2009 FBS Bust Player: A.J. Burnett

Team: New York Yankees
Throws: Right

Position: SP

Despite the ridiculous salary that the Yankees gave Burnett, he is due to be a bust this season. Let's take a look at a few reasons why. First, he had never won more than 12 games in any season before 2008 (can you say, contract year? I can). In his ten year career, he has only started 30 games twice, and thrown over 200 innings three times. Burnett spends more time on the Disabled List than Britney Spears spends on the cover of gossip magazines. Many players also often will have a hard time in their first year on the Yankees, especially recently. Burnett has pitched in Florida and Toronto in his career, which are basically wastelands of baseball coverage. Sure, the Jays have some rabid fans, but the pressure in New York will make Toronto look like Candy Land. If I have to say one positive thing about Burnett it would be that when he actually does pitch, he will get you a good number of strikeouts, as shown by his career high 231 last season. He has always gotten you about a strikeout an inning throughout his career. However, before last season's "breakout" Burnett was basically a .500 pitcher who struck people out. Would you pay $85 million for that? Would you draft him among the top 20 pitchers? Believe me, the guy will be drafted well before his value would dictate. Don't be the one to stretch thinking you are going to get 18 wins or 200 Ks again, the odds are just not in your favor given Burnett's history.

Prediction: 10-8, 4.12 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 132 Ks, 21 starts