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A.J. Burnett to have hernia surgery, unsure of 2015 return

By Ed Carroll

Aug 25, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher A.J. Burnett (34) walks off the field at the end of the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Nationals, 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 25, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher A.J. Burnett (34) walks off the field at the end of the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Nationals, 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher A.J. Burnett has had a poor season, pitching with a hernia injury since April. Burnett will have surgery to fix the hernia next week, but isn’t sure if he wants to pitch in 2015. Burnett has a player option to return to the Phillies.

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Following three rough years with the New York Yankees, Burnett revitalized his career during the 2012 and 2013 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming the Pirates de facto ace while winning 26 games in 61 starts in two years with the team. After the 2013 season, the Pirates didn’t offer Burnett a qualifying offer, as the team expected the now-37-year old right-hander to either return to Pittsburgh or retire.

Instead, Burnett signed a contract with the Phillies, which included a clause for a player option for 2015. The option had escalators based off of the number of games Burnett started in 2014, and as he’s started 34 games, he can make $12.75 million next season if he exercises the option. The option salary increased after Burnett’s 32nd start.

But Burnett isn’t sure he wants to pitch in 2015, and has until five days after the World Series to inform the Phillies he will exercise the option. It’s expected Burnett will retire if he declines the option, but he would be a free agent and allowed to sign with any other interested team if he decides he does want to return for 2015, but not with Philadelphia. Still, it’s not clear how much of a market there would be for an aging right-hander with a 4.59 ERA this season, but Burnett might be a pitcher to keep an eye on this winter.

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