Signs suggest A.J. Burnett likely to pitch in ’15

Indications are that there’s a good chance A.J. Burnett will return to pitch in the majors in 2015.

While nothing is set yet, people close to Burnett suggest it is more likely than not he will be back pitching. Besides his love of pitching, Burnett has a $12.75-million player option with Philadelphia. He has until five days after the World Series ends to exercise it.

Burnett, who turns 38 in January, ruminated about possible retirement at times during the season, including suggesting after one rough outing in August that he “probably” would hang it up, and he’s had those thoughts before. Last year he considered retirement after the Pirates declined to extend him a qualifying offer for $14.1 million.

But somehow, after Pittsburgh passed on that offer, he received a deal for even more money, as he signed for a $15-million salary for 2014 with the Phillies, plus the player option. Once the Phillies presumably decline a $15-million option, Burnett, based on starting at least 32 games, has the $12.75-million call to make.

The Phillies tried to trade him at the deadline, but at least the Angels passed when Burnett declined to drop the player option from his contract as a condition of a possible trade. (Perhaps that was the first good sign there he was thinking seriously about coming back.)

Burnett has had changes of heart a few times over the last year, so nothing should be assumed, and while it would take a rare person to turn down $12.75-million, he hasn’t been the most predictable fellow. He did tell Philly writers in mid-September, “If I can lift my arm up at the end of the season then I might pitch.”

Burnett had a difficult season in Philly, going 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA and leading the league in earned runs allowed (109), walks (96) and losses in addition to games started (34). In Pittsburgh the year before, he led in strikeouts per nine innings (9.8), and he was well-liked there.

Burnett seems to have a great time in Pittsburgh in 2012-13 after a rough ending with the Yankees. Burnett, 155-150 lifetime has had a good but up-and-down career.

However, one area where he’s fared spectacularly over the years is pay: If he takes the option, he will be up to about $148 million, which happens to be almost exactly 25 times what Tom Seaver ($5.9 million) made in his career.

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