C.C. Signs... Are the Yanks Now Frontrunners in the A.J. Burnett Sweepstakes?

C.C. Sabathia, the hottest free-agent on the market this year has signed a seven-year deal with the Bronx Bombers worth about $161 million. So now that the top free-agent is off the market, the free-agency floodgates will open.

The Yankees have a high amount of interest in free-agent A.J. Burnett, the same pitcher whom the Atlanta Braves and GM Frank Wren have atop their wish list this off-season.

The Braves have wasted no time in trying to sign A.J. as they have already offered him a five-year deal worth $80 million. This offer shows just how badly the Braves want A.J. because Frank Wren was very reluctant to offer a five-year deal to the injury prone Burnett.

This offer is very appealing to A.J. and it will be interesting to see how the Yankees respond to the Braves' bold offer. They, too, are also reluctant to offer Burnett that highly-wanted five-year deal. The real question is if A.J. will sign based on the years offered , the money offered, or the quality of the team. 

Burnett has already said that the acquisition of pitcher Javier Vasquez from the Chicago White Sox has made the Braves a more appealing team to sign with but, does the signing of Sabathia make A.J. want to wear pinstripes?

Other teams have shown interest in Burnett but the top two teams are believed to be the Braves and Yankees. It will be interesting to see who Burnett signs with and why he signs with them.

GO BRAVES

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