Hal Steinbrenner says he’s optimistic about the Yankees’ chances of landing free agent pitcher A.J. Burnett.
Steinbrenner is optimistic that he’ll soon add righthander A.J. Burnett to the team’s roster and payroll, he said yesterday. The Yankees have made Burnett a five-year, $80-million offer, and they’re waiting to hear back from him. The Braves also are in the mix, although it’s not clear whether Atlanta added a guaranteed fifth year to its package.
“We’re interested in him and he’s interested in us,” Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ control person, said of Burnett in a telephone interview with Newsday. “Obviously, New York has a lot to offer, and playing for the Yankees is just a great thing.”
Steinbrenner said he is “optimistic” about Burnett, though he qualified that by saying: “I’m always optimistic.”
Well considering Steinbrenner has the ability to hand out $100 million contracts like they were Pez candy, why wouldn’t he always be optimistic? Landing Burnett and CC Sabathia in the same offseason would obviously go a long way in the Yankees’ plan to rebuild their starting rotation. And considering Burnett is already familiar with the division and league, his chances of being a free agent bust should be minimal.
