"With A.J. Burnett having his "typical terrible August," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that the pitcher's five-year, $82.5 million contract will not prevent him from being dropped from the rotation.

"No, money is never going to be a factor," Cashman told ESPNewYork.com.

Cashman reiterated his staunch defense of Burnett from a little more than a week ago. However, a week from now, barring injury, the Yankees will have to make a decision about paring their rotation from six pitchers to five, and Burnett is on the bubble.

"We have six guys who can pitch in a pennant race, period," Cashman said. "A.J Burnett is having his typical terrible August. For whatever reason, he can't pitch in August, I don't know why. It is what it is. August is obviously not an effective month for him."

In 15 August starts over the past three seasons as a Yankee, Burnett's ERA is 7.62 and he has only one win, which came this month. His record for the three Augusts is 1-8. "