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MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees, Pirates Very Close to Making AJ Burnett Deal Happen

February 16, 2012   ·     ·   Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees

For the last week, we’ve all been waiting to hear whether or not the Yankees will finally trade A.J. Burnett.

It’s looking like it will definitely happen within the next 24 hours.

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN, the Yankees and Pirates should complete the deal by Friday at the latest, sending Burnett to Pittsburgh.

The only thing holding up finalizing the deal is that the “mystery team” has made an offer to the Yankees and GM Brian Cashman is mulling the offer, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.

Olney said the offer isn’t from Pittsburgh or the Cleveland Indians, but he also said it’s probably not the Angels because Burnett rejected that idea three weeks ago.

Jon Heyman of WFAN and CBS Sports said that the Yankees are willing to pay $20 million of the final two years and $33 million left on Burnett’s deal.

Pittsburgh will be on hook for $13 million for two seasons, or $6.5 per season. That’s really not bad considering Burnett could really be a decent pitcher in the National League.

We’d all like to know who the “mystery team” that has made the Yankees an offer, because Burnett does not have them listed as a team he would block a trade to.

It’s likely on the East coast, because Burnett has about 10 teams on his no-trade list that are on the West coast.

From all the reports I’ve read, I still think the Pirates are the favorites to get Burnett, either by Thursday night or Friday afternoon, especially if the Yankees are going to pay $20 million for Burnett to pitch in Pittsburgh.

Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.

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