Sunday, February 16, 2013
[size=150] PHILLIES SIGN BURNETT[/size]
The Phillies have signed right-hander A.J. Burnett to a one-year, $16 million contract, Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced today. The contract includes a mutual/player option for 2015, performance and award bonuses and a limited no-trade clause.
Burnett, 37, went 10-11 with a 3.30 ERA in 30 starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, helping the club to its first playoff berth since 1992. Burnett led the National League in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (9.85), striking out 209 batters in 191.0 innings, finished fifth in total strikeouts and held opposing hitters to the ninth-lowest batting average (.231) among NL starters. He led the Pirates pitching staff in innings pitched and strikeouts and tied for the team lead in starts.
“To be able to add a pitcher of A.J.’s caliber at this time of year says a lot about our ownership group’s commitment to winning,” said Amaro. “A.J. will complement Cole and Cliff in our rotation and adds another experienced arm to our team.”
In 2013, Burnett posted double-digits in wins for the ninth straight year and made at least 30 starts for the sixth consecutive season. He has surpassed the 200.0-inning mark five times in his career and has had at least 200 strikeouts in three different seasons. On May 12, 2001, he pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres.
Originally selected by the New York Mets in the eighth round of the 1995 draft, Burnett has a career record of 147-132 with 23 complete games, 10 shutouts and a 3.99 ERA in 15 seasons for the Florida Marlins (1999-2005), Toronto Blue Jays (2006-08), New York Yankees (2009-11) and Pirates (2012-13). Among active pitchers, he ranks second in strikeouts (2,180), behind only the Yankees’ CC Sabathia (2,389), and sixth in innings pitched (2,353.2).
Burnett will wear #34.
To make room for Burnett on the 40-man roster, left-hander Joe Savery has been designated for assignment.
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Press Releases provided courtesy of the Phillies, Media Relations. Thanks, guys!
