by Ken Rosenthal

The question is to what extent.

The Sox generally resist giving long-term contracts to starting pitchers, the exception being the six-year deal they awarded right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka when he was 26.

Burnett turns 32 on Jan. 3. The Yankees intend to offer him a four-year deal, according to one source, not the five-year, $80-million proposal that was reported as a possibility on Tuesday.

The Sox, in theory, could sign Burnett for a shorter term with a high average salary. But if Burnett wanted that type of deal, he probably could stay in Toronto.

The Jays, though, have yet to even make Burnett an offer; sources on both sides say reports of a four-year, $54 million proposal to the pitcher are inaccurate.

Burnett could end up taking the same approach as the Cubs' Ryan Dempster — testing the market, then returning to his previous team.

But with the Yankees, Red Sox, Braves and Orioles all showing interest, his price could rise beyond the Jays' comfort level, perhaps even to $20 million per season.

So, would the Red Sox go to four years on Burnett, given his well-documented history of injury and inconsistency?

Seems doubtful, but owner John Henry is a fan of Burnett's, going back to their days together with the Marlins.

The Sox, meanwhile, could use another starting pitcher to go with Matsuzaka, righty Josh Beckett and lefty Jon Lester — particularly if they trade one of their young pitchers for a catcher and/or keep Justin Masterson in the bullpen.

Beckett, who is under the Sox's control only through 2010, eventually will need to be re-signed or replaced. The addition of Burnett would provide the team with a buffer against Beckett's possible departure.

Hank "Broadcast News" Steinbrenner blurted out the Yankees' intention to pursue Burnett in late August. The Red Sox have been much more guarded about their plans, but Burnett is 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA in six lifetime starts against them — and 6-3 with a 2.43 ERA in 11 starts against the Yankees. No one questions his stuff, and one rival coach says he was "clearly more of a 'pitcher'" last season.

A bidding war for Burnett between the two AL East super-powers appears unlikely; the Red Sox likely would bow out before getting suckered into such a game.

Derek Lowe might be too old to get Barry Zito money. (Jeff Gross / Getty Images)

Then again, if the Yankees fail to land all three of their free-agent targets — Burnett, CC Sabathia and Derek Lowe — the Sox will be laying in wait.

Lowe equals Zito?

Those who snickered when Scott Boras intimated that he wanted a six-year deal for Manny Ramirez might guffaw at this one.

Boras, according to executives with two different teams interested in Derek Lowe, is telling clubs he wants "a Zito-type contract" for the free-agent right-hander.

That's Zito, as in Barry Zito, as in seven years, $126 million.

Zito signed the deal before the season in which he turned 29. Lowe, who has averaged 208 innings and a 3.79 ERA the past seven seasons, turns 36 on June 1.

Boras could not be reached Tuesday night, but he has called Lowe "the safest bet" of any free-agent pitcher.

Lowe earned 42 saves as a closer in 2000. He has a career 3.33 ERA in the postseason. Perhaps most impressive of all, he has never been on the disabled list.

The Yankees' other issue

While the Yankees are correct to focus on starting pitching, they scored only 789 runs last season, their lowest 162-game total since 1992.

The team expects to lose first baseman Jason Giambi and right fielder Bobby Abreu as free agents, and to this point, has added only infielder/outfielder Nick Swisher.

General manager Brian Cashman, however, does not sound especially concerned about the Yankees' offense.

MLB Hot Stove

Ken Rosenthal and our MLB crew have you covered. Check out all the news and notes from the hot stove. Angels sign Abreu to 1-year deal Sources: Nats land Dunn w/2-year deal Updates: Lefty relievers getting offers Wolf, Dodgers agree to $5M deal Sources: Mets ink deal to keep Perez Braves, Kotchman avoid arbitration Sources: Rays, Shouse OK deal Report: Varitek to stay with BoSox Mets, Maine avoid arbitration Pirates sign P Maholm to 3-year deal

"You take a step back, and we lost Alex (Rodriguez) for (three weeks) last year. Robbie Cano got out of whack," Cashman said.

"I expect Alex for the full six months next year — and look at the production he had (35 homers, 103 RBIs) missing one month. Cano is fine now. He's going to be a .300 hitter.

"I do believe we'll miss Abreu and Giambi and their selectivity. But the addition of Swisher will help."

And if Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada make successful recoveries from their respective knee and shoulder surgeries?

"That probably answers the questions right there," Cashman said.

Still, the Yankees are always looking to improve and can not be ruled out of the free-agent pursuits for Mark Teixeria and even Ramirez.

If the Yankees added Teixeira, Swisher could turn out to be their version of Coco Crisp, offering protection against injury.

The Yankees consider Swisher to be above-average defensively in both outfield corners and at first base.

Wakamatsu: Intriguing pick for M's

Don Wakamatsu is an excellent teacher, according to a baseball man who knows him well, and particularly adept at instructing catchers.

Dustin Pedroia is just getting started. (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images)

That's good news for the Mariners, who are set to hire Wakamatsu as their new manager on Wednesday, according to numerous reports.

Several of the team's pitchers dislike throwing to Kenji Johjima, the Mariners' Japanese catcher. Fixing that problem alone would be a major boost for the club.

Something else to consider: Wakamatsu could hire former A's and Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson. The two knew each other from when Wakamatsu was a catcher and Peterson a pitching coach in the White Sox's minor-league system.

"Don Wakamatsu is a friend of mine," Peterson said Tuesday night. "I am very happy for him. It would be an honor and a privilege to be his pitching coach."

Pedroia: An MVP with upside

Asked about his reaction to Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia winning the American League MVP award, Sox manager Terry Francona said, "I am so proud of him. And he still might get better."

Better?

"Experience is huge. And he seems to get stronger and quicker," Francona explained. "As long as he stays away from injury, he will continue to get more dangerous at the plate."

Pedroia is only 25, so it's entirely possible that he has not reached his peak. But he already has a Rookie of the Year award and an MVP. And, as the accompanying chart shows, his first two full seasons compare favorably to Derek Jeter's.

Around the horn

The fourth year of right-hander Ryan Dempster's new four-year, $52 million contract with the Cubs is a player option, so conceivably he could opt out at age 34. Staying with the Cubs offered Dempster another advantage; as a player with 10 years of major-league service, five with the same team, he has earned the right to veto any trade. He would have needed to negotiate no-trade protection with another club ...

The Yankees' farm system is strong enough to match up with the Padres if the teams revive their discussions on right-hander Jake Peavy. The Padres, according to one major-league source, told the Yankees that a deal would be possible even if the Yankees declined to offer right-hander Phil Hughes.

The Padres scouted Hughes in a recent Arizona Fall League game, but the Yankees have zero intention of trading him ...

The Rockies, after trading left fielder Matt Holliday to the A's, are content merely to listen to trade offers for third baseman Garrett Atkins and new closer Huston Street. The team also does not plan to pursue free-agent outfielder such as Pat Burrell or Adam Dunn, believing it needs more speed in the vast left field at Coors Field. Seth Smith and Ryan Spilborghs could form a platoon in left, and the Rockies have multiple options in center, likely ensuring that Willy Taveras will be the odd man out ...

The Mets want to add a right-handed bat in addition to a closer and a possible replacement for free-agent left-hander Oliver Perez. Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran are switch-hitters, but after David Wright, Fernando Tatis is their biggest right-handed threat. The Mets are not high on Burrell, and free agent Raul Ibanez, a left-handed hitter, is not an ideal fit. Though Ibanez hit lefties better than righties last season, his career batting average against lefties is 25 points lower.