Pirates A Match For A.J.?

In the Yankees' continued effort to move A.J. Burnett, a serious potential trade partner might be materializing in the Pittsburgh Pirates.  It started with some Buster Olney reports on Twitter yesterday, and it's continued today with Jon Heyman picking up the story.

The talks right now center around the Pirates' need for a pitcher who can eat innings and the Yankees' desire to get lefty-hitting Garrett Jones back in the deal.  Jones, 30, is a .254/.323/.450 career hitter (.334 wOBA), and is even better against right-handed pitching, posting a .275/.354/.483 slash and a .360 wOBA in over 1,000 career AB against righties.  He has legit power (.196 career ISO) and a decent BB rate, and would be an ideal candidate to fill the lefty DH role in the Yankees lineup, but so far the Pirates have shown no interest in parting with Jones.

 (That swing would look nice in pinstripes.  Courtesy of Getty Images)

With the Yankees continuing to look for ways to add two bats despite signing Russell Branyan, this trade makes a lot of sense for them.  Jones would give them a legit lefty threat from the DH spot and presumably the Yankees would free up that little bit of money they're looking to use to spend on a Chavez or Ibanez type, if they would even still be targets after acquiring Jones.  But if the Pirates take a hard stance on giving up Jones, the Yankees may have to sweeten the deal.  Whether that means agreeing to pick up more than the $25-28 million they're reportedly willing to eat or adding another player is unknown, but for a hitter of Jones' caliber that might be worth it.  He would be a better option than any of the free agents the Yanks are currently connected to, including Branyan.  Stay tuned...