Travis Sawchik of the Trib has reported via twitter that A.J. Burnett will pitch in 2014.
Sawchik tweeted that, “A.J. Burnett will return to pitch in 2014, per source. Burnett will be open to pitching for a club other than the Pirates
Last season, Burnett told reporters and news outlets he would either retire or come back to Pittsburgh. Those plans seemed to have changed as Sawchik also reports that Burnett may be looking towards other options than the Pirates.
According to Sawchik, the source said that, “I suspect he is going to open himself up to the market.”
Those other teams are the Phillies and Orioles, who are close to his home in Maryland.
Burnett was 10-11 in 2013 with a 3.30 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 209 strikeouts in 191 innings pitched. He made his final appearance in the black and gold in game 1 of the NLDS where he gave up 7 ER in 2 innings in a 9 – 1 loss to he Cardinals.
The Pirates did not extend a qualifying offer to Burnett which was worth $14.1 million. Had they made the offer and Burnett rejected, the Pirates would have received a compensation pick in the next draft.
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