The Baltimore Orioles might have found an answer to their starting pitching woes.
Baltimore had preliminary discussions with the Philadelphia Phillies about acquiring pitcher A.J. Burnett, sources told Fox Sports 1. Burnett signed a two-year deal with the Phillies this past offseason. Philadelphia is 12 games under the .500 mark and in last place of the National League East, so it would not be out of the question for the team to unload some veterans.
Baltimore, which has a top-four offense in the American League, has not had the same success on the mound. The team’s starters have a combined 4.07 ERA that ranks 10th out of 15 teams in the AL.
For pitchers with at least 15 starts for the Orioles this season, pitcher Bud Norris has the best ERA at 3.96. Burnett has posted a 4.08 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in 21 starts this season.
Burnett’s two-year contract guarantees him at least $22.5 million over the next two seasons. Though he has a no-trade clause, Burnett’s wife lives in Maryland, and the two reside in the state during the offseason, so he likely wouldn’t be opposed to the deal.
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