Major League Baseball approves A.J. Burnett trade – MLB News
According to a source, Major League Baseball has approved a trade between New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. The deal will send A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh for two Class A prospects, the source further added.
Yankees will be acquiring corner outfielder Exicardo Cayones and reliever Diego Moreno as part of the trade. In an interview, Yankees’ General Manager Brian Cashman stated that the club will also be paying $20 million to the Pirates to cover Burnett salary for the next two years, as per the contract.
The right handed pitcher Burnett looked in decent form last season as he posted a 11-11 win-loss record. Although his 5.15 ERA and 1.44 WHIP was pretty poor considering the high standards he sets for himself, his accurate and controlled pitching helped the Pirates make the most of available opportunities. Since the deal involved a substantial amount of cash, it had to be approved by MLB commissioner Bud Selig.
"A.J. Burnett is a solid veteran starting pitcher with an above-average pitch repertoire and potential to provide us with significant quality innings from our starting rotation," general manager Neal Huntington said.
"We had a chemistry," Barajas said. "There wasn't too much shaking (off signs). It seemed like he believed in what I was doing behind the plate, and I believed in him executing pitches. We both knew he was capable of throwing a no-hitter on any day. We put together a great season."
The trade was finalised on Sunday after Burnett passed a physical. The upcoming Spring Training will be of great importance for the thrower. He will be looking to produce consistent performances to win back his fans’ trust. It will be interesting to see if Burnett can improve his poor ERA from last year. Persistent hard work and dedication will be the key for starter if he wants to be successful during 2012 regular season.
In 2008, Burnett led the American League with 34 games started. Going 18-10 with a 4.07 ERA, he looked on top of his game play during that season. He will be looking to post similar stats this season to change the course of his career.
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