Pirates Trade Rumors: Bucs Reportedly Showed Interest In A.J. Burnett

Pagliaroni Showed Interest in Jennifer Aniston.

I think Pags/Jen is more likely than Bucs/A.J.

While a cursory review of his stats didn’t show any dramatic bad trends beyond a jump in wild pitches and WHIP, even my casual and occasional following of the Yankees this year identified AJ as the “Starting Pitcher Most Likely to Implode” and not just for the Yankees. I honestly don’t know how he got 190 innings as he seemed to be at 90 pitches through 4 innings, and down by 4-5 runs (all earned) in every start. While I’m sure someone will counter w/some obscure stat intelligible only to a computer and useful only in isolation, AJ last year looked every bit like a declining, over-priced former star.

He’d be a piece I would like to see if money weren’t an option—although it clearly doesn’t have to be—but I wouldn’t be keen on giving up a guy like ZVR even if it got Burnett at a reduced price. He just seems like the wrong type of player for the Pirates to be looking at.

this could be a potentially genius move. At this point, AJ Burnett basically has negative value to the yanks based on his contract. If the Bucs took him AND ALL HIS SALARY what if they were able to get them to trade us Jesus Montero for lesser prospects than we would normally have to as part of a big package deal?

I know it seems odd that the yankees would ever do a salary dump, but they could be in over their own heads for once or something.

I trust NH not to do anything massively retarded

I would guess we’re on that list if it is based on chances to win. He’s from Arkansas but he’s in the biggest city possible so I can’t imagine he’s trying to get away based on that. However, there’s a chance he’s sick of it and would welcome a trip elsewhere so long as he gets paid.

My guess is he likes pitching in the playoffs every year though.

The Bucs don’t need a declining old pitcher who has had problems dealing with coaches.

but i have a sick feeling in my stomach of matt morris 2.0

Looking at his stats the last two seasons, he’s clearly on the downside of his career. It’ll just bet a waste of money and time, much like trading for Matt Morris 5 years ago…

….find his lost “swag” pitching with less pressure….

and give them an organization minor leaguer.

My brother is a diehard Yankees fan and he would like Burnett run out of town on a rail. I have tried to tell him that, as a Yankees fan, he is inherently irrational, and that Burnett has been better than he appears, to no avail
It would be interesting to look at the quality of opposition Burnett has faced – I have to believe that he would put up better numbers in the NLC. I am not optimistic about our other options. Jackson will be too expensive and I haven’t heard anything new on Chen.

Of course that price would have to be low, low, low.

Burnett & $20MM in salary relief and tell the Yankees to pick one out of a list of, say, Eric Avila, Andrew Lambo, Quincy Latimore, Mel Rojas, Tyler Waldron and Brandon Cumpton.

To where the Bucs are only paying 3 mil a year, this could work. The Yankees would probably want a some what good prospect for that amount of cash though.

He’s great at…

Well you know, he’s good at….

He doesn’t struggle with….

Just take him, please!

Does this discussion resume now that the Yankees have Kuroda and Pineda?