MLB Free Agents 2012: Should the New York Yankees Look to Trade A.J. Burnett?
November 14, 2011 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The Yankees’ main priority going into the winter has been upgrading their starting rotation.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman will look all over the market and through trading to help the Yankees.
He could, however, look to deal one of his own pitchers to help the team going forward in 2012.
The Yankees are still on the hook for another two years and $33 million for A.J. Burnett from his original five-year, $82.5 million deal.
Burnett is a career 34-35 with the Yankees and has been a model of inconsistency in the first three years with the team.
He will also turn 35 this coming January, and given that he’s already inconsistent to begin with, his older age could spell disaster for Burnett in the American League.
And, it could give Cashman all the reason more to find a way to deal the pitcher this winter.
Before the offseason started, I had suggested that the Yankees and Braves get together to trade Burnett for Derek Lowe, but the Braves traded Lowe to the Cleveland Indians, so that idea got scrapped.
A couple of other B/R writers suggested that the Yankees and Cubs swap Burnett for Carlos Zambrano, which could work given that Zambrano only has one more year left on his contract.
Or, if the Yankees don’t look to get a major league pitcher in return for Burnett, they can do what the Braves did with Lowe and trade Burnett to a team while eating most of the contract.
It’s probably the most logical idea, considering how low Burnett’s trade value has dropped in recent time. His value did save some face with his Game 4 American League Division Series win over the Detroit Tigers, which saved the Yankees’ season for another game.
His 11-11 record and 5.15 ERA in 2011 was definitely not worth $16.5 million, which the Yankees are paying him annually, and neither was his 10-15 record and 5.26 ERA in 2010.
I think a trade to the National League would be best for the rest of Burnett’s career because it would allow him to face weaker lineups and not have his ERA in the 5-plus area all the time.
I don’t think trading Burnett to an American League team would be best for him given his age and lack of consistency.
Last year, we all wanted Burnett benched and taken out of the rotation because of his poor pitching, and chances are, if he were a Yankee again in 2012, we’re only going to say the same things.
If Burnett is a Yankee in 2012, he’s only going to get worse with age, and will continue to drive Joe Girardi and Cashman even more nuts.
So, instead of going through the headaches that Burnett provides, why not just eat most of the contract, find a trading partner crazy enough to take Burnett and deal him away?
Trading Burnett might be the best thing in the long run for the Yankees, and for his career.
Getting out of New York and the American League might be best for Burnett.
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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