Phillies starter A.J. Burnett has declined his player option, the Phillies announced. By turning down his $12.75MM option, Burnett will become a free agent.
Burnett’s decision was one of the more closely-watched option situations around the game, in large part because the outcome was unclear. The Phillies have recently made clear they intend to focus the organization’s energies on rebuilding for the future rather than competing in the near-term, and that — combined with his experiences last year — may have encouraged Burnett to leave the cash on the table.
Indeed, from Philadelphia’s perspective, the savings on Burnett appear to constitute a nice opportunity. As MLBTR’s Brad Johnson wrote in his outlook for the Phils, the decision swing open a significant bit of space between the team’s current obligations and the luxury tax line.
For Burnett, the decision leaves him free to pursue a deal with a contending club, and his agent tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link) that he’ll do just that. Of course, Burnett presumably still carries his preference for joining a team within range of his Maryland home.
Burnett is not quite the commodity he was last year — his 4.59 ERA/4.14 FIP/3.95 xFIP/4.00 SIERA campaign does not have nearly the luster that last year’s 3.30/2.80/2.92/3.03 numbers did. And he is a year older, entering his age-38 campaign. On the other hand, he again posted big innings totals and did pitch through a sports hernia for most of the year.
I think he’s going to retire.
His agent said he is going to try and catch on with a contender.
the Yankees?
Rays
I don’t think the Yankees would want him back, After how bad he pitched for them
Yeah, that amazing WS win in 2009 surely hurt his chances.
All kidding aside, the Yankees need just about any SP they can get right now. CC’s showing signs of steep decline (when uninjured), Tanaka’s great but has serious injury concerns. Pineda looked great, and Greene looked ok, but… Who else do they have to go with?
I’ll take, what is a small sample size for 1000.
One game vs. the worst season a Yankees starter has ever put up two seasons in a row (2010-2011)
Pretty sure LazerTown like usual , was being sarcastic.
Hiyo! He said contender 🙁
lol … the Yankees aren’t going to be contenders for a while, and he HATED pitching there.
Didn’t hear that. Thanks.
Have to wonder if the Phillies announcing their “philosophy” shift (i.e. entering rebuilding mode) last week made this decision much easier for him. I’ve long said that I didn’t think he was going to renew because of rehabbing from his surgery – but it will be interesting to see what he does.
Edit: And now his agent just said that he expects to pitch for 2015 – for a contender.
If he or his agent thought the Phillies were going to be legitimate contenders in 2015, regardless of what the team said, I think both of them probably need new psychotherapists.
Baltimore?
Or return to Pittsburgh. I’d presume either place he’d have to take a big payout, something in the 1 year/$6 million range, but that’s also about what he’d get in the open market. But those would be my top two guesses.
Well, this is going to be an interesting one. He has very limited options where he can sign because he wants to remain on the east coast and he wants to play for a contender. He prolly can’t go back to NYY, Pittburgh, Philly, or Toronto. So… Baltimore or Washington? Boston? Do the Nats even need a pitcher?
Maybe the East Coast thing is overplayed a bit and he’ll be more open-minded than those 5-6 teams.
He did make kind of big deal about it when he was a Yankee, but that was a long time ago. He might have to let it go if he wants to pitch in 2015.
Well. Looks like it wasn’t about the money this time, I guess.
thank god.
Interested to see who replaces him.
It should be a guy that they can flip at the deadline (assuming they pan out) for a mid-level prospect (or 2). A bounceback candidate either dealing with injury concerns or just a poor year. Brett Anderson, Brandon Morrow, Justin Masterson, even Chad Billingsley are all guys they should look at. Whether they do it or not is a different story.
What would Masterson bounce back to? An ERA only north of 4, instead of 5?
He could (if I knew how to do italics here, this would be where I used them) bounce back to the mid 3, low 4 ERA that he had in 2 of the previous 4 seasons. I get the velocity has dropped, but some of the rumblings around that have been an injury. I’m not saying he’d be a stud it’s someone they should take a look at.
The problem is that because of his history, he’ll get a fair amount to provide a look. Probably a multi-year deal. He was a #2/3 in 2013, and a solid 1/2 in 2011… But overall he’s probably a 3.5-4.
