ESPN's Buster Olney reports the Philadelphia Philles were the fourth team team involved in trade talks for the Yankees' A.J. Burnett before New York reportedly reached a deal to send the 35-year-old righty to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.
Numerous outlets have reported that the Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Indians were the other two teams pursuing Burnett but Olney is the first to implicate the Phillies in the talks.
Olney also reports, interestingly, that pitcher Joe Blanton's contract proved to be a stumbling block for the Phillies and that the team would have had to move him to acquire Burnett. Unfortunately for the Phillies, the Pirates were reportedly among the suitors for Blanton, too, meaning any talks between New York and Philadelphia basically revolved around what kind of move Pittsburgh wanted to make.
For the latest on the Bucs' trade for the Yankee's A.J. Burnett, be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh and head over to Bucs Dugout, SB Nation's Pirates-devoted blog.