Free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett has reached a preliminary agreement with the Yankees on a five-year, $82.5 million contract, joining lefty CC Sabathia in the team’s revamped rotation.
The Braves were the other team making a strong run at Burnett. It is not known whether they increased their offer to include a guaranteed fifth year.
The best news for Yankees fans? Burnett is 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox.
Burnett signed a five-year, $55 million free-agent contract with the Blue Jays after the 2005 season, then exercised his right to opt out of the deal and become a free agent again after three years. Between the two deals, he will end up earning $113.5 million over an eight-year span.
His contract with the Yankees, unlike Sabathia’s, will not include an opt-out clause.
At one point in his career, Burnett would have not been a good candidate to pitch in New York; he was too emotional, too mercurial.
From a physical standpoint, Burnett is also in a better place. After battling elbow and shoulder problems throughout his career, he seems to have gained a greater awareness of what he needs to do to stay healthy — and what it takes to win games.
The signing of Burnett means that the Yankees will drop their pursuit of right-hander Derek Lowe, who could end up with Boston.
Meanwhile, the Yankees have given lefty Andy Pettitte a take-it-or leave-it one-year, $10 million offer to remain with the club, according to the New York Post. If Pettitte declines, the Yankees likely will pursue a pitcher at a comparable price on the open market. They have had discussions with righty Ben Sheets