The Baltimore Orioles sit atop the American League East division currently at 56-48, mostly behind the powerful bats of Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz. However the division may be a dogfight until the fall, with the Blue Jays just 2.5 games back, the Yankees trailing by 4.5 games, and the scrappy Rays surging at seven back.
Baltimore is believed to be in the market for some pitching help, and several reports have emerged about their interest in Philadelphia Phillies hurler A.J. Burnett. If the Phillies pitcher wants out of town though, he didn't do himself any favors on Monday night by getting shelled against the New York Mets.
After two solid seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Burnett has regressed in 2013. His record sits at 6-10 with a 4.15 ERA, and against the Mets he was rocked for seven earned runs in just five innings. The Orioles never explicitly stated interest in the hard-throwing righty, but it's hard to believe his blowup vs. the Mets helped matters.
Burnett insisted after the game that trade rumors aren't bugging him while he's on the mound.
"I have no clue [what's going to happen]," he said. "I don't like to talk about it. As soon as I hear talk about it, I walk the other way. I don't want to be around it. I focus on today, the game that's ahead of us, not where we could end up or what could happen."
His rotation mates Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee are also shrouded in rumors, as are relievers Jonathan Papelbon and Antonio Bastardo. Veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd is the most likely Phillie to get traded though-he will enter play tonight with a .270 batting average, 20 home runs and 60 RBI.
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