Phillies “Still In the Running” for A.J. Burnett

Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports that the Phillies are "very much still in the running" for A.J. Burnett.  FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that A.J. Burnett is "in discussions with multiple clubs," and confirmed that the Phillies are in on the right-hander.

Maybe the Nationals are in play?

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports that there is "speculation going around baseball circles" that the Nationals could consider a late play for A.J. Burnett.

Phillies General manager Ruben Amaro indicated to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com last week that the team was unlikely to make any big moves before Opening Day, but Zolecki says "the chances have improved" since then.

Burnett held a 3.30 ERA and 209/67 K/BB ratio in 191 innings last season for the Pirates and would fit into the Phillies rotation behind Cole Hamles and Cliff Lee.  It would give the Phillies three solid, top-of-the-rotation pitchers and allow Kyle Kendrick to slide to the back-end of the rotation and let Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfrado Gonzalez and Roberto Hernandez battle it out with Jonathan Pettibone for the final spot in the rotation.