Yankee Shopping Spree Continues: Burnett to Ink 5 Year Deal with Bombers

You'd think, or at least, you'd hope, that a team with so much history, so much supposed savvy, and clearly so much money, would learn their lesson.

Carl Pavano.  Jaret Wright.  Kevin Brown.

To name a few, these are just some of the gentleman acquired by the New York Yankees in seasons past.  All of these pitchers shared common story lines.  Each was coming off one of (if not the) best year of their careers.  Each received contracts they didn't deserve at that point in their careers.  And, most importantly, each succeeded wonderfully in proving how truly unworthy they were of the millions thrown at their feet.

The next hero in the stunning line of injured, overhyped, overpriced pitchers?  A.J. Burnett.  The former 8th round pick of the New York Mets comes home, in a matter of speaking.  Though the oft-injured right hander actually is from Arkansas, he should feel right at home playing for the Yankees, where potential and past production are valued far higher than they should be and normal indicators (such as general surliness or prior injury history) are thrown to the wind.

For all of the concern over the money being given to Burnett, let's make it clear here on BERNing that money isn't even close to the issue.  First of all, who honestly cares?  It's not your money, unless you're a Steinbrenner.  Then, unfortunately, it is your money, and you're a moron.  However, outside of Hal and Hank, money isn't the issue, especially considering you just got the best pitcher available for 160 million.  And Burnett, at half that price, certainly isn't half the pitcher, so if you look at it through those Elton John-styled rose color glasses, it ain't a bad deal.

Yet, the real contention point here is that, for all of his supposed successes, Burnett isn't that good.  Does he possess wicked stuff?  A fastball clocked in the mid- to high-90's?  A filthy deucer, and some knee-buckling off-speed junk?  Sure, but, raise your hand if you've heard the refrain before of the pitcher with crazy stuff.

Unfortunately, as a guy like Juan Cruz (and the hairs pulled out of Chicagoans hairs as a result of his existence) can attest to, having great stuff doesn't do it alone.  Burnett, a pitcher that's logged over 166 innings only twice in the past six years, has a career record of only 12 games over .500.  Last year, even with that great finish in the second half that saw his post-All Star game ERA at 2.86, his final earned run average was a just-better-than pedestrian 4.07.  

Don't get me wrong, Burnett's a good pitcher.  He makes the Bombers a better team, providing he can stay on the mound.  The money isn't a concern, not only because it's the Yankees (though, being billionaires in a recession has to feel great, no?) but also because the Yanks have lost about 90 mil in salary from this past season.  So, they've got money to spend.  And, with that in mind, why not follow the archetype that's gotten them to where they so desperately desire to get back to--the playoffs, and then out and done in one round.

One thing though, that Burnett has?  A career record of 5-0 against the Red Sox, with a sub-3 ERA.  Maybe it wasn't the worst signing in the world after all...

For more information regarding A.J. Burnett, and the rest of the Yankee spending spree, make sure to check out the first edition of BERNing's weekly podcast.