"Brian Cashman still believes that A.J. Burnett can help the Yankees, but that doesn't mean his job is secure beyond this week.

The GM acknowledged that Burnett is in the middle of "a bad stretch" of pitching, but like Joe Girardi, he's not prepared to make any decisions about the starting rotation before he's forced to do so.

"Right now, he's not pitching well," Cashman said Monday. "He's going to get another turn until we say otherwise. We have six starting pitchers for five spots, which is a good thing right now. That will change at some point here soon."

Following Saturday's doubleheader in Baltimore, the Yankees are planning to reduce the rotation from six to five. Burnett, who pitches Friday against the Orioles, has been the team's least effective starter for the past few weeks, leaving him vulnerable to a demotion to the bullpen.

Cashman said Burnett's $82.5 million contract won't be a factor in any rotation decisions that are made going forward.

"It's about what's best for our team as we move forward toward the postseason," Cashman said. "Two weeks ago, everyone said Phil Hughes should go to the pen. Last week, it was Bartolo Colon. Now it's A.J. Ultimately, the game will tell you who should go to the pen.""