Exec: Why the Yanks can't trade A.J.
January, 31, 2012
Jan 31
12:01
PM ET
By
Andrew Marchand | ESPNNewYork.com
He stinks!
I can hear, you all, in chorus.
Got it, but that is not where we are going here.
I spoke to an MLB GM who explained the problem in trying to trade A.J. Burnett at the present time.
1. He is viewed as an erratic, back of the rotation type guy, who has a reputation for accountability-issues
2. Even if the Yankees picked up $22M of the $33M, there may not be any takers
3. If a team wanted to spend that type of dough, they could've signed a guy like Joe Saunders (1-year, $6M)
4. Most teams have already spent their money for the year so they don't have $8-to-$10M laying around
So, when you look at it, this is why Burnett will likely be in camp in three weeks. Now, I'm not saying it is impossible that Burnett is traded, it is just the Yankees are basically going to have to pick up so much of the tab they may not think it is worth it. Plus, I believe he will get a chance to compete with Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia for the fifth spot.
I can hear, you all, in chorus.
Got it, but that is not where we are going here.
I spoke to an MLB GM who explained the problem in trying to trade A.J. Burnett at the present time.
1. He is viewed as an erratic, back of the rotation type guy, who has a reputation for accountability-issues
2. Even if the Yankees picked up $22M of the $33M, there may not be any takers
3. If a team wanted to spend that type of dough, they could've signed a guy like Joe Saunders (1-year, $6M)
4. Most teams have already spent their money for the year so they don't have $8-to-$10M laying around
So, when you look at it, this is why Burnett will likely be in camp in three weeks. Now, I'm not saying it is impossible that Burnett is traded, it is just the Yankees are basically going to have to pick up so much of the tab they may not think it is worth it. Plus, I believe he will get a chance to compete with Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia for the fifth spot.
Andrew Marchand
ESPNNewYork.comAndrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, 1050 ESPN New York and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years at the New York Post. Follow Andrew on Twitter »
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Wallace Matthews
Wallace Matthews has covered NY sports since 1983 as a reporter, columnist, radio host and TV commentator. He joins ESPNNewYork to cover the Yankees, which he's done since the days of Stump Merrill for Newsday, the New York Post, the New York Sun and ESPN 1050.
Andrew Marchand
Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork.com. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, 1050 ESPN New York and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years as a sports writer at the New York Post.
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UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYY | 24-21 | 14-11 | 10-10 | W3 | |
| OAK | 22-24 | 10-13 | 12-11 | L3 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYY | 24-21 | 14-11 | 10-10 | W3 | |
| OAK | 22-24 | 10-13 | 12-11 | L3 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYY | 24-21 | 14-11 | 10-10 | W3 | |
| LAA | 22-25 | 11-10 | 11-15 | W4 |
TEAM LEADERS
| BA LEADER | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Derek Jeter
|
|||||||||||
| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| HR | C. Granderson | 14 | ||||||||||
| RBI | N. Swisher | 29 | ||||||||||
| R | C. Granderson | 30 | ||||||||||
| OPS | C. Granderson | .912 | ||||||||||
| W | C. Sabathia | 5 | ||||||||||
| ERA | C. Sabathia | 3.78 | ||||||||||
| SO | C. Sabathia | 65 | ||||||||||
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