TALK ISN'T CHEAP: The front office was done talking contracts once spring training ended, and Guillen asked players to stop discussing them before Opening Day. But that doesn't mean Mark Buehrle, Jermaine Dye and Tadahito Iguchi are as good as gone.

 

''We have such a good relationship with all these guys,'' general manager Ken Williams said. ''When it's all said and done, they'll give us a chance to match what's on the open market because they want to stay.''

 

A source already indicated that Buehrle has told the Sox he will allow them to counter or match any offer he gets.

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpag...3937&spln=1

 

Mark Buehrle has reportedly told the White Sox that he'll let them match any offer he receives on the free-agent market following the season.

Buehrle wasn't able to work out a long-term deal prior to Opening Day and further talks have ceased, but his leaving Chicago may not be quite the done deal many expect. The Cardinals have long been rumored to be his team of choice. Apr. 4 - 9:00 am et

What? No discount?

Well, at least that's something. If the market deflates this year because the big spending teams realize they blew everything on sucky people last year we might have a shot. But I still think Mark is good as gone.

If the market deflates, it will be for the Gil Meche's and Ted Lilly's of the world. The Buehrle's and Zambrano's will get their money.

Good news. And you never know, us being able to at least come in and talk to him after an offer is done could allow the team to come in and say hey we can't offer that much but he may be willing to stay if they come close to matching (kind of like how the Sox did it with Paulie).

I like this. Keeps the door open.

we better be able to make something out of our $110 Million salary or the 4th in baseball, and it better not be 4th place in our division.

I'd still like to think the ball is in Mark's court....

he needs to prove he can be an effective starter again, and amongest all this extension talk, he hasnt shown one flash of going back to the quality start guy he once was. With what he's done for us in the past, many people would argue he doenst have to prove anything and re-signing him long term is a no-brainer. Truth is with our rotation and the way it is set up for the immeditate future, the spotlight shines a lot heavier on Mark than it will for Dye or Gooch. Burls first audition of the season comes Thursday.

 

we better be able to make something out of our $110 Million salary or the 4th in baseball, and it better not be 4th place in our division.

 

 

 

What does this have to do with re-signing Mark?

 

Also with the 10+ million that other teams are picking up such as the Phillies, we are ranked 7-8th in payroll.

If the market deflates, it will be for the Gil Meche's and Ted Lilly's of the world. The Buehrle's and Zambrano's will get their money.

Buehrle looked a lot more like Meche than Zambrano last year.

Isn't this what Paulie did a couple of years ago? Let the Sox offer and it may not have been the same or more, but it was close, so he stayed.

Depending on how MB does this year there may be a ton of money waiting for him but if not we might be able to get him at a hometown discount because of some of the bigger names that will be available next year. Looking at the Cardinals rotation this year after Carpenter makes me think they may be as interested in him as we all thought he was in them.

 

I think of the 3 Tad might be the most important for us to return unless Dye comes close to repeating last years numbers.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpag...3937&spln=1

 

This shows Buehrle doesn't want to leave the organization, but wants a market-value contract.

This shows Buehrle doesn't want to leave the organization, but wants a market-value contract.

I just hope he pitches better, because otherwise there will be no point in keeping him around.

This shows Buehrle doesn't want to leave the organization, but wants a market-value contract.

 

Its called having your cake and eating it too. Everyone would love to work for their first choice AND make a ton of money, but that isn't always possible.

Sox will not match any offer for MB!

Ken Williams demonstrates his brilliance once again and uses the media as a negotiation ploy. By stating that these "will let us match" and "they want to stay," he is basically creating the perception that chasing after Sox FAs is fruitless as the Sox have the opportunity to match any offer. He has basically announced that these guys are in effect "restricted FAs" (like in the NBA). Of course, if another team really wants one of these guys, they will go after them but if there are even other players they like close to as much, they may spend more of their time and energy trying to get a contract with them as opposed to our guys.

Its called having your cake and eating it too. Everyone would love to work for their first choice AND make a ton of money, but that isn't always possible.

 

Don't you find it encouraging that the White Sox are his first choice?

Don't you find it encouraging that the White Sox are his first choice?

 

It sounds nice and all, and I am sure it is probably true, but this is just posturing. Lance Briggs should take some notes.

If he doesn't revert to his previous numbers, i.e. 3.70 ERA, 13-15 wins, I wouldn't want him back anyhow. And that's from his biggest homer on this board.

Buehrle and his agent really do understand and know how to work the media. I haven't seen them say one wrong thing since the contract talks started.

Buehrle and his agent really do understand and know how to work the media. I haven't seen them say one wrong thing since the contract talks started.

Well, the repeated Cardinals-related statements over a number of years haven't been the best things ever.

 

But anyway...right now the only Buehrle-related offer I care about is whether he can match or beat whatever Sowers offers up tomorrow. Let's match that offer first, then worry about the rest.

Edited April 4, 200718 yr by Balta1701