A.J. Burnett became a free agent when he declined to exercise his $12.75 million player option with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he is not ready to retire.

The right-hander said repeatedly throughout the season that retirement was possible.

Burnett had signed a complicated one-year, $16 million contract with the Phillies in February.

The 37-year-old pitched most of the season with a hernia condition that required postseason surgery, and struggled to an 8-18 record with a 4.59 ERA.