Now, had this trade gone through it would've been a horrible failure for the Indians, so I must give GM Chris Antonetti credit. It is pretty much a foregone conclusion that Haftner is no longer much of a home run threat...multiple surgeries and chronic fatigue regarding his shoulder being the obvious culprits. Pronk lost his power, not his swing, as he did turn in a respectable average (.280) and a marginal, yet acceptable On Base Percentage (.361).
Meanwhile, A.J Burnett has lost his mind. And I would be saying that of the Tribe brass had this trade gone through. at $13.5 mil, Haftner can still contribute day-in-day-out. Burmett, at best might be able to contribute every 5 days, assuming a lack of any sort of mental breakdown or pouting fit. I actually find his antics amusing...though I doubt the Pirates do which is why they want the Yankees to assume so much salary. The Yankees, it should be noted, should not be trusted in trades. Too often they raid undervalued players from smaller clubs and turn them into stars, leaving low-income teams in awe. This, I assume is part of the benefits of having the funds to support extensive scouting regiments across both leagues.
In the end, this non-move by the Indians is smart and shows faith in Haftner (something that should never be discounted). The Pirates should do themselves a favor and stay clear of Burnett too, of course. Let New York live with its mistake...after spending several billion dollars on a new stadium, they could use a lesson in humility.