In today’s column for the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo writes that it’s “a Baltimore-Philadelphia-Pittsburgh runoff” for the services of free agent starter A.J. Burnett.
Burnett recently announced his intent to come back for one more season, and initially drew the interest of more than a handful of teams. However, he said he prefers to stay close to his home in Maryland, knocking out a good portion of potential suitors. Now, it’s apparently up to the Orioles, Phillies, and Pirates.
Burnett, of course, has a good deal of familiarity with the Pirates, as it was with them that he resuscitated his career after an unflattering three-year stint with the Yankees. The Pirates have famously adopted defensive shifts, which was one reason why Burnett’s numbers improved. Also, as Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune notes, Burnett ditched his four-seamer in favor of the two-seamer after coming to Pittsburgh.
It’s tough to say if Burnett would experience any drop-off with a change of scenery. It doesn’t hurt that the Pirates might also give him his best chance of finishing his playing career with a championship.