Mark Buehrle talks about the future after 2011

[chisoxfan09]

Link: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...ws&c_id=cws

 

Mark does not rule out playing another 2 years but says he can walk away if that is the best situation for him and his family. He does not rule out an extension or even hints at playing somewhere lese if it comes down to being the best decision for him. Too early to speculate but one thing is for sure, he won´t command another 2/28 type contract. Or will he? How could he fit into our rotation for another 2 years considering Danks is still not signed and this is EJax´s walk year? Would it be a good investment to sign him to say either 2/18 or 2/20 as insurance? I mean you know what you are getting with Mark, good solid workhorse pitching with a few offdays. Thoughts?

Edited January 22, 2011 by chisoxfan09

[kevo880]

Link: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...ws&c_id=cws

 

Mark does not rule out playing another 2 years but says he can walk away if that is the best situation for him and his family. He does not rule out an extension or even hints at playing somewhere lese if it comes down to being the best decision for him. Too early to speculate but one thing is for sure, he won´t command another 2/28 type contract. Or will he? How could he fit into our rotation for another 2 years considering Danks is still not signed and this is EJax´s walk year? Would it be a good investment to sign him to say either 2/18 or 2/20 as insurance? I mean you know what you are getting with Mark, good solid workhoorse pitching with a few offdays. Thoughts?

 

Sign me up for Buerhle 2/$20mil extention. With his longevity, reliability, knowledge of hitters in our league, and his legacy as a fan favorite and world series champion he would be well worth it.

 

I might just be bias towards him since he is my all time favorite member of the white sox, but I would hate to see him sign with another team.

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

I'd give him 2 yrs/$16M. I doubt he really is playing for the money anyway.

[Texsox]

2/$18 or so would be fine by me.

[Springfield Soxfan]

I'd give him 2 yrs/$16M. I doubt he really is playing for the money anyway.

Agreed, KW will likely not be bidding against the Cardinals either if the Redbirds get Pujols signed.

[maggsmaggs]

I'd give him 2 yrs/$16M. I doubt he really is playing for the money anyway.

 

 

2/$18 or so would be fine by me.

Yeah, any of those would work. But really, based on pure production, he is probably not worth than much. But I would love Mark to get 200 wins in a Sox uniform.

 

Only 52 wins away and if he signed a 2-year extension, I highly doubt that would guarantee 200. Although our offense is really good this year and same will the bullpen so maybe he'll get a few more Ws

[knightni]

Pay the guy until he doesn't want to play anymore.

[Balta1701]

He's worth an extra $2-3 million to us compared to every other team, just in marketing and loyalty revenue.

[Heads22]

Well, if JR loves Mark as much as he loves Paulie, he'll try his damndest to get something done.

[Balta1701]

Well, if JR loves Mark as much as he loves Paulie, he'll try his damndest to get something done.

It's not even a matter of love...it's actually good business for this team to keep these guys around if they're helping winning.

[flavum]

I don't think Buehrle deserves an extension during the season. All he's been talking about the last two years is retiring at the end of his contract. I love the guy, don't get me wrong. But I want players on the Sox that want to be there and want to bust ass to win a championship. If Buehrle has reservations about continuing his career, the best thing he could do is play on one-year contracts.

[Balta1701]

I don't think Buehrle deserves an extension during the season. All he's been talking about the last two years is retiring at the end of his contract. I love the guy, don't get me wrong. But I want players on the Sox that want to be there and want to bust ass to win a championship. If Buehrle has reservations about continuing his career, the best thing he could do is play on one-year contracts.

If Mark comes in and asks for an extension, give it to him. If he doesn't want to talk about it til the end of the year, let him wait.

[chisoxfan09]

Mark reminds me of Jamie Moyer, not devastating stuff but a left hander whose arm will never fall off and who could coceivably pitch year after year into his 40´s.

[Jordan4life_2007]

Mark reminds me of Jamie Moyer, not devastating stuff but a left hander whose arm will never fall off and who could coceivably pitch year after year into his 40´s.

