The Major League Baseball official non-waiver trade deadline is only 12 days away, and the rumor mills are churning. As it seems almost every year, contending teams want to add starting pitching. This year’s trade market, though, seems thinner than usual, but contenders will keep looking. Among the latest is the rumor of the Baltimore Orioles looking to acquire starting pitcher A.J. Burnett from the Philadelphia Phillies.
FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi reported Saturday that the Orioles have contacted the Phillies and shown interest in acquiring the right hander.
Phillies and Orioles have had very preliminary talks on a trade that would send A.J. Burnett to Baltimore, sources tell @FOXSports1.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 19, 2014
Morosi, though, went on to say moments later that while talks have started, the two teams have made little progress in reaching a deal as of Saturday afternoon.
No substantial progress made yet in the Orioles-Phillies talks on Burnett, but there has been initial dialogue, sources say. — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 19, 2014
While the Orioles definitely must improve their starting pitching — especially for the postseason, this perhaps is not the best move for them. Entering play on July 20, the Orioles’ rotation has a combined ERA of 4.09, 10th in the American League and last in the A.L. East. They can survive the division by continuing to outscore their opponents, but it takes a solid rotation to win postseason series.
Burnett has an ERA of 4.08 in 21 starts, so there is little difference there. He also has a poor track record in the postseason: 2-3, 6.37 ERA, and 1.59 WHIP in 8 starts. Whereas the Phillies may have become sellers this year, they would still demand something good in return. Baltimore would have to give up some prospects for this track record that would follow Burnett.
Burnett undoubtedly had two very solid seasons in Pittsburgh from 2012-2013 (26-21, 3.41). This year, though, he has fallen on some hard times as has most of the Phillies team. Burnett has a record of 6-9 to go along with that 4.08 ERA.
Then again, Burnett could follow the path of Brandon McCarthy, who carried a 3-10, 5.01 ERA from then-last-place Arizona to the contending Yankees earlier this month. McCarthy has not disappointed, allowing just two earned runs in 12.2 innings. Maybe a move to a contender — or in Baltimore’s case, a first-place team — could give Burnett the jolt he needs to pitch like he did in Pittsburgh when he helped the Pirates to a winning record and make the postseason in 2013, both for the first time in 20 years. However, it may take a huge jolt to get that type of production from him again.
PHOTO CREDIT: USATSI