IT'S AN AJ BURNETT TRADE WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA

So many things swirling around in Yankeeland and Pittsburgh and even some cities in between as we have learned that other teams may be "in" on Burnett as well. Read HERE. There is no doubt in my mind that the Yankees will trade AJ Burnett within the next 48 hours though. No player can be put through what this poor guy's been put through between fan dislike and rumors among top publications and still come back to New York if things fall through. He'd be ineffective and looking over your shoulder. He's getting traded, it's only a matter of time...or hours. The writings on the wall for AJ Burnett and there are a ton of items you should check out below:

Jon Heyman from CBS Sports believes that a deal will get done if the Pirates pay about $13 to $15 of the remaining of Burnett's contract. Read HERE. Where have I heard that before? Oh yeah...me. I just wrote this yesterday: "...they could probably convince the Pirates to take at least $13 of that salary and we can call it a day." Read WHY AJ BURNETT WILL END UP A PIRATE for more insight.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes that the 2 other teams that are in on AJ Burnett are the Cleveland Indians and the Kansas City Royals. Read HERE. I mentioned the Royals a few weeks back just merely because they could use the pitching and if Burnett was to go there, there is no doubt he would be a decent pitcher and leader on that club. Read HERE. I also mentioned trying to trade him for Billy Butler, which got a chuckle from many in Kansas City. Look, I was just making a suggestion and trying the start a dialog. It was fun to think about...obviously nothing came of it. But back to Sherman for a moment; he suggested that perhaps the Yankees and Indians could work out a deal for Burnett and Travis Hafner, since Hafner is owed money as well. Interesting thought, something that never crossed my mind.

Sherman also suggests that once they Yanks pull the trigger with the Pirates, assuming that every other option out there in MLB land is exhausted, they will try and resign Eric Chavez immediately. Read HERE. Makes sense, read WHY BURNETT'S A BUILDING BLOCK PUZZLE.

Another nugget in the whole Yankees, Pirates trade negotiations are the Pirates are willing to trade prospects to the Yankees that the Yankees are not particularly fond of. It makes sense if your the Yankees, Burnett isn't a horrible pitcher, he's just not great, so why give away someone and still have to pay have of the guy's salary if your getting back minor leaguers who just aren't that good? I pray the Yankees pry Garrett Jones away even though the Pirates have made it clear he's off limits. That would give us a lefty bat and then all we'd need is Eric Chavez and the Yankees would be complete. Oh well, maybe Johnny Damon's still in the cards, who knows.

If anything else happens, believe me, you will know about it. We have been writing about AJ Burnett and his troubles for weeks. We won't forget about you.

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