Should White Sox Break Their Rules For Buehrle?

The White Sox have a rule: no contracts exceeding three years for pitchers.  This is because they signed Jaime Navarro for four years before the 1997 season and Navarro was terrible.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune urges Jerry Reinsdorf to break the rules and give Mark Buehrle a five-year deal.  Rogers feels that Buehrle compares to Billy Pierce and Tom Glavine, southpaws who remained successful for their age 29-33 seasons.  Baseball Prospectus equates Buehrle with Jim Kaat, who was also better than average at that age.  Even #2 comp Jerry Reuss would've been a strong buy for his age 29-33 seasons.

Rogers thinks the Sox should offer five years and $75MM, publicly.  If Buehrle chooses the free market over that, the team at least made a legitimate, reasonable offer.  Even better would be to pull off a four-year agreement.  One problem is that Buehrle is riding high on a .264 BABIP, and it's giving him an artificially low ERA.  Regardless, the Sox do not seem likely to pony up that kind of cash for Buehrle.  While signing him truly could work out, it's quite possible Kenny Williams could better allocate that money and fill his spot internally.

There was chatter involving both 1993 expansion teams and Buehrle this morning.  Buster Olney quotes a rival GM pondering whether the Marlins could make a surprising play for him.  Right now GM Larry Beinfest still thinks his club is a contender.  Meanwhile, Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post urges the Rockies to acquire Buehrle as part of a playoff push.  It would definitely be an unexpected move, but the Rockies are two games over .500 and only 5.5 out.

A final note on the White Sox: Mark Gonzales reports that scouts from the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Orioles, and Devil Rays were in attendance at the White Sox-Marlins game last night.  Those scouts could've been looking at a number of Sox players.  Or perhaps Marlins starter Dontrelle Willis.

Comments

[Andersklasen]

I don't think they should sign him for 5 years. Sign Buehrle for 3, then splurge on a few hot young prospects.

[Not Joe Morgan]

It should be noted that Sidney Ponson is his #4 comparable. I'm not sure I'd want my team going 5Y $75MM for a guy with Buerhle's stuff.

[was385]

Macay McBride,a lefty reliever from the Braves just got traded to the Tigers according to Bill Shanks at scout.com and Dave O'Brien at AJC.com

No details yet but many people think that Maroth was traded to ATL

[SierraM]

I hope he goes to free agency so the Red Sox could sign him.

[Aduncaroo]

Maroth for a reliever? Wow....I guess it could happen...but I would have hoped for more for Moroth.

[gtliles]

Maroth's stock wasn't too high, and the Tigers were pretty desperate to move him. Seems like a good deal for both sides, if McBride can help the bullpen. I'd expect Maroth to have more success in the NL - hate to see him go, though. He really earned my respect by keeping his head up thru the 2003 season.

[Teetz]

Yeah but Mike Maroth is terrible. Fringe major leaguer. He has more walks than K's!

[ArodSucksAtLife]

That can't be legit. A lefty specialist with fringy command for a SP even if it is Mike Maroth?

J.C. Romero is the same type of dude, and he is out there for nothing.

[Joeynach]

The problem with the whole sox against giving pitchers deals more than 3 years thing is that Buehrle isn't the type of pitcher this idea protects the team from. The whole 3 years thing is basically a good idea to protect against all those power pitchers throwing the heck out the ball and their arms. Guys like Kerry Wood, Bartolo Colon, Randy Johnson, AJ Burnett, etc. In which case I agree dont offer these power arms more than 3 years because as history has shown it is very likely they will break down and be injured for extended periods of time. The sox did a good job with this not offering Colon 4 years like the Angels did after 2003.

The problem is Buehrle is exactly the opposite of this theory of 3 year contracts etc. If the sox don't like offering longer contracts to pitchers because they are worried about their durability, well than I think they are confused with who Buehrle is. If there was going to be one exception to the 3 years rule it would be Mark Buehrle (OK maybe Maddux too). Buerhle is far from a power pitcher with the likely potential for arm troubles that we saw from recent free agents like Colon and Burnett, and more like the above mentioned Greg Maddux. These finesse pitchers, while they sometimes struggle to strike guys out or keep the ball from being put in play, are the most durable type of pitchers in baseball. So essentially, the last reason the sox should give for not offereing MB more than 3 years should be one based on durability. we all know his track record we all know Buehrle eats innings and is definatly a workhouse that stays healthy. If the sox dont want to offer Mark 5 Years 65 Mil or whatever becuase they think they can get a better pitcher for that then fine, but we dont want to hear about this 3 year contract business anymore with Mark. Some people think with the hitter friendly park and average defense the sox have on the field a finesse guy isn't what they need for the next 5 years and thats fine. If a power arm like a Brad Penny on the market is what you want then go get him, but don't give me this business about Buehrle and 3 years crap it does not apply.

PS. Even if the sox want Penny, a guy you definatly do not want to give more than 3 years too, forget about it. If Ted Lily and get 4 years and Gil Meche 5 years Penny can get the same if not better. So there is no way the sox get any quality arm, power or finesse on a 3 year deal.

[zubes007]

I wouldn't give Buehrle 5/75...

...However, the 3-year rule has to be considered outdated by now...in a world where Jason Marquis can get a 3-year contract coming off of a season with a 6+ ERA, the White Sox will quickly find out that they will not be able to field a competitive rotation with that rule (especially considering that their only decent young starter under control for a few years is John Danks).

[beauhoopman]

So Jayson Stark says Omar Minaya will not trade Milledge for Buerhle, but also implies that if the Mets don't get Buerhle the Braves will. Is this smart? Is Milledge really that talented, especially when Gomez coming along? I'm wondering what others think.

[Baseballfan79]

if beinfest thought we could seriously contend this year then yes I wouldnt mine a rental but really I dont think we are there yet. We have holes at CF and C first to fill