SoxPride56

This is what I found: Akinori Otsuka p 1 year/$3M (2007) re-signed 1/07 (avoided arbitration) 2 years/$1.5M (2004-05), plus $1.75M 2006 club option 04:$0.7M, 05:$0.8M, 06:$1.75M club option signed 11/03 SD paid Chunichi $0.3M for negotiating rights Chunichi of Japan posted Otsuka 11/03 ML service: 3.000 Going by this is and the fact that he isn't on any free agent list's for the upcoming offseason, I am going to say that he is up for arbitration and NOT a free agent.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Jul 26, 2007 -> 09:57 AM) He has only been in the league 3 years. That should make him eligible for ARB, right? I really have no clue. I just remember reading somewere that he wasn't a free agent at the end of this season. What you said makes perfect sence, and if that is the case, we NEED to make this deal... having a reliable set-up man would make the pen a lot better.

I don't think Otsuka is a FA after this year, I beleive it is after next year.

QUOTE(Beastly @ Jul 24, 2007 -> 01:16 AM) I honestly don't know why I watch them. I guess I go to the park because of the free tickets, hot dogs, icecream and a date with the girlfriend. Lately the Sox have been second to all of these things because of how bad they've looked. I will say this though, tonight was fun to watch in terms of defense and close plays. Even new "piece of s***" Terrero made a diving catch and Owens looked like a stud in CF. Not sure what was up with Buehrle. But I will say this, when the starting pitcher threw two to the backstop and we had the bases loaded, people were going absolutely nuts and actually were cheering this team on. Anyway, not sure why I still watch them. Wassermann perhaps? He looked decent tonight. Reply to the Bold type: I was thinking the same thing at the game. It was almost like a playoff game, the crowd last night. As bad as a season as it has been, its good to see that the fans are still into the game. I even caught myself getting into the game more so then usual this year. Like someone said earlier, all of us here are really sick, and your a fan during the good times and the bad, thats what makes the good times SO good.

Me either...

I think I speak for everyone when I say thank you to all the admins, and everyone else that makes this the best Sox website out there! It's about time SoxTalk.com gets some props!!!

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jul 3, 2007 -> 09:50 PM) He should either be signed or traded by Thursday morning. Is this just what you think, or do you know something?

QUOTE(SoxPride56 @ Jul 2, 2007 -> 06:55 AM) I'll be there, and will be giving Mark a standing O tonight! For anyone that is going to the game we need to get a resign Buehrle chant going like there was for Paulie during the parade!!! QUOTE(briguy27 @ Jul 2, 2007 -> 08:00 PM) Me too. I wonder if the guys here on soxtalk started it like they said they were going to. I was there last night, and got 7 or 8 guys around me to help start the chant, and before you know it, you could hear it thoughout the entire park, I was proud of myself. But as for the game... WOW, that was the hardest call to the bullpen ever. Right when Ozzie came out, you had some fans booing because they wanted Mark to stay in or they didn't want the pen to come in, but most of the crowd was on there feet the second Ozzie came out. And what an ovation Buehrle got, Kenny and/ or Jerry would be STUPID to let him go, the fans love him, he's a great guy, and one hell of a pitcher. As he was coming off the field, the song that was playing was There goes my hero. For people that were watching it on TV (I recorded the game, but havent watched it yet) what were Hawk and DJ saying? Did they stay at the park for the ovation? If that was the last game that Buehrle is ever going to pitch in a White Sox uniform, I am glad I was there.

I'll be there, and will be giving Mark a standing O tonight! For anyone that is going to the game we need to get a resign Buehrle chant going like there was for Paulie during the parade!!!

QUOTE(retro1983hat @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 11:38 AM) I am going to Monday's game .. MB's next start. If he takes the mound, no matter what happens, he deserves a five minute stand O. I'll be there doing the same thing!

^^^^^^^

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 01:03 AM) If we're talking my lifetime, I'll take Griffey. What he said.

God I hate Kenny Williams right now... way to f*** this one up buddy!

QUOTE(Steff @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 10:20 AM) You can bet there was an MLB rep sitting outside the door during the meeting... Steff, I am not too familiar with the process of the contract talks, but why would there be an MLB rep sitting outside the meeting? In case they signed the deal?

Isn't there 11 games before the break? 3 with KC, 4 with Balt, and 4 with Min, with a double header on Friday?

