It is no secret that the Philadelphia Phillies are falling slowly out of the NL East division and NL Wild Card race. With that much being known, the Phillies could end up being sellers at the trade deadline on July 31.
According to Josh Perrotto of USA TODAY, the Pittsburgh Pirates will devote their time towards acquiring one starting pitcher and reliever as they believe they are still in the race. On the Pirates’ radar are starting pitchers Brandon McCarthy and A.J. Burnett. Burnett is having a much better season than McCarthy. He has a 3.89 ERA and a 5-7 record.
If the Pirates do decide they want Burnett back it can happen. According to major league sources, the Pirates are one out of nine teams that is on Burnett’s acceptable assignment list which means he would accept a trade to Pittsburgh if a deal were to be done.
But there is more news to this rumor, according to Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish, a source close to the situation believes that Pittsburgh would be the “single best fit” for A.J. Burnett and a trade is likely to happen involving him before the July 31 trade deadline.
I could definitely see Burnett on the move as this Phillies team is bad and they will have to start selling sooner or later. Ruben Amaro Jr. has to blow this team up and start the rebuilding process if he wants to believe it or not.
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