MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees, Pirates A.J. Burnett Talks “Ongoing”

Yesterday we found that the Pirates were showing serious interest in Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett.  News continued to pour out involving trade negotiations throughout the day and as of last night talks were ongoing.

The Yankees are looking to deal Burnett to shed salary that could be put into an additional veteran bat or two.  New York realizes that they will have to swallow most of Burnett’s remaining salary, but they initially hoped the Pirates would pick up some of the tab and throw in a player to boot.

The player the Yankees were targeting was slugger Garrett Jones.  Pittsburgh rebuffed New York’s proposal, and it’s being reported that the Pirates are more comfortable eating salary than trading players for Burnett.

But just how much salary will the Pirates and Yankees have to eat?

Right now the number being discussed is $10 million.  Pittsburgh was at first unwilling to pick up this hefty tab, but has reportedly since come around to the idea.  However, Joel Sherman of the New York Post is reporting that the Yankees are now telling the Pirates that taking on the $10 million isn’t enough.

The last report released Friday night was from Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Brink noted that talks are ongoing, but that Jones is no longer part of the discussions.  There seems to be a fair amount of optimism that a deal will get done.

For more on the Pirates and Yankees, be sure to check out Rum Bunter and Yanks Go Yard.

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