Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – After a one year separation, the
Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent right-handed pitcher A.J. Burnett on
Friday.
The one-year deal is reportedly worth $8.5 million.
Burnett, 37, pitched for the Pirates from 2012-13, helping them to their first
winning season and playoff appearance since 1992. In those two seasons, he
compiled a 26-21 record, totaling 393 1/3 innings over 61 starts. He struck
out 389 batters in that span and led the National League in strikeouts per
nine innings in 2013.
In 2014, Burnett pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies but was not as
successful. Despite leading the National League with 34 starts, he also led
with 18 losses, 96 walks and a career high 109 earned runs allowed. He had an
8-18 record and 190 strikeouts in 213 2/3 innings. Last month, Burnett
underwent hernia surgery after suffering an injury in April that he managed to
pitch through during the season.
