The Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates look to be the finalists to land A.J. Burnett while the Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly backed off and lost interest in landing the free agent right-hander.
According to MLB.com, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he's looking to upgrade his roster anyway that he can but with six days until the team's pitchers and catchers report it is unlikely they will try to sign Burnett.
"It's more likely we'll go in with what we've got," Amaro said per MLB.com.
The Phillies have been talking with Burnett, while the Pirates and Orioles are both considered to be the top landing spot for the two-time World Series champion
Amaro admitted with the market thinning out, there may not be a lot of guys out there for the Phillies to sign.
"There aren't a chock full of opportunities," Amaro told MLB.com. "It's a possibility, but as I said, we'll probably go with what we've got and see what happens over the course of the spring."
The Phillies backing off opens the door for the Pirates and Orioles to try to out-bid each other in landing Burnett, who went 10-11 with the Pirates in 2013 with a 3.30 ERA and 209 strikeouts.
While Burnett is getting up there in age, he's had a solid career resume which includes leading the National League in shutouts in 2002 with five and the American League in strikeouts in 2008 with 231.
Burnett, 37, was drafted by the New York Mets in the eighth round of the 1995 amateur draft, but never played for them. Burnett has spent time with the Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Pirates, and has spent 15 years in the Major Leagues.
Burnett has appeared in 375 games in his career and is 147-132 with a lifetime 3.99 ERA and 2,180 strikeouts.
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