AJ Burnett to Pirates?

[heyzeus]

Rumor is the deal is close. Pirates will win up paying $13-15 mil of the 33 mil he's still owed, and Yanks will get 2 minor leaguers.

[Vidor]

Hm. Can't decide if that's good for Pittsburgh or not. I hope the Yankees aren't getting anyone decent.

[MrCrowesGarden]

Hm. Can't decide if that's good for Pittsburgh or not. I hope the Yankees aren't getting anyone decent.

Supposedly the Pirates were more concerned about keeping good prospects, even if it meant taking on more cash.

[Vidor]

Hm. Can't decide if that's good for Pittsburgh or not. I hope the Yankees aren't getting anyone decent.

Supposedly the Pirates were more concerned about keeping good prospects, even if it meant taking on more cash.

As well they should be.

[vinsanity]

Hm. Can't decide if that's good for Pittsburgh or not. I hope the Yankees aren't getting anyone decent.

Burnett at 2/13-15? He'll see a bump moving out of the AL East I'd imagine and he won't need that to earn that paltry salary. Looking at his last two years they seem to be a slight enigma. His HR/FB% was jacked, despite similar LD% last year. K/9 bounced back after a bad 2010. Walks and K's were in line with career norms. He just seems to be throwing his FB less and relying more on his change and curve. Velocity is down a tick, 95.9 in 07 and down 92.7.

I dunno much about pitchers but it seems like he's been the perfect storm of bad luck and age the last two years. I'd expect him to be an average-to-good pitcher in Pitt due to league change, park change and better luck as long as the minor leaguers are mostly filler.

[Cole Burns]

If the Pirates take on $13M in salary, what's that increase their payroll to? About $13.5M?

[Hungary Jack]

Ha ha. I am trying to understand why the Pirates would do this. I guess they need to replace Maholm in the rotation. But we are talking about a team that won 72 games and is pretty severely offensively challenged.

[vinsanity]

Ha ha. I am trying to understand why the Pirates would do this. I guess they need to replace Maholm in the rotation. But we are talking about a team that won 72 games and is pretty severely offensively challenged.

They need someone to pitch the innings. AJ Burnett could likely do it and only McDonalad started more than 30 games for them last year. I'd trade some AA filler for Burnett and $20M.

[heyzeus]

It's not quite on par with their trade for the death throes of Matt Morris (taking on his full $10 mil/yr) salary, but there are shades of it.

[Hungary Jack]

Ha ha. I am trying to understand why the Pirates would do this. I guess they need to replace Maholm in the rotation. But we are talking about a team that won 72 games and is pretty severely offensively challenged.

They need someone to pitch the innings. AJ Burnett could likely do it and only McDonalad started more than 30 games for them last year. I'd trade some AA filler for Burnett and $20M.

I don't see him moving the team from point C to point B, but I guess he can stabilize the rotation. His health history isn't great, so this thing could backfire. But I guess he also could have significant value at the trade deadline if he thrives in returning to NL.

We should definitely post someone at the Pittsburgh airport come late July in order to break the news.