The Philadelphia Phillies are discussing a trade that would send A.J. Burnett to the Royals, but the deal does not appear to be close, writes Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
MLB trade rumors: A.J. Burnett being shopped to Royals
Mike Stobe
Burnett has a 4.15 ERA in 23 starts for the Phillies a year after trekking across Pennsylvania from the Pirates as a free agent. The 37-year-old right-hander has a strikeout rate of 19 percent and a walk rate of nearly 10 percent in 2014, resulting in an FIP of 3.97.
Burnett is owed the remainder of a $7.5 million contract for 2014 and has a complicated option that could pay him up to $15 million in 2015 with a $1 million buyout.
Why exactly the Royals, who reside five games behind the Tigers in the AL Central, would want Burnett is a question left unanswered. They may need pitching, with left-hander Danny Duffy reportedly on a pitch count that could cost him the tail end of the season, but addressing a hole in right field would be the greatest need.
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