Yankees Rumors: Burnett to Pirates done

The Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees are very close to have agreed to send right-hander A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh and are expecting to take the proposal to the waiting on the commissioner’s office Friday for approval, sources said. The Pirates are expected to send a pair of prospects to the Yankees and take on $13 million of Burnett’s salary, sources said. The commissioner’s office will need to approve the deal because of the money involved, as the Yankees will eat about $20 million of the $33 million still owed Burnett for the last two seasons of his contract, sources said. As a Yankee the past three seasons, Burnett is 34-35 with a 4.79 ERA. He is 121-111 with a 4.10 ERA in 13 seasons with the Yankees, Blue Jays and Marlins. Once the Burnett deal is complete, the Yankees will begin their attention to a veteran designated hitter, sources said. According to sources, Yankees’ brass have their eyes set on Raul Ibanez — who wants to play for the team — to be their designated hitter against right-handers, partly because they believe he can give them some days of outfield play. Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui are also options.