Pittsburgh will be shipping two minor leaguers to the Yanks,neither of which are high on my prospect radar in pitcher Diego Moreno and outfielder Exicardo Cayones.Pittsburgh will be paying 13 million of the remaining 33 million of the Burnett contract,which has two seasons to run,so the prospects that were going to be given up were never going to be elite or even of the high/middle level.
Moreno is a righthander with interesting numbers,but will turn 26 as the season progresses and has had little success above High A.
Cayones is a 20 year old outfielder that has hit one homer in three years as a pro and looked overmatched in a cameo appearance at short season State College,so I will not lose much sleep over the lost talent or the 13 million paid Burnett,who at 6.5 million per year could prove a bargain or least not a money pit as long he takes the ball every fifth day.
Let's take a look at Burnett and see just what the Pirates can count on.
Burnett strikes batters out with a career ratio over over eight whiffs per nine innings,has been healthy since 2004 Tommy John Surgery and if you take the last two seasons away is pretty dependable for an ERA in the threes to low fours.
The gamble with Burnett is that if you think the issue is the new Yankee Stadium,which is proving to inflate pitching numbers,then the Pirates could have themselves a solid anchor of their rotation at PNC Park,a much more forgiving park for the hurler.
However,it could be that the 35 year old Burnett is almost cooked as a pitcher and the Pirates will be paying 13 million to find out.
I lean towards the former,but if Burnett was a sure thing,the cash flush Bronxers would have certainly kept him in their rotation.
The trade does suddenly bring the dreaded "P" word as in potential to the table as suddenly the Pirates could
(emphasis on COULD) have themselves a fairly decent rotation in a resurgent Burnett,a healthy Eric Bedard (another huge IF),Charlie Morton ( health and inconsistency),James McDonald and either Jeff Karstens or Brad Lincoln.
Karstens had a terrific year last season,but I still think he is better suited to be the long/middle reliever and fill in starter in case of injury,which looking at this rotation looks more likely than not....
However,they could also have a pretty crappy one too as we imagine Burnett continuing his decline,Bedard getting injured,Morton either comes back slow from injury and/or reverts to 2010 from and Karstens becomes well,Jeff Karstens other than in 2011.
I think the difference will be somewhere in between.
I would guess that Burnett improves just by getting out of NYC and Bedard just can never be counted on safely to be healthy..
All and all,the trade is a low risk high reward other than spending some dollars for a guy that could anchor your rotation this season and with some luck and some work,could be a valuable trade chip in 2013.
The Pirates gave up nothing of true value for Burnett and worse case scenario is Burnett is not very good and they spent some money trying to win,which all we can ask and have been asking for.
Back later with the Devils thrilling win over Anaheim,which got pushed back with the trade and the Cavaliers crushed by Miami.
I will try to get at least one of these up today,guess which one????
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