The Pirates finally made a splash. Actually, it might be better characterized as a small swell. A splash was last year when we acquired Derrek Lee and Ryan Ludwick. The Pirates haven't yet created a tropical storm, but the times they are a-changin'. No longer is Pittsburgh just a triple-A club for other baseball teams around the league. This time, the Pirates gave up the prospects and took on money in order to help facilitate a salary dump for another team. This time, in a very strange turn of events, that team was the New York Yankees.
From the Yankees, the Pirates received talented but oft-maligned starting pitcher A.J. Burnett. In exchange, the Pirates sent prospects Diego Moreno and Exicardo Cayones to the Yankees. In addition, the Yankees will provide the Pirates 20 million dollars to cover over half of the 33 million Burnett is owed over the next two years (some sources indicate that it's 18.1 million instead of 20 - stay tuned). Details on all three players after the jump and my opinion.
