A Discontented A.J. Burnett

[TonySoprano]

Burnett, who will need hernia surgery sometime after the season, hinted after Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Padres that more health problems have compromised him.

"If I can lift my arm up at the end of the season then I might pitch," Burnett said. "We'll see how it goes."

Burnett has thrown 202 2/3 innings this season, his most since 2009. How does he feel now?

"Horse[bleep]," Burnett said.

Burnett said he has not been himself all season. "But I pitched the best I could," he said. He signed with the Phillies because he believed they offered him a chance at a championship.

"I expected a lot of things to be different," Burnett said. "A lot."

Like what?

"I told you we'll discuss that when the time comes," Burnett said.

source - philly.com

[CA-ORIOLE]

Can't say I'm shedding any tears after the way he treated us.

[ShaneDawg85]

If he actually believes the Phillies offered him the best shot a title, he's either an idiot, delusional, has the worst agent ever, some combination of the three or all three. Color me completely unsympathetic.

[Can_of_corn]

If he actually believes the Phillies offered him the best shot a title, he's either an idiot, delusional, has the worst agent ever, some combination of the three or all three. Color me completely unsympathetic.

He must have fallen victim to some serious hard sell from his neighbor.

[CA-ORIOLE]

He must have fallen victim to some serious hard sell from his neighbor.

Yeah, he got an extra 1-2 mil from the Phillies and tried to make us look bad.

[Can_of_corn]

Yeah, he got an extra 1-2 mil from the Phillies and tried to make us look bad.

But he just wanted to win!

Of course I still would have rather had him on a two year deal then Ubaldo on a four year deal.

[CA-ORIOLE]

But he just wanted to win!

Of course I still would have rather had him on a two year deal then Ubaldo on a four year deal.

Yeah, I actually preferred him myself. It did piss me off when he became such a jerk (and liar) about the negotiations though.

[Redskins Rick]

Glad to see him pass on the team, actually, if he wants to be such an arse, then so be it.

I like our guys.

[TonySoprano]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Phillies?src=hash">#Phillies</a> just announced that A.J. Burnett declined his $12.75-million player option. Surprising. Could have made $14.5M with incenties</p>— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) <a href="

">November 4, 2014</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>A.J. Burnett’s agent, Darek Braunecker: “We do expect that he will pitch in ’15. For a contender.”</p>— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="

">November 4, 2014</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Tony-OH]

He's spurned the Orioles more than any other player in history. He's a tinman who needs to stay in the NL.

[Redskins Rick]

He's spurned the Orioles more than any other player in history. He's a tinman who needs to stay in the NL.

Count me as part of the crowd that didn't want him here to begin with.

[Dipper9]

Count me as part of the crowd that didn't want him here to begin with.

I wanted him here all 3 years we tried to sign him, but after his actions and words about us last year, screw him. He got what he deserved, pitching for another lousy team!

[Crazysilver03]

It's amusing that he still thinks he is the cream of the crop after he pitched like the mold on the crop this year. Don't know what contender is within his geographical desire that would take him.

[Il BuonO]

It's strange reading all of the responses here and thinking that somehow Jimenez is the better choice going forward. I mean, in what world is one bad year of AJ equal to that of one of Ubaldo and quite possibly three more? Burnett wasn't quite as bad as in the second half of last year either. I would have loved to have been in the position the Phillies were a few days ago when AJ waved goodbye.

We won't be quite as lucky with Ubaldo unless he turns it around. I don't care so much about the negotiations and the reasons why. These guys, most of them, all want to get paid and have their reasons why or why not. I stopped a long time ago thinking they were heroic people.

I'd rather know that for the mid market team I like, one guy's contract won't be a hindrance in the future.