Olney: ‘Framework’ for Burnett deal in place

Pirates and Yankees have a framework of a possible AJ Burnett deal in place, and they are now working through conditions of that framework.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) February 12, 2012

That would make it sound a lot like a deal is just about done, but then Olney went on to say that the deal isn’t done and the two sides haven’t agreed on players or money. 

So how is it different than, “The Pirates and Yankees are talking about AJ Burnett and a deal will probably happen eventually,” which is what we’ve been hearing for two days? I’m not really sure that it is.