A.J. Burnett has a $12.75MM player option for the 2015 season, but he’s also debated retirement on multiple occasions over the past two seasons, so whether or not he picks it up remains uncertain. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports hears, however, that Burnett is leaning toward pitching again in 2015. Heyman spoke to people close to Burnett and got the sense that given the righty’s love of pitching and the solid $12.75MM payday, there’s a “good chance” that he’ll pitch in 2015.
The news may bring about mixed reactions among Phillies faithful, as Burnett unquestionably struggled this season. Though the 37-year-old posted his highest innings total since 2008 (213 2/3) and made an NL-leading 34 starts, he also posted a disappointing 4.59 ERA with 8.0 K/9, 4.0 BB/9 and a 50.6 percent ground-ball rate. Burnett posted an NL-worst 18 losses as well, though clearly that total is also reflective of his defense and a lack of run support. Beyond that, Burnett also pitched through a hernia for much of the season, an injury that, as Burnett told MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, will require offseason surgery.
However, the prospect of a healthy Burnett in 2015 would improve the Phillies’ outlook. Currently, the team has little certainty in the rotation beyond ace Cole Hamels and righty David Buchanan (117 2/3 innings of 3.75 ERA in 2014), as it’s impossible to know what to expect of Cliff Lee next season as he recovers from a flexor tendon injury. Kyle Kendrick and Jerome Williams, each of whom occupied a rotation spot late in the 2014 season, are both free agents. Aaron Nola, the team’s first-round selection from 2014, could eventually factor into the equation. Other in-house options include Jonathan Pettibone and Jesse Biddle, though the latter certainly figures to need some more time to develop in the minors, and the former missed much of 2014 following shoulder surgery.
I was torn when I first heard about this, but it might not be as bad as some think. If Burnett retires, the Phillies would have to sign someone to replace him. They’d likely go after a mid-tier free agent pitcher (I’m thinking of the Brandon McCarthy variety), who likely wouldn’t be THAT huge of an upgrade. They’d end up overpaying that FA in both annual value, overall dollars, and years for one of those guys. Now they have Burnett, for one last year guaranteed. I don’t suspect the Phillies to contend, and I don’t think Burnett could pitch much worse. So hope he bounces back and now without the extra option year, teams might be more inclined to trade for him next July. I’d like for them to trade Byrd while his value is highest. And I’d like to see them try to unload Rollins to the Yankees which could be a good fit for everyone. If they can get most of Rollins and Byrd’s salaries off the books, plus the money they’ll save on free agents Adams and Kendrick, that would give them some room to go hard at Tomas. Just my opinion. I’m sure not everyone agrees. And maybe a lot easier said than done.
Rollins has indicated he wont waive his no trade clause but if he did I’m not sure he would for the Yankees. He already established and Philly and he seems happy climing the franchise records. In franchise history he has the most doubles, at bats, and hits; he’s second in games played stolen bases, and total bases and third in triples, runs scored and he’s in the top 10 i several other categories; I think he’s rather stay then go play in the shadow of Jeter based on his character. Plus his career could end before is contract like Soriano’s did, once the media fans and front office get tired of his play he’ll be out of there.
See I looked at it differently. I think playing in NY would feed right into Rollins’ ego. He’s already an icon in Philly. Broke the big hits record he was shooting for. Now he can go to another big city, which he can clearly handle, replace a future HOF, try to prove he’s just as much of a HOFer and bring some swagger to a team that needs it. Plus even if he wants to continue living in Philly, NY isn’t all that far away. For those reasons I think the Yankees would be one of the teams he WOULD waive his NTC for. He can play a season or two in NY for one of the most renowned franchises in history. He’s actually been overall more productive than Jeter every season since 2009, so NY would get a deal paying a better Rollins only $11 mil when they were previously paying Jeter $20. Then if Rollins has any gas left in the tank after a couple of years in NY, he can sign in his hometown of Oakland to end his career and maybe chase 3,000 hits. Would be a perfect resume for him!
Weird to go to Burnett’s BR page and see that, for a guy who’s pitched for as long and he has and put together quite a few good seasons, he’s never gotten a single accolade in his career. Usually anyone who starts for that many years gets thrown some kind of bone at some point.
Nah he’s never had an elite year. I guess an all-star appearance in a couple of those years was possible, but he’s at best been good.
I have never understood the fascination with Burnett.
Reminds me of Jeff George in football.
Not like him coming back will weaken the back end of that rotation.
I’m fine with Rollins on the last year of a 11 million contract, we have no ready replacement for him, and he is still good for 15-20 HRs and 25-30 SB with good defense.
I. Desmond is a FA come 2016 – would love to sign him, among others in a great 2016 FA class.
OF) J. Heyward (26)
OF) J. Upton (28)
OF) Y. Cespedes (30)
OF) Austin Jackson (29)
OF) Gerardo Parra (29)
OF) Dexter Fowler (30)
OF) Drew Stubbs (31)
SS) I. Desmond (30)
C) M. Wieters (30)
1B) C. Davis (30)
SP) J. Cueto (28)
SP) Scott Kazmir (32)
SP) Ian Kennedy (31)
SP) Mat Latos (28)
SP) Mike Leake (28)
SP) Rick Porcello (27)
SP) David Price (30)
SP) Jeff Samardzija (31)
SP) Jordan Zimmermann (30)
It wouldn’t shock me at all if the Nats resigned Desmond before he hits free agency.
They will try I’m sure, but they did pick up Pedro Florimon off waivers from the Twins, in case he doesn’t re-sign
I’d even be ok with Rollins staying for 2016 to give JP Crawford more time to develop but if Rollins is gone then I could see bringing up Crawford early if his defense is solid enough.
Crawford is just 19 years old, and split last year in single A and A+ leagues… he’s still a full year away, although looking good so far.. he batted .285 / 11 HR / 24 SB in 123 games.
More and more I get the feeling the Burnett is more about getting his ego stroked that somebody wants him in their rotation than he is about truly competing for a winner as his career draws to a close. Let’s face it — he rejected Baltimore for what was reported to be market value, walked away from Pittsburgh when they proved they could compete and win in the NL and chose to sign in Philly for an aging team that was not really equipped to compete but was willing to pay handsomely.
It’s true I don’t think he cares much about winning these days but likes the camaraderie of the clubhouse. After every big hit when they cut to the dugout he was the first one cheering and always on the steps even when they were playing bad.
I have the feeling he’ll come back not just for the money but because like a lot of athletes he can’t commit to retiring. I think he chose Philly because it was close to home and he preferred pitching in the NL rather than AL (bad memories from NY probably).
it’s not the worst thing if he stays, he’s an innings eater and pitched well the first half of the season. He got hurt a few games in the second half by bad defense and he seems like a good clubhouse guy if you watch his reactions and interactions with the team in the dugout.
I mean they don’t have much after Hamels and Lee and I like Buchanan but you never know with these phillies sophomore slumps.
He also did surprisingly well with the bat for a 37-year-old pitcher who spent 6 years in the AL in the middle of his career. He beat his career slash.
Who in their right mind would turn down 12.75 million guaranteed?
Who in their right mind would take Kendrick?