AJ Burnett a Yankee

December 12, 7:01 PMNew York Yankees ExaminerPete Sabatini

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The Yankees appear to have reached an agreement with their number two target, pitcher AJ Burnett for five years and $82.5 million. 

Not three days after agreeing here with top starter CC Sabathia for seven years and $161 million, Brian Cashman has also brought the second-best free agent starting pitcher to the Yankees.

The details are still being worked out but it looks as if a physical is the only real step left before Burnett signs on the bottom line.

The Yankees have outbid the Atlanta Braves just as they promised they would here.

Presumably there is one more pitching slot to fill:

1. CC Sabathia
2. AJ Burnett
3. Chien-Ming Wang
4. Joba Chamberlain
5. Andy Pettitte/Ben Sheets/Phil Hughes

I hope to learn that this agreement with AJ Burnett is filled with incentives for innings and consistent results, but those details are not yet known.

Burnett’s shown some inconsistent performance and has earned a reputation for having more than his share of injuries.

Some fear that Burnett could be the new Carl Pavano who spent nearly his entire contract on the DL, while others think Burnett has yet to peak and could bring to New York ‘electric stuff’.

Brian’s Cashman was told to bring home pitching and he has already landed the two best pitchers available.  Job well done, now let’s see if Andy Pettitte will sign his one year $10 million contract as I hope and think he will.

More on my thoughts regarding Burnett here and here.

Photo:  (Paul Sancya/Associated Press)