Yankees, A.J. Burnett Trade Rumors: Friday

The latest in the A.J. Burnett trade rumor miniature odyssey has the New York Yankees offering a significant amount of money to the Pittsburgh Pirates (somewhere around $20M of his $33M salary) in exchange for Garrett Jones, though Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman are suggesting that if the Pirates can chip in around $10 million (leaving the Yankees with $23M), the deal might actually work.

That said, Heyman is also reporting that the Pirates have rebuffed the idea of trading Garrett Jones and have not yet offered to pay the $10 million the Yankees are presumably requesting.

Meanwhile, Rob Neyer of Baseball Nation and Steve Slowinski of FanGraphs are asking the better question: why?

• Twitter / @JonHeymanCBS: #pirates have not yet offe ...
  #pirates have not yet offered to pay $10M of aj's $33M to go. Agree with @JoelSherman that 10 may be magic number (or thereabouts)
• Yanks, Pirates talking Burnett trade - Jon Heyman | CBSSports.com
  "The Yankees have offered to pay a substantial portion of the $33 million remaining on Burnett's deal over the final two years--though, not quite enough money in the Pirates' estimation. The Pirates also have rejected a Yankees request for Garrett Jones in trade talks. Word is, the Yankees at least initially asked the Pirates to pay well more than one-third of the $33 million, something closer to a 50-50 split of the financial obligation to Burnett."
• Twitter / @JonHeymanCBS: #yankees 1st offered to pa ...
  #yankees 1st offered to pay pirates less than one-third of aj's $33M, something closer to a 50-50 split. on cbsports.com blog

Would A.J. Burnett Be Good For The Pirates? - Rob Neyer | Baseball Nation
"Everyone seems to have been focusing on Burnett leaving the Yankees and Jones joining the Yankees, because Yankees. But that's not the interesting side of the equation. The interesting side of the equation is Pirates. Because why on earth would the Pittsburgh Pirates be interested in a pitcher like A.J. Burnett? Even if he's essentially free?

Because he would essentially be free."

Why Do The Pirates Want A.J. Burnett? | FanGraphs Baseball
"As it turns out, the Pirates are in a unique predicament that makes them one of the few teams in the majors in a position to add Burnett. They have a weak rotation, headlined by the enigmatic Charlie Morton (who had off-season surgery and is doubtful for the beginning of the season) and the injury-prone Erik Bedard, and they have been rebuffed by numerous free agent pitchers this offseason."

• A.J. Burnett Rumors: Yankees Want Garrett Jones - MLB Daily Dish
  According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Yankees want 1B/RF Garrett Jones in any trade involving RHP A.J. Burnett.
• Yankees Notes: 10th Best Farm System, AJ Burnett Rumors, Branyan Reaction - MLB Daily Dish
  Keith Law released his farm system rankings today and has the Yankees ranked 10th overall, the Yanks may be willing to eat some cash on a A.J. Burnett trade, and Pinstripe Alley asks if Russell Branyan is a good fit with the club in today's Yankees Notes...