Toronto Blue Jays starter A.J. Burnett is a hot free agent, with the Red Sox and Yankees expected to be prime bidders.

AP / J.P. Moczulski

Entering the free-agent portion of the offseason, pitching has been, and will be, the main focus for a lot of clubs, including the Red Sox and especially the Yankees.

With such top-notch starters as CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe available for the taking, clubs are trying to find a way to ink those players to a deal.

While the Yankees have made it a priority to sign Sabathia with a reported six-year, $140-million offer on the table, New York also wants Burnett in its rotation. The Red Sox seem to be content with letting Sabathia go elsewhere, but Burnett appears to be on their radar.

Numerous media outlets are reporting that the Red Sox are “fully engaged” with Burnett and his agent Darek Braunecker over the last few days. Text messages to Braunecker have not been returned.

The veteran right-hander posted an 18-10 record with a 4.07 ERA with the Blue Jays in 2008 in 35 games (34 starts).

Many clubs are in the running for Burnett, 32, who opted out of the remaining two years of his deal with Toronto to become a free agent.

The other clubs reportedly interested in Burnett’s services are the Braves, Orioles and Phillies. No doubt it’ll probably come down to the Yankees and Red Sox in an all-out offseason free-agent bidding war.

Crisp, Ellsbury both benefit

The departure of Coco Crisp to Kansas City in exchange for reliever Ramon Ramirez will open the door for Jacoby Ellsbury to be the Sox’ everyday center fielder. Jacoby played a total of 145 games at various outfield positions, while Crisp played 118 games.

“Ellsbury’s a young guy,” said Crisp. “I think by him being able to play every day, hopefully he’ll have a great season and show everybody that he’ll be in the big leagues for a very long time.”

Crisp said he’s glad to be with a club where he can play every day and also that he’s out of Ellsbury’s way. During the end of the 2007 season, when Ellsbury replaced Crisp in the lineup for Game Six of the ALCS against Cleveland, all through 2008 when the two split time, they have said they respect each other.

With Crisp gone, now it’s all up to Ellsbury.

Looking for one more coach

Red Sox manager Terry Francona appears to have his bench staff back in place. Third-base coach DeMarlo Hale and bench coach Brad Mills both were interviewed for the vacant managerial job in Seattle, but the Mariners decided to hire Don Wakamatsu as their next skipper. Hale and Mills will return to their present positions with the Red Sox. The Red Sox still need to bring in a first base coach to replace Luis Alicea, who was released by the organization earlier this month.

jmcdonal@projo.com