NEW YORK (WFAN) – Brian Cashman, fresh off signing new three-year contract with the Yankees, found himself quickly back under the New York sports microscope this week.

When asked about embattled starter A.J. Burnett during a conference call, Cashman appeared to leave the door wide open for moving the right-hander.

“If he’s with us,” replied Cashman on Tuesday, “without a doubt he’s in the rotation.”

The general manager backtracked and then some Wednesday.

“I guess it was a bad choice of words,” Cashman clarified, according to the New York Daily News. “My intention wasn’t to imply that we were looking to trade him. I tried to explain that for everybody that doesn’t have a full no-trade, I’m willing to be open-minded, listen and try to be creative. I’m trying to add to my rotation, so if I subtract from it, I’ll have to add even more.”

While not a model of consistency on the mound, Burnett has proven to be a horse. Since signing with the Yankees prior to the 2009 season, Burnett has started in 33 (’09), 33 (2010) and 32 games (2011). He pitched 207 innings his first year, 186.2 the next and 190.1 this past season.

“It would be hard for me to move him, because we need the innings,” said Cashman. “Subtracting from the rotation puts even more pressure on us to add to it.”

“I won’t be shopping anybody,” he added. “I can tell you that.”

Yankees fans: do you think Cashman made some good points? Fire away in the comments below…