Burnett surrendered nine hits and five earned runs in six innings of Philadelphia's loss to the Mets on Sunday. Burnett had pitched four scoreless innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the fifth. The right-hander has logged losing decisions in six of his last seven starts, but he has at least been fanning batters at a high rate. Burnett has a 41:12 K:BB ratio over his past five starts spanning 32.2 innings, with his next start coming up on Saturday in Washington.

Burnett softened his stance on retirement after his solid outing Monday night, CSN Philly reports. "I guess you could say I've still got it when I do have it," Burnett said. "My decision will come down to how I feel and what my family and I decide. It's just one start, but to be able to go out and do that tonight makes you wonder." Burnett said he would likely retire after his previous start which came on the tail end of a seven start stretch where he went 0-6 with a 6.41 ERA. He allowed one run and one walk with 12 strikeouts in Monday's win over the Nationals. Burnett has cleared waivers making him eligible to be traded before the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline, but a move seems unlikely given his overall struggles this season, and the amount of money he is owed next season if he executes his player option.

Burnett won Monday against the Nationals as he pitched seven innings and allowed one run, three hits and one walk to go along with a season-high 12 strikeouts. Burnett has really struggled of late as he entered Monday having allowed at least five earned runs in four of his last seven starts. Although he was spectacular Monday, starts like this are the exception instead of the norm at this stage of his career.

Burnett said he will probably retire after this season, CSN Philly reports. Burnett was asked about his plan for next season after another poor start Tuesday. His response could be the result of frustration with his performance, though Burnett did consider retirement prior to this season. He holds a player option for next season that will be worth $10 to $12.75 million depending on the number of starts he makes this season. That would be a lot of money to walk away from.

Burnett fell to 6-14 on Tuesday, giving up five earned runs on six hits while walking four and striking out nine over 7.2 innings in a loss to the Mariners. The veteran continues to be all over the place for the last-place Phillies, pairing above-average strikeout numbers with contrastingly unimpressive walk totals. Burnett is now winless in his last seven starts (0-6) and owns a continually rising 4.42 ERA to go with his 1.41 WHIP (both of which are slightly worse than his career marks of 4.01 and 1.32) and 76:145 BB:K ratio. He's slated for a tough matchup against the first-place Nationals in his next start Monday.

Burnett lost his league-worst 13th game of the season Wednesday, giving up four runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts versus the Angels. Burnett was discouraged after pitching well through five innings only to fall apart in the sixth, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk. The right-hander is trending in the wrong direction this season with ERA's of 4.10 in June, 4.89 in July and 6.59 so far in August. Burnett will try to get things straightened out Tuesday at home versus the Mariners.

Burnett labored through six innings Friday night, surrendering five earned runs on 11 hits and two walks while collecting eight strikeouts in a 5-4 loss to the Mets. To say Burnett does not seem to be enjoying himself on the mound in recent weeks would be an understatement. Over his last five starts, the veteran hurler has gone 0-4 while struggling to a 6.66 ERA and 1.83 WHIP across 25.2 innings. Burnett will be in search of a rebound effort Wednesday versus the Angels.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports the Phillies and Royals are discussing an A.J. Burnett trade. "No indication that [a] deal is close," he adds. It remains to be seen if Kansas City is amenable to assuming Burnett's player option for 2015, which could pay him as much as $14.25 million if he makes 32 starts. ESPN's Jayson Stark reported earlier this week that the Phillies are telling interested clubs they expect Burnett to retire, and Burnett (4.15 ERA) has echoed that sentiment to teammates. If the Royals expect to remain in contention, this is the type of move that must be consummated.

ESPN's Jayson Stark reports that trade talks between the Phillies and Pirates regarding A.J. Burnett are "all but dead." The stumbling block is Burnett's player option for 2015, which could pay him as much as $14.25 million if he makes 32 starts. Stark says that the Phillies are telling teams they expect Burnett to retire, and Burnett has told his teammates the same thing. However, the Pirates don't want him at $14.25 million next year and aren't willing to take the chance if he changes his mind. After all, Burnett waffled back-and-forth between continuing his career or retiring last winter before ultimately deciding on the former.

A.J. Burnett was tagged for seven runs in five innings by the Mets in Monday's loss. It's the sixth time this year that Burnett has allowed at least six runs, most in the majors (Clay Buchholz and Kyle Gibson have done it five times apiece). As many awful outings as he's had, it's sort of impressive that his ERA is still a respectable 4.15. Still, there won't be much demand for his services in trade talks this week.