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The Mark Buehrle situation

By Adam J. Morris

The ChiSox apparently aren't going to re-sign Mark Buehrle.

They originally had supposedly agreed to a 4 year, $56 million deal, but the agreement broke down over Buehrle wanting a no-trade clause.

I know a lot of Rangers fans feel that wanting a no-trade clause is tantamount to being an al-Qaeda sympathizer, but you know, if I'm a player, and I am going to sign a deal, I would probably want a no-trade clause...particularly if I'm going to take significantly less than market value (like Buehrle would be) to sign with a team.

But Buehrle apparently was willing to move off the no-trade clause...but to no avail:

According to a source familiar with negotiations, the White Sox asked for possible solutions to the impasse. Buehrle's side suggested a new structure, without a blanket no-trade clause -- a four-year, $56 million deal, and if Buehrle was traded, then a $17 million player option for 2012 would kick in. This way, if Buehrle were traded, then his deal would get closer to his current market value; five years and $73 million is equal to what Roy Oswalt got with the Astros last fall.

But the White Sox turned down the proposal, and continue to market Buehrle aggressively.

Buster Olney is highly critical of the ChiSox:

Buehrle -- desperate to stay -- found another way. He offered to go forward without the no-trade clause, but with a stipulation that if Buehrle was traded by the White Sox, then he would get a one-year player option for 2012 for $17 million. This way, if he was traded, then his decision to give the White Sox a hometown discount wouldn't come back to bite him. Very reasonable, especially considering the fact that Buehrle didn't insist on any more guaranteed money to bypass the no-trade clause.

The White Sox said no again, and executives around baseball are completely befuddled. "What are they thinking?" one rival GM wondered.

Look, they must have their reasons, and maybe some day, the White Sox will explain their logic. If Buehrle signs elsewhere and gets hurt, they are entitled to say they made the right call. But on the face of it, this makes no sense whatsoever, as a baseball decision and as a business decision. They need pitching, Buehrle's been a good pitcher, he's 28, he's a known quantity at a time when the White Sox have no idea what they are going to get out of John Danks or Gavin Floyd or Jose Contreras or Javier Vazquez, as they move forward.

And getting Buehrle for four years and $56 million, in the current market, is like getting a first-class plane ticket for the economy rate.

I'm leery of Buehrle, personally. He has consistently had a below-average strikeout rate, and gives up a lot of homers...his success is going to be predicated on having a good defense behind him, and if he goes to a team with a mediocre defense, you probably aren't going to get your money's worth from him.