Phillies' Burnett declines $12.75M player option, becomes free agent

A.J. Burnett is hitting the open market, as the right-hander declined his $12.75-million player option with the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2015 season, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. 

Burnett turns 38 in January, though his agent, Darek Braunecker, believes his client will pitch in the majors next season. 

"We do expect that he will pitch in 2015," Braunecker told Rosenthal. "For a contender."

Burnett signed a one-year, $15-million deal with the Phillies in February and posted a 8-18 record and 4.59 ERA over 213 2/3 innings, but pitched the bulk of the season while dealing with an inguinal hernia that eventually required surgery. 

During his brief tenure in Philadelphia, Burnett wasn't overly thrilled with how things went. 

"I expected a lot of things to be different," Burnett told Matt Gelb the Philadelphia Inquirer in September. "A lot."

The move by Burnett is a huge favor for Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, freeing up much needed cash for the team to address a glaring need of starting pitching depth.