Yankees Sign A.J. Burnett

[redsfandan]

Yankees Sign A.J. Burnett By Tim Dierkes [December 12 at 3:56pm CST]
According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the Yankees reached a preliminary agreement with A.J. Burnett on a five-year, $82.5MM deal ($16.5MM per year on average). The deal is pending a physical, and some final terms must be hammered out.

That's $243.5MM spent by the Yankees on starting pitching, unless C.C. Sabathia opts out. The Braves will have to figure out a Plan B.

[redsfandan]

and the rich just keep getting richer.

so how many top pitchers do you think are going to end up in new york? (between the yankees and the mets)

[redsfanmia]

I think this is the Yankees new Carl Pavano, I am not a fan of A.J. he only seems to stay healthy during contract years.

[thewasson]

Is there any gratification that comes from buying a championship? I mean, I'd love to get to the big game, but something about earning it seams much more appealing to me.

[Old NDN]

Gee, I love this "parity" in MLB. Bud, owners, and MLB players asociation have allowed this spending to spiral out of control, IMO. Might as well let those teams with open wallets compete and let the rest of us shut down. But, OTOH, the Rays, Rockies, and D'Backs, etc. give us hope, I guess.

[redsfanmia]

Just remember the highest payroll does not equal winning championships. I doubt the Yankees win next year or the year after, the way the Yankees are going about assembling their team is not the way to win. The Yankee teams that won championships were primarily built through their system and augmented by free agents. A team of high dollar free agents is set up to fail IMO.

[indyredleg]

Yankees had better teams in the late 90's with homegrown talent. Since they have been buying every FA up they are minus a WS tittle with this approach.

Good luck to them but AJ is over rated and CC is out of shape and now very over paid...he won't hold up under the NY pressure.

[Emin3mShady07]

Originally Posted by redsfanmia

I think this is the Yankees new Carl Pavano, I am not a fan of A.J. he only seems to stay healthy during contract years.

One could only hope this is the case, that's wrong to hope than on Burnett, it's just I really dislike the Yanks. But Burnett has been relatively healthy for the last 4 years with his lowest amount of innings pitched being 135 in 2006, so in any case 135 good innings from Burnett would really help the yanks and unfortunately for everyone else, they have the resources to make the gamble on his health.

[Jack Burton]

Sabathia
Burnett
Wang
Chamberlain

Guaranteed playoffs.

[wojo1025]

Originally Posted by thewasson

Is there any gratification that comes from buying a championship? I mean, I'd love to get to the big game, but something about earning it seams much more appealing to me.

I'm going to have to say yes. And as a fan of good baseball I would LOVE for the Reds to be able to field the team NYY does. Could you imagine going to the ballpark on any given day and not only seeing ARod, Jeter and the likes but now to randomly pick a game and have the chance to watch CC, AJ, Wang, or Joba pitch? That would be unreal!

So, is it good for baseball....that's open for debate, but would I be unhappy if the Reds did this exact same thing...no sir.

As a matter of fact I would love to see the Reds right now go out and sign Manny, Derek Lowe, Furcal, and Ben Sheets.

Rotation of Lowe, Volquez, Sheets, Harang, Cueto. 1b: Votto; 2b; Phillips; SS: Furcal; 3b: EE; LF: ManRam; CF: Dickerson; RF: Bruce; C: Hernandez?

Where do I sign up for that?! Then you could trade Arroyo for a CF and we'd be looking pretty good, eh? Would you want to go watch that team play ball?

I do see what you're saying and it is a shame that the Yankees can just go out and pluck the best players from the FA class every year, but it is what it is and more power to them for being able to do it.

[WildcatFan]

If they didn't go out and buy all that talent, it wouldn't be as fun to hate them. It makes stories like Tampa so much sweeter. I'm glad baseball has one of those teams — it gives the Yankees the evil villain tag. Just another reason baseball is the greatest sport known to man.

[ChatterRed]

I sincerely mean it when I say I hope CC and AJ come down with arm injuries.

I'm sick of this crap where the high rollers buy a world championship. Sick of it.

I normally don't wish ill will on anyone, but I hate the Yankees and all that they stand for in terms of ruining baseball with the ability to outspend everyone.

Had CC and AJ gone elsewhere, I would not have wished it.

[redsfandan]

While I'm not exactly a fan of the yankees either I can't blame them for taking advantage of an unfair system. And I can't blame the players union cuz, just like other unions, their priority is to do what's best for the employees (players). IMO, Bud and the other owners deserve all the credit for the inequality of team payrolls. Thanks Bud, this one's for you. :thumbdown

[improbus]

You guys do realize that their outfield is currently the ghost of Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, and Xavier Nady, right....
I heard that they are pursuing a trade of Cabrera for Mike Cameron straight up. Wow... I wouldn't be too worried about NY. They have 3 DH's (Swisher, Matsui, Damon) an overrated 2B in Cano, an aging Jeter, and a scary catching situation. They could be one of the worst defensive teams in the AL. They might have picked up some big name starters, but I have a feeling that Burnett will get hurt and CC will feel the effects of his overuse last season. He did pitch a whopping 253 innings...

[DTCromer]

I love this signing for the Yanks. It's only a matter of time before he gets injured again and we all know CC is going to fold in NY. Yanks don't even make the playoffs, again this year.