Burnett promises not to "cause trouble"

A.J. Burnett admitted he wasn't surprised when he heard from Joe Girardi on Monday that he wouldn't be in the rotation for this round.

"I understand reality," Burnett said.

When Burnett signed a $82.5-million, five-year contract, he never envisioned himself being so bad that he's the fourth man in a three-man playoff rotation. But at the same time he realizes he can't do anything about it now, so he promised he's not going to get all mad and angry about his situation and become a distraction.

"Whenever they need me, I’ll do what they need me to do," Burnett said. "I'll be down in the bullpen. If it’s to get one out, heck, if they need me to come in and get a bunt down or pinch run, I'm game. It’s a team here and we all got the same goal. So there’s no hard feelings."