No-Trade Clause Holds Up Buehrle Extension

According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, the White Sox are currently unwilling to include a no-trade clause in Mark Buehrle's contract extension.  It's not enough that the Sox would get Buehrle well below market value at four years and $54MM.  Buster Olney, by the way, wonders whether the players' union would give Buehrle a call for signing a deal like that.

Buehrle broke into the Majors in 2000, so 10-5 no-trade rights wouldn't kick in until 2010.  The two parties might find a middle ground in a partial no-trade clause.  Paul Konerko, for example, was able to list six teams to which he can't be traded without consent.  My guess is that Buehrle gets something similar.

Gonzales says that if a deal can't be reached by this weekend, Buehrle will return to the trading block.  If Buehrle does sign, Jason Jennings may become the best available starter. 

Comments

[bdid]

Couple things...
1. Mr. Cowley needs to stop trying to report "rumors", he's obviously being played.

2. Whoever was on the score claiming a "done Deal" should be punished by the station.

3. I'm confused, I'm hearing things are completely dead, then they have until Monday...Which is it? Is it even either?

4. I think Kenny Williams is a complete fool. If having a NTC for two years should not be holding this back. (yrs 3-4 would be covered by his service time thingy).

5. Why are both Chicago teams being silly with their pitchers? Zambrano should have been signed b4 the season. Buehrle should have been signed by now.

6. If Minaya trades anything of high value for him, he is a fool.

[DentalPlan]

I don't think Buehrle's extension is that crazy cheap. Despite the Barry Zito comparisons, Buehrle was never going to get that much.

[JerseyMetFan]

Agreed on all points, especially number six.

Alou, Green, and Glavine will all be gone next year. Milledge will be starting, and maybe even Gomez. The only real definites for next year's rotation are Ollie and Maine. You can count on El Duque missing significant time, and who knows about Sosa. Point being: Keep Pelfrey.

[darkstar1661]

Yeah, not sure I understand this at all... They want to lock him up longterm but don't lock him up longterm because of the fact that they won't be able to trade him in the next two years?

You would think resigning him because you want hime there "longterm" means you plan on keeping him at least a year... :/

[nrmax88]

If I were the Mets, I would go after Willis, and just try to get him without trading Gomez. Then go hard after Zambrano in the offseason and the rotation is set for 08 with Pedro, Zambrano, Willis, Maine, Perez, with 4 guys who would all be 27 and just entering their primes. Keep Gomez in left next year, maybe resign Green as a stopgap until Martinez is ready, this is just me dreaming though.