After three disappointing seasons, the New York Yankees have traded starting pitcher A.J Burnett to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In exchange for the 35-year-old right-hander, the Yanks received two minor leaguers.
Burnett was lured to the Yanks in 2008, signing a five-year contract worth $82.5 million. During his tenure in New York, Burnett has recorded a record of 34-34 and a mediocre ERA of 4.81. His poor pitching performances over the years can be credited to his lack of control, resulting in issuing excessive walks and hit batters.
Although the Bronx Bombers won the World Series in 2009 with Burnett in the rotation, his inconsistencies on the mound left Yankee fans and coaches with feelings of doubt and uncertainty whenever it was his turn to pitch in the rotation. Burnett followed up his championship season with ERA’s over five in his next two seasons, subsequently resulting in his trade.
The end of the Burnett-era in New York leaves the Yankees with a stable rotation. The Yanks acquired two new pitchers this off-season, right-handed reliever Michael Pineda and right-handed starter Hiroki Kuroda. With their ace in C.C Sabathia leading the rotation, the Yanks have much more depth this season in terms of reliable starters.
After coming off an incredible rookie season in 2011, Ivan Nova will likely take the role of the number two starter. The last three spots in the rotation will be up in the air to be decided by Phil Hughes, Freddy Garcia and Hiroki Kuroda.
Joba Chamberlain is coming back from Tommy John surgery and will likely be back ready by the All-Star break. Both Chamberlain and Hughes need to come back strong this season to earn their place on the roster after poor performances over the past few seasons.
Trading Burnett has removed any and all doubts from the Yanks current projected rotation. With Sabathia and Nova anchoring down the top two spots, their rotation as a whole will be one of the more solid rotations entering the 2012 season.
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