Burnett signs with Phillies: source

Reuters
Oct 3, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher A.J. Burnett (34) throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the first inning in game one of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Busch Stadium. Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) - Veteran pitcher A.J. Burnett has signed a lucrative one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to mlb.com. The Major League Baseball website on Wednesday cited a source saying that Burnett would receive $16 million, a figure that is projected to push the Phillies to a franchise-record payroll of about $174 million. The National League club has not confirmed the signing. Burnett, 37, went 10-11 for the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 3.30 earned run average last season, leading the National League with 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The right-hander is 147-132 in a long career with four MLB teams. Burnett's apparent signing comes in the wake of news that left-handed starting pitcher Cole Hamels, who is rehabbing biceps tendinitis, will not be ready to pitch on opening day. Hamels was 8-14 with a 3.60 ERA last season, when the injury-hit Phillies posted a 73-89 record. (Reporting By Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Larry Fine)