In today's Pirates rumors and news update, if the Pittsburgh Pirates are legitimately interested in a reunion with now-Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher AJ Burnett, they won't have to contend with Burnett's 20-team no-trade clause in order to acquire him.
According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Pirates are one of nine teams that the Phillies can trade Burnett too without consulting the veteran 37-year-old righty first:
Burnett can be traded to #orioles #redsox #reds #royals #mets #yankees #pirates #stlcards #nationals without his permission.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 22, 2014
After Burnett left to the Phillies in free agency this winter, several MLB analysts reported that there was a bit of animosity between Burnett and the Pirates regarding the way things ended between the two sides. Crasnick indicates that such intimations were exaggerated:
The perception that Burnett ended his tenure with #pirates on bad terms and wouldn't want to return is way overblown.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 22, 2014
Burnett is 6-9 with the Phillies this season, pitching to a 4.08 ERA while issuing an NL-worst 58 walks.
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