While the Yankees wait to hear Sabathia's response to their offer, they offered Burnett a reported 5 year $82m deal. The Yankees are coming out firing and that's probably the best way to do it for them. Ryan Dempster just resigned with the Cubs, and before any other pitchers start signing with other teams the Yankees should snag the guys they want early. Other quasi-interested rivals to the Yankees (Mets, Red Sox) are going to try to make the Yankees spend more money, signing Sabathia and Burnett early could help prevent that. Also, $16m a year for 5 years ain't half bad for Burnett. It's expensive but all pitching is, they're not overpaying him and they're filling a need with a potential ace pitcher, sounds good to me.
The Yankees obvious biggest need is starting pitching (surprisingly their bullpen looks young, good, and flexible), signing 2 top pitchers early in the offseason will allow them the entire rest of the offseason to determine what they want to do with their lineup. If nothing else, a rotation with Sabathia, Wang, Burnett and Joba and their current team as is would put the Yankees in pretty good shape. But without worrying about their rotation if these guys sign early, the Yankees have a long time to decide what to do with Abreu, if they want Teixeira, if they want to trade Cano, and where to find a CF.
Benny boy, i agree that the Yankees are doing the right thing coming out firing for the top tier pitchers of this years class in order to focus on the smaller nuances of the bottom of their lineup later in the offseason. I've never been one to complain about the money the yankees give to players, because if they set their sights on someone, they throw alot of dollars their way to ensure the signing. So giving Burnett, a potential ace 16million a year is perfectly fine with me considering he'll be a huge upgrade (if healthy) over our 16million dollar pitcher from last year, Andy Pettite. But, you have to question the length of the contract...5 years for a pitcher who never has pitched 200innings in a non-contract year. That worries me.
ReplyDeleteGood point related Pettitte's 16 million to Burnett's 16 million, really helps illustrate that the per year is totally fine. But your real point is in the amount of years where Burnett is getting 5years for a pitcher that like you said never pitched 200 innings in a non-contract year, no other team may offer him that 5th year.
ReplyDeleteThere is an obvious cause for worry for Burnett, but the Yankees have some sort of love affair with him, for better or worse. They are the Yankees so if he gets hurt it won't kill them, and the payoff is you get a potential ace. Compared to Lowe I'd think Lowe would better fit the Yankees needs...less years, more consistent, and with Sabathia you don't need an ace. But with that said, it's hard to argue against signing these guys quick, especially if you consider rumors of Yankees offering contracts to all 3 of these pitchers.
I question Burnett's potential. Whatever it was he has reached it, hes coming up on 31 years old I think. I want him, but 5 years is a bit of a risk with not a definite reliable guy for innings and often inconsistent.
ReplyDeleteWell, you really can't argue with Burnett's talent when healthy...you should be able to pencil him in for 15 wins, a solid era in the mid to high 3's and around 200ks so im not worried about how he'll perform, plus hes proven himself in the AL. Yes, maybe that's his ceiling and he's reached it, but im willing to shell out the cash for that type of performance year in year out, but thats what I'm worried about because like another high profile signing from a couple of years ago (pavano) he's only been healthy during contract years like i said before...but if he stays healthy, him and sabathia would be a nasty 1,2 punch...johnson and schilling nasty...
ReplyDeleteWith Burnett his potential is consistency. He's never really proved that but some may say at 31 he's turned a corner and knows how to pitch better. He doesn't have to get better, he hasn't lost any of his stuff, he just has to be consistent. The Yanks are risking that he can do that more or less over the duration of the contract.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, I think Lowe is a better fit, and the 5th year may come back to haunt us, but it's a risk that the Yankees are able to endure if it happens.