Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News was told by a source on Saturday night that there’s a “good chance” of A.J. Burnett being dealt to the Pirates.
It appears that source was onto something.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Pirates and Yankees have the “framework” of a deal “in place.”
Olney says the two teams haven’t agreed on the other players who will be swapped nor the exact dollar amount that will change hands — two of the biggest factors in any trade — but they’re talking within a “common ground” and beginning to make steady progress.
Burnett, 35, posted a 5.15 ERA and 173/83 K/BB ratio in 190 1/3 innings (32 starts) last season. The Yankees are expected to eat more than $20 million of the $33 million remaining on his current deal.
UPDATE, 10:47 AM: ESPN New York’s Andrew Marchand says the Yankees are engaged in trade talks with four different teams, but are only “50-50” to actually part with Burnett before spring training.
UPDATE, 11:02 AM: According to the New York Post‘s Joel Sherman, the Yankees know they can make a Burnett deal with the Pirates but are waiting to hear from other interested teams.
UPDATE, 11:59 AM: CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman is hearing that the Yankees “don’t love” the two minor leaguers that the Pirates offered and Sherman says a deal is “very doubtful” to happen this weekend.