 

True. But it seems as if Moyer's arm is going to literally have to fall off before he calls it quits. Mark has been hinting at retirement quite a bit the last couple years. It could just be talk. But a tad on the annoying side.

[chisoxfan09]

True. But it seems as if Moyer's arm is going to literally have to fall off before he calls it quits. Mark has been hinting at retirement quite a bit the last couple years. It could just be talk. But a tad on the annoying side.

 

Yeah, he really doesn´t seem like the hard-up money type or wanting to be in the spotlight. He has always been a great clubhouse presence so if he did come back I could even imagine he would feel a lot of loyalty to the organization. Apart from Paulie, he is the only home grown product still around from the late 90´s (Paulie didn´t come up throught the farm but it sure seems like it as long as he has been a White Sox).

[southsider2k5]

Link: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...ws&c_id=cws

 

Mark does not rule out playing another 2 years but says he can walk away if that is the best situation for him and his family. He does not rule out an extension or even hints at playing somewhere lese if it comes down to being the best decision for him. Too early to speculate but one thing is for sure, he won´t command another 2/28 type contract. Or will he? How could he fit into our rotation for another 2 years considering Danks is still not signed and this is EJax´s walk year? Would it be a good investment to sign him to say either 2/18 or 2/20 as insurance? I mean you know what you are getting with Mark, good solid workhorse pitching with a few offdays. Thoughts?

 

A lefty who puts up 200 IP every year, and usually has an era under 4? Heck I'd be he could get his same contract again on the open market. Forget two years, I bet someone would offer him four or five years easy.

[Balta1701]

A lefty who puts up 200 IP every year, and usually has an era under 4? Heck I'd be he could get his same contract again on the open market. Forget two years, I bet someone would offer him four or five years easy.

I know not every team does player values the same way, but FWIW, Fangraphs thinks Mark!'s player value has been about $15 million or more every year other than 2006. And I don't think they do defense for pitchers.

[chisoxfan09]

A lefty who puts up 200 IP every year, and usually has an era under 4? Heck I'd be he could get his same contract again on the open market. Forget two years, I bet someone would offer him four or five years easy.

 

I think the main factor towards his decision will be his performance this year and how well the Sox do overall.

[Texsox]

Pay the guy until he doesn't want to play anymore.

 

I have zero worries about Mark not being a competitor. If the manager tosses him the ball, he's going to pitch and give 100%. I can't think of anything I've seen from him during his career that would make me think otherwise.

[Texsox]

In fact, I would be more likely to believe his uncertainty is a strong hint that he will continue to give 100%. He could be, but I don't think he is, thinking I'll sign another nice contract, and just kind of slack off, not get in as solid shape, etc. It seems more likely he is thinking about everything he has to do to get an aging body ready to pitch and wants to be certain he is willing to do that.

[WCSox]

I'd give him 2 yrs/$16M. I doubt he really is playing for the money anyway.

 

2/$18 or so would be fine by me.

 

Yeah, two years for under $20M sounds acceptable. I'd love to keep him around for as long as he wants to stay, but not at his current salary.

 

[chisoxfan09]

New article up saying Mark is now really interested in playing in 2012 and beyond. If we could get him at a discount that would be awesome. Still depends on his 2011 numbers though.

 

Link: http://www.csnchicago.com/02/18/11/Sox-Dra...&feedID=661

 

Article:

 

Friday, Feb. 18, 2011

Posted 5:41 p.m.

 

By Chuck Garfien

CSNChicago.com

 

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Mark Buehrle is a man without a filter. A pitcher who says what’s on his mind.

 

“I usually have my comments once a year, once every couple years,” Buehrle admits. “I say something I probably shouldn’t have. Sometimes people like it, sometimes people don’t.”

 

Michael Vick, for example.

 

But Friday, Buehrle shared some words that people will like, especially if you live south of Madison Street in Chicago. The White Sox legend is backing off comments he’s made the last two years when he frequently hinted about retiring after his contract runs out following this season.

