by Ken Rosenthal

Braves' best bet?

After losing out on A.J. Burnett, the Braves are still in need of another starting pitcher. Where will they turn? Ken Rosenthal takes a stab at it.

The Yankees are getting both.

Free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett has reached a preliminary agreement with the Yankees on a five-year, $82.5 million contract, joining lefty CC Sabathia in the team's revamped rotation.

The deal is pending Burnett's physical.

Sabathia agreed to a seven-year, $161 million contract earlier this week, making the combined total of the Yankees' two latest pitching investments $243.5 million. Sabathia, however, has the right to cancel his deal after three years.

The Braves were the other team making a strong run at Burnett. It is not known whether they increased their offer to include a guaranteed fifth year.

The best news for Yankees fans? Burnett is 5-0 with a 2.56 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox.

Burnett signed a five-year, $55 million free-agent contract with the Blue Jays after the 2005 season, then exercised his right to opt out of the deal and become a free agent again after three years.

Between the two deals, he will end up earning $113.5 million over an eight-year span.

His contract with the Yankees — unlike Sabathia's — will not include an opt-out clause.

At one point in his career, Burnett would have not been a good candidate to pitch in New York; he was too emotional, too mercurial.

However, he gained maturity in Toronto, following the example of Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay. The Braves considered his makeup to be superior to that of Derek Lowe, an older, more experienced pitcher. And Burnett has told friends that he is ready for the challenge of pitching in New York.

From a physical standpoint, Burnett is also in a better place. After battling elbow and shoulder problems throughout his career, he seems to have gained a greater awareness of what he needs to do to stay healthy — and what it takes to win games.

One rival pitching coach said of Burnett recently, "His pitching last season was as good as his stuff" — and Burnett's stuff has always been among the best in the game.

The signing of Burnett means that the Yankees will drop their pursuit of right-hander Derek Lowe, who could end up with Boston.

Meanwhile, the Yankees have given lefty Andy Pettitte a take-it-or leave-it one-year, $10 million offer to remain with the club, according to the New York Post. If Pettitte declines, the Yankees likely will pursue a pitcher at a comparable price on the open market. They have had discussions with righty Ben Sheets.