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 27, 2007 -> 10:21 PM) I'm torn. This team is old and in desperately need of an influx of young talent and it's going to be tough to do that from within considering how weak the Sox' farm system is, especially when it comes to position players. So trading away a player of Buehrle's caliber should help big time in that regard. However it appears KW isn't being offered anywhere near the sort of talent you'd expect to receive in any Buehrle deal, so restocking the farm through a deal involving Mark doesn't look like it would work. The Sox' front office could instead choose to sell off other pieces such as Jose Contreras or even Javier Vazquez both of whom are signed long term and have reportedly caught the eye of a few GMs around baseball. Besides freeing up the money owed to Jose would be a huge asset in free agency. There's also Jermaine who should have some decent trade value if he can get back on the field within the next week or so. Then there's the financial aspect. I don't buy the 4 year, $50M offer one bit, it just seems like too much of a weak deal for a player of Mark's caliber. He should be looking at 1-2 more years and $20-$40M added on to that. So realistically I'd expect Mark to re-sign for a deal closer to 5 years, $75M. After doing some research this week I had a very tough time finding any starting pitchers who received a 5+ year deal and actually performed consistently well through out the entire length of the deal. Names like Park, Millwood, Colon, Dreifort, Brown and the best comparison of all, Mike Hampton who was actually a year younger than Mark and a better pitcher at the time he signed his 8 year deal with Colorado, he also had the same clean bill of health that Mark has had over the course of his 7 year career. Hampton hasn't pitched in 2 years now and that deal is now considered one of the worst in the history of the game. I just don't see how Buehrle is any different. So the chances of Mark living up to the expectations set upon him by a 5 year deal are pretty slim if history is any indication. That being said the man is the face of the franchise, a team/community leader and one of the better starting pitchers in the game so it'd be tough to see him go. If the deal is 5 years and anymore than $70M I'd say let him walk and take the 2 comp picks if you can't find a good enough trade. With the team's financial constraints the way that they are, it's not a great idea to have .30% of your payroll tied up in 2 players (Mark, Paul). If the deal is as reported today, 4 years, $50-$60M I do that in an absolute heartbeat. I'll also add that if Mark does end up inking a deal for 5 years and close to $80M I'll be happy to have him back. I personally wouldn't sign him to such a deal if I were the GM but as a fan it would be great to have Mark around for the next 5 years. Thank you! It would be really hard to see Mark pitch in any other uniform other then the White Sox. I just cant see it happening, or maybe it is just that I don't want it to happen. But if they do trade Mark, and the players they get back help us win it all again, I would be happy with that as well. Judging by Mark's inverview on Comcast, I know he would really like to stay with the team, and hopefully something gets done that he can be here, and we can still get younger by trading Jose and/or Javy like you said. Thanks again for your imput!

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 27, 2007 -> 09:53 PM) That is by far, the best thing I've read all day. So a member of the front office of a team interested in acquiring Buehrle was turned away by KW because they're working on re-signing him. Kalapse, A lot of people here, including myself take what you say about the White Sox seriously. You really seem to know what is going on, you might not have a sorce, but you have a great baseball mind. Having said that, are you for the Sox resigning Mark at the proposed deal, or would you rather re-stock the farm by trading him? QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 27, 2007 -> 09:56 PM) Quite entertaining watching Buehrle act like he has no clue what's going on during the postgame. It will be resolved within the next 2 days. That was one of the funniest interviews I have seen by him in a long time. I dont know if he was using the company line or what, but when Mark said that he wants to stay here over St. Louis, that made me smile a little while. I really hope when I go Monday he has a new deal, either way, he will be getting a standing O from me, and hopefully otheres as well.

I dont know if this was posted yet or not, but I don't want to go reading 750+ posts, so here is the link http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2007/06/b...ay_with_wh.html It sounds like this is from a "different" "source" so who knows, but I thought it was interesting none the less

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Jun 27, 2007 -> 03:14 PM) Just seems this is posturing by all involved. Let's make a list: White Sox: Supposedly saying the Red Sox are interested Red Sox: Claim they are not interested Score: Close to extension ESPN: Not close to extension Jeff Berry: Surprised anyone said anything Buehrle: Mum, but being coy. Hahn: Flying to TB I mean, come on...how many times have we seen this? Either with the Sox or some other club. I am sure I missed it, and I really don't want to read this entire thread again, but what did Mark say? Can someone give me a link? Thanks.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6967378 Well, this says that sorces are telling FoxSports he could sign.

Win or lose, just play with some pride atleast...

QUOTE(29thandPoplar @ Jun 22, 2007 -> 11:05 AM) My understanding (recollection?) is a 3 year extension, $34M. You can not blame Mark for not signing that.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jun 22, 2007 -> 08:23 AM) Would you mind posting the deal that was offered to Mark because by all accounts I have heard, including the slip from Hawk and Kenny at Soxfest, it was NOTHING remotely close to what Vaz got. Steff, excuse my ignorance, but what was the deal offered to Mark. I probally just missed it at SoxFest, or don't remember.

Go Sox.... yea....

Tyler Clippard (2-1, 4.20 ERA) vs. Mark Buehrle (2-2, 3.66 ERA) Neither pitcher has faced the opposing team this year. Hopefully lucky number 7 is lucky for Mark as he goes for carrer win number 100 again tonight. Let's hope the offense continues to show some life, and the bullpen, well, doesn't need to be used tonight. And as bad as this season as looked so far, keep in mind we are only 3 out for the wild card in the loss column, 4.5 overall.