Yankees: Five Years for Burnett?

(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

  A.J. Burnett’s representative, Darek Braunecker, said last night that his client would be able to obtain a five year deal from a team. He didn’t say what team was willing to offer that.

The Yankees supposedly don’t want to go five years, and they’re trying to get a four year deal done. People seem to think that the Jays aren’t going to go five years, especially after the injury issues he had with the team.

The Red Sox, Braves, Phillies, and Orioles are also said to be in the running for A.J., but I’m not sure how serious each team really is.

Burnett dominated the Yankees this past season, and he stated that he would be interested in joining them (the Yankees) for 2009 and beyond. The biggest concern is that he is injury prone. If they can’t get their hands on Burnett, they will definitely pursue Derek Lowe aggressively.

If they can’t get Sabathia and Burnett, than they may be able to add a big bat like Tex, but hopefully it doesn’t come down to the Yankees being desperate.The pitching staff is the biggest need, and that’s what they need to focus on. A bat like Tex is great, but please take care of the pitching first.

• [The Yankees are getting some trade inquiries about Swisher, whom they acquired from the White Sox last week. But the Yankees have every intention of holding on to Swisher and likely using him as their starting first baseman.]

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“We are discussing a number of scenarios with a host of clubs, and the terms vary at this time,” Braunecker wrote in an e-mail. “However, five years are available to [Burnett].”

“It would take something real creative on our part,” Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said Friday. “We wouldn’t guarantee a fifth year without guaranteeing something to get to a fifth year … I don’t see us right now going to a fifth year.”

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