MLB Trade Rumors: Pirates want no part of AJ Burnett

CBS Sports’ MLB expert Jon Heyman has reported that the Pirates want no part of A.J. Burnett, and it is all because of his 2015 option.

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Burnett has up to a $12.75 million player option for next season.  The Pirates don’t want to be on the hook for that kind of money out of a rental.

His option is $7.5 million minimum, but escalates to the $12.75 million mark if he starts 32 games.  He is currently at 21 starts.

The Pirates had A.J. Burnett last year.  He posted a 10-11 record, but had a very good 3.30 ERA.  Pittsburgh offered him $12 million for this year, but he elected to move cross-state because the Phillies gave him $16 million, and the player option.

Pittsburgh would not offer him an option then, so they definitely want no part of it now.

The 37-year-old Burnett is 6-9 with a 3.86 ERA, and could help out a club in contention, but the Phillies would likely have to eat some of his contract.

Considering they have offered to pay part of Jonathan Papelbon‘s salary if he is moved, it seems unlikely that they would do the same for Burnett.

With the Pirates out of the bidding, there are only eight other teams that Burnett can be traded to without his permission.  Of those teams, the most likely suitors are the Yankees and Orioles.

The Yankees interest seems to be mild at best, and the Orioles also don’t seem very interested.

Unfortunately for the Phillies, they may be stuck with Burnett much longer than they had hoped for because he is very likely to pick up his player option.