After a week of uncertainty, the Yankees and Pirates have reached a deal that would send AJ Burnett to the Pirates in exchange for pitcher Diego Moreno and outfielder Exicardo Cayones, pending league approval. The 35-year old Burnett, posted an 11-11 record last year with a 5.15 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP in 32 starts with the Yankees. The acquisition of Michael Pineda from the Seattle Mariners made Burnett expendable for the Yankees as they have three pitchers competing for the fifth spot in the rotation.
Burnett signed a five-year $82.5 million deal with the Yankees, but never met expectations posting a 34-35 record in his three years in New York. The acquisition of Burnett, now gives the Pirates the hard-throwing veteran they need to anchor their rotation. Along with the prospects, the Pirates will pick up $13 million over the final two years of Burnett’s deal. The Pirates will pay $5 million this year and $8 million next season which will allow flexibility to acquire a player or two at the deadline. With the acquisition, the Pirates now have six pitchers competing for the five spots in the rotation. Joining Burnett will be Eric Bedard, Charlie Morton, James McDonald, Kevin Correia and Jeff Karstens. Assuming that Morton will be ready by opening day or a week into the season, one would have to assume that Correia or Karstens will move to the bullpen for long-relief duty.
There isn’t much to not like about this trade if you are a Pirates fan. Ownership is spending money and not giving up much in return. Remember, the Pirates paid Chris Snyder $6 million and Lyle Overbay $5 million each. The prospects they gave up, weren’t in the Pirates future plans, so there is no need for concern there. Moreno is 25 and has only reached the AA level posting a 3.63 ERA in 41 games last season. As for Cayones, the 20-year old outfield split time between low A and State College last year where he posted a combined batting average of just .228 and 12 RBI.
While many Pirate fans remember the acquisition of Matt Morris, comparing the two deals is like comparing apples to oranges. The Pirates picked up the majority of Morris’ contract and Morris was in a pitcher friendly park and division. The Pirates are hoping that moving Burnett from the dangerous AL East to the NL Central and into PNC Park will help him regain his form that he had in Florida and even Toronto. The division is without Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols and Ryan Braun is suspended the first 50 games of the season, so the transition should be a good one for Burnett and the Pirates.
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