Yankees having problems getting rid of A.J. Burnett

[Auggie]

The deal with Cleveland -- DH Travis Hafner for Burnett -- didn't materialize.

A.J. nixed a deal with the Angels (why, I don't know).

Pittsburgh? Will it ever happen? From the New York Post, 2-16, 2012:

“It’s likely to get done before the weekend,’’ a person with knowledge of the Pirates-Yankees swap said yesterday. “But there are differences that need to be resolved.’’

The amount of money the Pirates want to absorb ($10 million of $33 million) isn’t enough for the Yankees unless they receive a solid prospect. If the Pirates raise the dollars and give the Yankees marginal prospects, that would work. If not, Burnett will remain with a team that has shopped him for more than two months.

SNIP

Burnett, 35, is owed $16.5 million this year and $16.5 million next season. It’s clear the Yankees have wanted to move him after three seasons (34-35, 4.79 ERA) because they shopped him before acquiring Michael Pineda from Seattle and signing free agent Hiroki Kuroda.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/only_one_place_for_to_land_HrUn4rKnMpvWbCjc4rAzXM#ixzz1maLs7wNB

All of baseball could ignore Burnett and let the Yankees suffer. What sweet revenge.

[Auggie]

2. Welcome to D.U.

Escaping the fishbowl may be what the doctor ordered.

[PRETZEL]

3. Pittsburgh is still pretty lukewarm to this also

they're already taking a big chance that Bedard will come back to form plus they have some young pitchers that at least in the first half of the year were pretty effective.

I'm not so sure I'd even want to do this trade.

[RockaFowler]

4. I can't find the video on this

But it was something special.

Burnett is a proven sharpshooter. Two seasons ago he grew irritated with a pickup truck that would circle the stadium's perimeter, with mascot Billy the Marlin (the original one) waving to spectators, as he warmed up between innings. One game he decided he had seen enough. First he threw a warm-up pitch that struck the door. Then the back panel. Keep in mind, the truck is moving in a slight arc, some 100 feet from the mound.