He’s essentially Kyle Kendrick, except instead of having a great 2nd half of a season followed by a great first half, he managed to get both halves in the same year.
12.75 Million Dollars to pitch/play Baseball and you turn it down?
That doesn’t make much sense to me. Regardless of Philly’s team.
Well either one of 2 things. 1 – Wants to play for a better team, or 2 – Likely considering retiring.
Can always request a trade midseason near the Deadline.
Someone needs a veteran in their rotation for the stretch run.
Well the way the Phillies have been handling the trade deadline, I don’t think you can rely on them actually making a deal.
Well if someone wants to pay you 14 or 15 million to play baseball in an area you want to play, wouldn’t it be wise to do it?
Yes but guaranteed $12.75M, take the sure cash.
I think all of us would, but I’m also not a mlb player, with representation.
It’s only money. I’d rather play where I wanted to and no for the 12.5 million or happiness
My guess is Boston
He’d instantly become their #1 or #2 pitcher that’s how bad Boston’s pitching is. If Boston wants to compete, they will have to sign at least 2 of the big 3 pitchers.
Not after the spending spree they will inevitably go on this off season
Cubs will be battling them too for the same starters.
The Cubs won’t be signing all of Scherzer, Lester, and Shields. I’d bet at least one of those three go to Boston with another solid starter being traded for or signed as well.
I didn’t say they are signing all 3 but don’t be stunned if they battle it out with Boston to possibly get at least 2 of the 3. Yanks could be in the mix too.
But that still wouldn’t make much sense, because Boston is far from some front runner going into next year. Why turn down that much money from a bad team, to take less to play for an okay team?
Ask DragonLord, not me.
the AL East will be similar to 2014 in that any team could be first or last. Boston will be spending this winter, I expect them to look good on paper come Spring Training.
I guess if Boston signs EVERYONE they target, and they target the best, they could be the frontrunner. But more than likely, they are just another team in a division that could be taken by any team. If I’m Burnett, I’m not turning down that money to merely play for a team another team. It would have to be a clear frontrunner.
I’d like to see anyone say “The Phillies will contend in 2015” with a straight face. The Red Sox on the other hand, while not a sure thing, could have a legit chance. NYY, Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburgh…not happening.
Right, Philly isn’t going to contend. Turn down the money, and take a pay cut for one last run at a ring. But Boston at best is a big unknown that could maybe contend when it’s all said and done. Doesn’t seem like that calculated of move. I’d want to play for a team with better odds going into next season, otherwise I’d just take the more money if I’m that eager to play another season.
KC was on his list of teams he’d accept a trade to (so was St. Louis – so that seems to be his “limit”, distance-wise). I could see him going there, to replace the “veteran presence” left by Shields (although, I don’t think he’d get much more than $8 M – anywhere, not just KC).
Yasmani Tomas to Phillies in 3..2..1…
Baltimore is my guess. VERY close to home and they were close to going to the WS. The Orioles also said that they were looking to add 1 more veteran pitcher. I’m guessing a 1 year / $10 Million deal gets its done. KC Royals would be his 2nd choice unless Pittsburgh offered the same…
Okay then…. with 12.75 off the books, who do we sign… and does this have any influence on whether or not to trade Hamels?
If we get the right package, Hamels is gone, regardless. Why? Because the right package is an OFer, a SP and a good 3rd piece. (Betts, Owens and JBJ?)
AJ needs to retire.
Why would a contender want a 39 year old pitcher with a super high ERA? I am thinking he should have taken the 12.5 million option
He had a hernia, played for a bad team, wasn’t contending, and played in one of the most hitter friendly parks. He would easily get 1/5M from a contender.
I have on good merit that the only two teams he will consider are Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Burgh will only be able to offer somewhere between 6-9 Mil. So if it comes down to money for him, its Baltimore… if it comes down to winning, its Pittsburgh. That simple. He is not retiring.
Pretty sure Baltimore made it further in the playoffs than the Pirates did this year.
He’s already played in the AL East…pretty sure that didn’t go over so well. SP in the NL is way more attractive bud. Basic knowledge.
The Indians should look into signing him but for no more then 5 million one year deal.
Maybe he goes back to Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh, baltimore or Boston