"Joe Girardi may be the only one left supporting A.J. Burnett.

The Yankees manager has remained supportive of the struggling pitcher, but GM Brian Cashman was more critical of Burnett in an ESPN.com interview on Monday.

"We have six guys who can pitch in a pennant race, period," Cashman told the website. "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."

Burnett's turn toward "terrible" actually started a month early this year. He went 0-3 with a 4.83 ERA last month, but that seems like Cy Young compared to August, when his ERA ballooned to 10.70.

On Aug. 3, the Yankees spotted Burnett a 13-1 lead over the White Sox, but he couldn't get through the fifth inning and was pulled two outs shy of being eligible for the win. Saturday night, Burnett was pulled in the second inning against the Twins and was seen cursing on his way off the mound after handing the ball to Girardi.

The Yankees will soon have to trim their rotation to five guys with Burnett competing with Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova, Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia for the final four spots in the rotation after CC Sabathia. Cashman made it clear that Burnett's five-year, $82.5 million contract won't be a part of the decision-making process.

"No, money is never going to be a factor," Cashman said of the decision, which is expected to be made after a Saturday doubleheader with the Orioles."