MLB Trade Rumors: A.J. Burnett could end up back with the Pittsburgh Pirates?
By Hayden Kane
It was an odd and contentious ending for the Pittsburgh Pirates and veteran starting pitcher A.J. Burnett. After Burnett felt slighted when Gerrit Cole started ahead of him in a deciding game last postseason, he then felt even more slighted when the team reportedly low-balled him with a contract offer this past off-season. That was the reason, at least in part, that Burnett ended up signing a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.
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With the Phillies skidding and reportedly preparing themselves for a fire sale between now and the July 31st deadline, Burnett could find himself a candidate to be dealt. Ken Rosenthal writes the following about Burnett’s situation:
"Don’t forget right-hander A.J. Burnett when thinking about Phillies who might get moved. But as with every other Philadelphia veteran, things get a little complicated……Burnett’s contract includes a $15 million mutual option or a player option that could be worth as much as $12.75 million. Sounds like a lot, and before approving a deal, Burnett might require a team on his no-trade list to guarantee the $15 million."
Burnett also has no-trade clauses that bar deals to 21 teams throughout baseball. One of the teams he can be traded to? The Pirates. As reported by Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish:
Source: #Pirates are on AJ Burnett's "acceptable assignment" list, meaning he would accept trade to PIT. http://t.co/hHCalXcUF5 #Phillies
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) June 30, 2014
The Pirates are in the market for a starting pitcher, and given Burnett’s recent success with them, they might be more willing than many teams to take a serious look at that 2015 option and still go through with a deal.
Let’s just hope that they can all go out for ice cream or something first to bury those hard feelings if a deal does gain momentum.