 35 in January, would still be owed $12.5 million this coming season and next. Secondly, Burnett hasn’t pitched well (21-26) the past two seasons and has suffered a dip in velocity.

However, the fact that the Yankees have progressed to the point they are listening and willing to eat cash could be an indication they believe there is a move they can make to add a starter good enough to fall in behind ace CC Sabathia.

Cashman said, “I don’t have significant money for free agents’’ because of the dollars allotted for his bevy of stars, meaning adding an arm will likely come through a trade.

Not a surprise nobody is interested. I can't imagine this goes anywhere further unless the Yankees pick up even more money, and if that's the case then you have to wonder if making that kind of deal is even worth it.

A Brief Blueprint for the Off-Season

Sign Mark Buehrle

Buehrle has started at least thirty games and tossed at least 201 IP in each of the last eleven seasons, and his ERA and FIP have been below-average exactly once in his career, way back in 2006. While he may not represent the "1B" to Sabathia's "1A" that many Yankees fans are clamoring for, such a pitcher does not exist on the market (and paying C.J. Wilson as if he is such a pitcher is foolhardy at best). Buehrle's consistency makes up for the modest upside, and I would have a great deal of faith in him as the Yankees Game 2 starter.

Sign Yu Darvish

You can find further thoughts on Darvish here. Suffice it to say that I believe in his potential, and that upside is worth the gamble, particularly when his posting fee would not count against the luxury tax. This assumes, of course, that Darvish is posted ... which is apparently fifty-fifty at this juncture.

Re-Sign Andruw Jones

Jones battered left-handed pitchers to the tune of a .286/.384/.540 slash line in 2011, good for a 151 wRC+, and he remains a solid defender in both left and right-field. In my mind, there isn't a better option on the market.

Trade A.J. Burnett

This is easier said than done, of course - but the Braves ability to unload Derek Lowe gives me the faintest glimmer of hope. Burnett has the look of a sunk cost at this juncture, and freeing up a roster spot and $6 MM or so (assuming the Yankees pick up around $10 MM per season) would be quite beneficial. If the Yankees can acquire a lottery ticket prospect along the way, that's just gravy.

Follow me on Twitter - @Domenic Lanza