The Pittsburgh Pirates, going for an even 20 on their consecutive losing seasons streak in 2012, are close to a deal to pick up a pitcher after striking out as often as Adam Dunn in free agency.

ESPN.com is reporting that a framework is in place for a deal that would send A.J. Burnett from the Yankees to the Pirates. Burnett was rendered obsolete in New York with the acquisitions of Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda.

The Yankees wanted left-handed slugger Garrett Jones, but that's not likely to happen. Probably the holdup is how much the Yankees will supplement his contract. Burnett (along with Barry Zito) is one of the most overpaid pitchers in the game. He'll make $35 million in the next two seasons. His ERA was over five in both 2010 and 2011.

A trip from the penthouse to the basement wouldn't appeal to many players -- which is why free agents Roy Oswalt and Edwin Jackson didn't bite on lucrative offers -- but Burnett, according to the New York Daily News -- is OK with it. Burnett has a no-trade clause, but the Pirates aren't on it.

Burnett, who is the No. 6 or No. 7 starter for the Yankees, might be the ace in Pittsburgh. With Burnett, the Pirates' rotation would look like this: Burnett, Jeff Karstens, Charlie Morton, James McDonald and either Erik Bedard or Kevin Correia.

Related: Free agent starting pitchers

It's February already, with pitchers and catchers set to report next week.

So why haven't these guys signed yet? If Russell Branyan can find a taker, so should these guys. The seven best remaining free agents:

Roy Oswalt: The clock is ticking, and the multiyear deal that the former Astros and Phillies pitcher wanted doesn't seem to be materializing. Oswalt, 34, was 9-10 with a  3.69 ERA in 23 games for Philadelphia last season. Cincinnati seems to have the most interest, Oswalt really wants to be in St. Louis or Texas (ast year's pennant-winners, by coincidence -- and good teams that are close to his Midwest home).

Johnny Damon: The Yankees signed Branyan on Wednesday, which probably doesn't affect their pursuit of Damon, 38. He is a much more consistent hitter, and a guy who has been dependable injury-wise. He could also spell somebody in the outfield on occasion. Damon apparently wants more money than the market would dictate, however. He looked to be a nice fit in Detroit, but when they signed Prince Fielder, that seemed to end the Tigers' pursuit.

Edgar Renteria: He was the World Series MVP just two years ago, so it's not like he's totally over the hill. He hit .251 in 96 games with the Reds last season. He'll be 36 in August. And there's little to no chatter on where he'll end up.

Derrek Lee: While the Indians went out and signed Casey Kotchman (who was good last year in Tampa, but downright mediocre in several seasons before that), they overlooked Lee, who at 36 was productive for the Orioles and Pirates last season, hitting .267 with 19 homers in 113 games. The Pirates wanted Lee back, but he's reportedly not very interested in that prospect. (Neither were Oswalt and Edwin Jackson, who reportedly left money on the table to avoid Pittsburgh.)

Vladimir Guerrero: Same story as Damon - an aging hitter who is still looking for a payday even though the demand isn't there.  Same goes for Hideki Matsui.

Magglio Ordonez: The A's apparently have some interest in the former White Sox and Tigers slugger, who is 38 and is battling back from ankle surgery last fall. Would he be an upgrade over Matsui last season? Probably not.

Manny Ramirez: And then there's Manny, who is interested in a midseason comeback (after serving a 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drug use). The A's have been interested, and perhaps the Blue Jays and Orioles as well.

Free agent scorecard, by position

Perhaps no team has had a more radical reconstruction this offseason as the Colorado Rockies.

It started when they dealt ace Ubaldo Jimenez to the Cleveland Indians last summer, and continued Monday when they traded for the Orioles' Jeremy Guthrie, who fits as an innings-eater in a rotation that is very young. Except for the pitching staff, the Rockies aren't going younger, though.

How much have the Rockies changed in one year? Here's last year's opening day lineup:

1. CF Dexter Fowler
2. RF Seth Smith
3. LF Carlos Gonzalez
4. SS Troy Tulowitzki
5. 1B Todd Helton
6. 3B Ty Wigginton
7. 2B Jose Lopez
8. C Chris Iannetta
9. P Jimenez

And a projected one for 2012:

1. CF Fowler
2. 2B Marco Scutaro
3. LF Gonzalez
4. SS Tulowitzki
5. RF Michael Cuddyer
6. 1B Helton
7. 3B Casey Blake
8. C Ramon Hernandez
9. P Jorge De La Rosa

Scutaro is 36, Blake is 38 and Hernandez is 35. With Helton (38), it will be the oldest infield in baseball, by far, in 2012. So with pitching that's probably too young to contend this year (but with plenty of prospects), the Rockies are in a nurturing phase.

"You've got to build a championship culture," Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd said recently to MLB.com. "The sum of the parts has to be greater than any one part. Players have to have a mind-set that it's not about them; it's about the team."

We're all still waiting to see if Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun will be playing before the end of May.

He's tested positive for a banned substance, although there's been no official word as an appeals process takes place. We should know something in the next couple weeks.

In the meantime, it's beginning to become the time to prepare for fantasy baseball. And if the reigning NL MVP has to serve a 50-game suspension, he'll certainly fall in fantasy drafts and auctions. But just how far?

Braun is a first-round lock without the suspension. With it, is he a fourth-rounder? An eighth-rounder? If it's a head-to-head league, put Braun at the higher end of the scale. But in a rotisserie format, you might not be able to afford to keep him around, dropping his value.

Fantasy correspondent Kevin Kleps has his preseason rankings ready for the fourth season, and he's tackled the Braun debate in his look at the top 60 outfielders for 2012. He also has his top 100 ready, along with the top 20 at every position. Watch for updates as the season draws closer.

2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings