One way or another, I think this deal is going to become legendary. Either AJ will become whatever the Yankees think he is, never get hurt, win 80 games in 5 years, pitch like an ace and the team will win championships left and right, or AJ Burnett will be as bad as many here think he will, pitch less than 100 games over five years, be a middling to slightly above average pitcher while he's here, his contract will be an albatross that haunts this team for five years, and because we wasted the money on him, the team will spiral into disrepair and this signing will always be known as the beginning of the end of both the great Yankee teams of the 90s-00s and Brian Cashman's run with the team.

I also think I'll have a ton of fun comparing this to the initial Mussina contract.

On 12/1/08, Baseball America's John Manuel commented that after observing 6'10" Andew Brackman in the Hawaiian League, he is completely convinced that Brackman will be a "stud", and should be ready by 2011.

So, now that we have CC and Burnett locked up in long-term contracts, where is the potential room for one or more of the following prospects: Hughes, Kennedy, Aceves, Brackman, Bleich (who also performed quite well in the Hawaiian League), Betances (who, like Brackman) is very highly-rated), McAllister, Heredia and Garcia?

There's got to be a morning after
If we can hold on through the night
We have a chance to find the sunshine
Let's keep on lookin' for the light

Oh, can't you see the morning after
It's waiting right outside the storm
Why don't we cross the bridge together
And find a place that's safe and warm

It's not too late, we should be giving
Only with love can we climb
It's not too late, not while we're living
Let's put our hands out in time

There's got to be a morning after
We're moving closer to the shore
I know we'll be there by tomorrow
And we'll escape the darkness
We won't be searchin' any more

There's got to be a morning after
(There's got to be a morning after)
There's got to be a morning after
(There's got to be a morning after)
There's got to be a morning after
(There's got to be a morning after)
There's got to be a morning after
(There's got to be a morning after)
There's got to be a morning after

I felt that was appropriate for a number of reasons.

Mattpat11,
You are certainly a deep and complex commenter.

I was continuing the debate in the previous thread (there are too many Burnett conversations going on!), but as to [3], if Barackman will be a stud, the Yankees will have room for him. So much could happen between now and then, that you can't worry about where Brackman will slot three seasons from now.

[7]

I agree. If Brackman's the real deal, the Yanks will find room for him.

As I said at some point yesterday, the one positive I see to Burnett (beyond the potential for him to pitch well enough) is that when he inevitably misses 30-45 innings in 2009, it opens up more of a chance for Hughes should the Yanks sign another pitcher (Andy Pettitte for $10M?).

If anything, I think the Yanks are looking, not so much at the Jays, but at the Rays, who rode an outstanding pitching staff (second in the AL in runs allowed) and a middle-of-the-pack offense (9th in the AL in runs scored) to the World Serious.

What's missing is that the Rays had an otherworldly defense last year, especially up the middle . . . but I suppose having a strikeout-oriented staff (CC, AJ, Joba and for the moment, Hughes in the 5th slot - not to mention the bullpen) might mitigate that enough to make a difference? At least that's what I'm telling myself.

I'd be much happier if this deal had an opt-out clause in it, but I'm sure it does not. Sigh.

Having Sabathia and Burnett means the young pitchers can actually develop and not be rushed. And if they do become good I think the Yankees will find a way to get them up.

I could think of worse problems to have