Multiple sources have reported that A.J. Burnett has signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies worth $16 million.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com has reported Burnett turned down a $12M offer from Pittsburgh.
#pirates offered aj burnett $12M. very fair offer, yet still blown away by #phillies‘ $16M bid.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) February 13, 2014
The news comes hours after the Pirates opened up spring training for pitchers and catchers. After last season, Burnett told 93.7 The Fan that at that time, he would either decide retirement or a final year with Pittsburgh, but that decision changed over the last month when Burnett decided he would pitch for a final season with either the Pirates, Orioles or Phillies. Philadelphia and Baltimore are both closer to his home in Maryland. Burnett pitched two of his best statistical years of baseball in Pittsburgh as he was part of the Cy Young award talks two seasons ago (16 – 10, 3.51 ERA), and last season posting his best ERA as a starter (10 – 11, 3.30 ERA) in which he also spent time off due to injury. In total, A.J. went 26 – 21 in 61 games for the Pirates while putting up a 3.41 ERA with 389 strikeouts. The Pirates had a chance to give Burnett a qualifying offer of $14 million during the offseason which would have most-likely kept Burnett for another go around, but declined to do so. They also would have received a draft pick had they offered and Burnett signed with someone else. Philadelphia will be in Pittsburgh for a three-game series July 3rd, 4th and 5th while the Bucs will be in the City of Brotherly Love for four games in early-September. Follow @TBerardi_OVA
(Photo Credit: AP Photo / Gene J. Puskar)