 

Instead, he has arrived at spring training thinking about playing this year and beyond.

 

“A couple years ago I was really, really seriously considering retiring after this year, and I think the percentage is going down,” Buehrle told Comcast SportsNet.

 

Buehrle acknowledges that there is still a small brain cell in his noggin that yearns to walk away to be with his family for good, but after talking it over with his wife Jamie during the off-season, the plan is for Buehrle to finish out his contract, and then sign another one.

 

Where?

“Hopefully it’s here,” Buehrle said. “I don’t know what the team has moneywise for the next couple years. There’s a lot of factors. They might have someone else up and coming and they don’t even want me back. I’m open to whatever. If this is the last year, I’m going to go out and have fun like I always do.

 

"I’m not going to put any more pressure on myself during the season. I’ll go out there every five days, do the best I can, and whatever happens at the end of the year happens.”

 

After the 2011 season, Buehrle will have made $84 million in his major league career. He has a $15 million vesting option for 2012 that kicks in if he’s traded, and few teams will be willing to take on that kind of salary, although the pitching-weak New York Yankees certainly come to mind.

 

But if Buehrle becomes a free agent, he says he won’t play just anywhere.

 

“If the White Sox don’t want to sign me back after this year and some team (wants me) that I’m not a fan of, or don’t want to play for, or it’s too far from home, I’m not going to go play just to make money. It’s going to have to be the right spot, the right fit for my family.”

 

The thought of Buehrle wearing something other than a White Sox uniform could send many Sox fans into a panic - or at the very least, a therapist’s office. But he’s already compiled a small list of teams he’d play for in his head.

 

“Obviously, St. Louis would be there. I’m not going to throw teams out (publicly) because obviously at the end of your career, you’re going to want to go to a team that can win. You’re not going to go to a team that’s rebuilding. Right now I can’t pinpoint how many teams. I know there are teams in my head that I will not go to, no matter how much money or what the situation is.”

 

Considering the rivalry the Sox have with a certain team on the North Side of town, I had to ask if he was referring to the Cubs.

 

“I’m not saying any names. I’m not throwing any cities, any towns, anything out there, but I have a few teams on my mind that I would go play for and there’s a few teams I wouldn’t play for.”

 

At this point I mentioned to Mark that if he did actually sign with the Cubs, there would be major concern about the mental well being of many White Sox fans.

 

“I could see that. I don’t know if I could get up for that many day games. I’m not a morning person. Spring training is about it. I need some sleep.”

 

So rest easy South Siders. You’ve got Buehrle for one more season. Maybe two. Maybe more.

 

And remember that once in a lifetime play he made last Opening Day? Behind the back, through the legs, into the hands of Paul Konerko?

 

“I’m going to try to top it this year,” Buehrle predicted.

 

He was kidding.

 

But Buehrle sticking around? That’s no joke. He’s all in.

 

 

[Quin]

I love Buehrle.

 

I'd really love to see him one day win a Cy Young, but that's probably not gonna happen unless he takes some of Paul Konerko's career revitalizing potion.

[chisoxfan09]

I love Buehrle.

 

I'd really love to see him one day win a Cy Young, but that's probably not gonna happen unless he takes some of Paul Konerko's career revitalizing potion.

 

I really think the window for him to have won it has passed. The best thing now is that he is such a reliable 3/4 option for any team and is guaranteed (Almost) to give 175-200 innings per year of 3.7-4 ERA ball. Can´t ask for much more. I easily think with the right approach (Not saying he doesn´t have it already) you can get another 3-4 years out of his arm. Heck I think with the right club (Obvious inclusion of the Sox) he can win another 13-15 games per year.

As a matter of fact depending on what we do with Danks (extend or not) I think Buerhle is a great option for our rotation from 2012-14.

Edited February 19, 2011 by chisoxfan09

[chetkincaid]

I don't think he should get a 2 year contract from the Sox. He's at the age where he's bound to start a deep decline. Another team will probably outbid the Sox for his services, and he'll go elsewhere, and the Sox will IMO be better off with the cost savings.