A.J. Burnett has declined his player option to return to the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2015 season and will now test the MLB free agent market.
Veteran starting pitcher A.J. Burnett wants to pitch again in 2015. He just doesn’t want to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies. In case there was any doubt about his wishes, Burnett turned down a nice chunk of change ($12.75 million) to not play for the Phillies next season.
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Burnett, who pondered free agency before the 2014 season, had an up-and-down campaign for the Phillies. Still, he has shown that he definitely has something to offer a team with a need in their rotation, and from the sounds of things, he will be back with somebody.
Burnett declined his player option on Monday, officially making himself a free agent.
aj burnett turns down $12.75M player option. the phillies' payroll says thank you.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 4, 2014
burnett made the decision to turn down phillies because he wants to player a contending club, i hear
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 4, 2014
Along those same lines, Ken Rosenthal also hears that Burnett plans to pitch and will seek a deal with a team that he believes is a contender.
A.J. Burnett’s agent, Darek Braunecker: “We do expect that he will pitch in ’15. For a contender.”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 4, 2014
Earlier this week, the Phillies and Burnett declined a $15 million mutual option. There were two different ways for Burnett to return to Philadelphia for a lot of money, and neither came through once Burnett turned down this option.
Burnett went 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA in 34 starts in 2014. Some of those 18 losses were Burnett’s issues, and some were the product of playing on a bad team. That might partially explain his desire to find a new team for next season, even if it is for less money.
One team to watch with Burnett on the market might be the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have been interested in the past and had Burnett in their rotation in 2013.
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