Yankees trade rumors: John Danks and A.J. Burnett can be traded to New York without their consent

The Yankees' search for pitching help has become a little easier with word that neither John Danks or A.J. Burnett have the team on their no-trade list. While neither are likely to end up in pinstripes this year, it's still something to keep track of as we head toward the deadline.

As we previously reported, the Yankees asked the White Sox about John Danks, but the 29-year-old isn't much of an upgrade, if at all, especially with him still owed $28.5 million over the next two years. The five-year extension he signed with Chicago allows him to pick six teams to have no-trade protection against. Of those six teams, four of them are contenders in the Athletics, Orioles, Nationals, and Blue Jays. If the Yankees decide to escalate trade talks, they would have a much easer time acquiring the left-hander, since he doesn't need to give permission to be moved.

While the Yankees have already stated their disinterest in a reunion with A.J. Burnett, it is important to note that the right-hander can be traded back to New York without his consent. As part of the contract he signed with the Phillies last offseason, Burnett has a 20-team no-trade clause and has left the Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Pirates, Reds, Royals, Nationals and Cardinals off his list. Burnett still has a portion of his $15 million contract owed to him and his $15 million mutual option, which the Yankees would surely decline, can turn into a player option for $7.5 million in 2015. That's not something the Yankees want to sign up for.

Hopefully the Yankees aren't interested in either Danks or Burnett, no matter how good of a deal it might look to be. The Yankees could use pitching help, but they're not going to get it from these two. Move along, move along.