Free agent left-hander Mark Buehrle is not planning on playing in 2016 at this time, though the veteran isn’t yet prepared to announce his retirement from baseball, either, according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (Twitter link). The soon-to-be 37-year-old’s future has been a debated topic in the past, as some reports indicated that he was planning to retire before Buehrle himself told ESPN Chicago’s Doug Padilla back in October that he’d yet to make a decision on the matter. Another report indicated that if Buehrle were to pitch in 2016, it’d most likely happen if St. Louis showed interest in the Missouri native. Buehrle’s 2015 season wasn’t as strong as his 2014 season, but he nonetheless recorded a solid 3.81 ERA across 198 2/3 innings. That final innings tally left him just four outs shy of recording his remarkable 15th consecutive season of 200+ innings.
A few more notes from around the league…
- Cotillo also tweets that right-hander Fernando Rodney is in “active talks” with multiple clubs, noting that the Padres, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks and Cubs are all in the mix at this time. San Diego, Chicago and Toronto have previously been linked to Rodney, though Arizona would seem to represent a fairly new entrant into his market. Rodney had a dreadful season with the Mariners in 2015 but turned it around following a trade to the Cubs, yielding just one earned run in 12 innings with a 15-to-4 K/BB ratio down the stretch (Rodney did, however, also plunk three batters in his brief Cubs tenure).
- We’ve heard about the Nationals’ interest in Gerardo Parra before, and James Wagner of the Washington Post writes that it’s still alive. GM Mike Rizzo was Arizona’s scouting director when the club signed Parra, and the Nats also tried to acquire him from the Brewers this summer, Wagner reminds. Wagner notes that Parra’s so-so OBP and declining defensive ratings make him a questionable fit in Washington, but the team’s goal remains adding some outfield depth to protect against injuries to Jayson Werth and uncertainty surrounding the talented but raw Michael A. Taylor. Wagner opines that from a purely speculative standpoint, Shane Victorino makes some sense for the Nationals as a player who can cover the outfield corners and play center in a pinch if need be.
- Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes that Rangers fans shouldn’t expect to see Justin Upton, Yoenis Cespedes or Yovani Gallardo in a Rangers uniform next season, as the team doesn’t have the payroll capacity to add any of the three. A trade for Marcell Ozuna is also unlikely, per Wilson, though the Rangers do still hope to add some rotation depth before the offseason is up. GM Jon Daniels tells Wilson that there are still some affordable names on the open market that have piqued the Rangers’ interest. Wilson also notes that Colby Lewis’ physical — the final step before his reported one-year, $6MM contract becomes official — is slated for next Monday.
- The White Sox aren’t in a rush to add a big-ticket outfielder to the mix, writes MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. The Sox “seem content to wait and ensure that any free-agent deal would fit their need and parameters,” he continues, writing that it’s likely that Upton and Cespedes will eventually be offered more years and dollars than the ChiSox care to place on the table.
- Dan Uggla has spoken to three or four teams that are eyeing infield depth, Cotillo tweets. Uggla is set to turn 36 this March and is coming off a season in which he batted just .183/.298/.300 in 141 plate appearances with the Nationals, so any contract to which he agrees figures to be of the minor league variety.
- Zach Buchanan of the Arizona Republic spoke to executives and scouts from each league to ask which NL West division rival has the better pitching staff heading into the 2016 season: the D-backs or the Giants. While the officials to whom Buchanan spoke seemed to agree that, in a vacuum, the D-backs made more impactful acquisitions this offseason (referring to Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller in comparison to Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija), when factoring in the cost of said acquisitions, there’s an argument to be made for the Giants’ side of the equation. Buchanan also polled officials on which club’s top three starters were more impressive, adding lefties Patrick Corbin and Madison Bumgarner to the mix, which generated mixed responses.
Wilner would hate having to shill for both Rodney and Happ after he bashed them last season so hopefully the Jays sign him.
Just looking at Rodney’s stats over his carreer make him look pretty good(besides last year with the Mariners) but when you actually watch him pitch you see that he isn’t actually very good
So no matter what the numbers say, you can tell by just “watching” him pitch how good he is?? Interesting view point. I gotta try that.
Statistically speaking, relief pitchers are tough to gauge because two or three bad outings make a dominant pitcher look average when put in a 50-65 inning season context. That being said, I’d rather not have Rodney on my team. Back end of bullpen is too serious in terms of direct correlation to team win/loss column to trust a guy that sits in a lawn chair in camouflage in KC bushes instead of focusing on the game regardless if there’s no real expectation you will pitch that night
Other than 2005 / 2012 / 2014 Rodney had eras in the mid 3’s to 4’s.
While he’s not horrible he’s actually not that good like you said.
…so you’re saying that he’s not good, except for when he’s good? Thanks for clearing that up.
He’s saying he was good for three out of his twelve?+ years in the league which isn’t very good
So he’s spent 12 yrs in the, but he hasn’t been good in 9 of those years? So, what you are saying is you know no better than MLB teams? Maybe I can get a job pitching if I don’t have to be good!
Glad to hear the Sox won’t be breaking the bank for Cespedes or Upton; I do hope they can swing a trade for an outfielder with a good bat, though.
Perhaps Ozuna?
that would be awesome!
They’d have to include Fulmer or Anderson
Brad Fulmer retired years ago…haha
The White Sox already have a center fielder in Adam Eaton. I’d rather they go after a right-fielder like Josh Reddick, Yasiel Puig or Jorge Soler than Marcell Ozuna, especially the latter two who are under longer team control. I’d also kick the tires on left-fielder/catcher/DH Kyle Schwarber before pursuing any other outfielder in a trade.
“kick the tires” on Schwarber? While they’re at it, they can take a flyer on Joc Pederson. It’s going to take Quintana, Rodon, or Fulmer to be in on any of these guys, and I don’t think they’ll be willing to give up that much.
Have you seen what young, cost-controlled pitching goes for? They might be willing to give up Fulmer for Schwarber, but Schwarber would just be a starting point for Quintana or Rodon.
Do they ever break the bank?!
I think it sends mixed messages when the Sox trade for Frazier and Lawrie then sit there on their hands for an OF. Especially so with a guy like Cespedes who could put people in the stands as well. It sounds like Gordon was always going back to the Royals so I’m not surprised with Gordon not being signed by the Sox but you have a guy like Cespedes who costs you money sure, but not draft pick. Then you have Upton that may cost you a pick but is only 26. Solar is an interesting fit but gets hurt too much. I will trust Hahn can try to pull something off to get more talent in the OF before the spring (as long as KW, and his ego, allow it of course)
So you’d rather have them further deplete the farm (or big league roster) that they are FINALLY attempting to build than just spend money?
Signing Cespedes or Upton makes way more sense.
I really hope he signs with the Cubs, I would be ecstatic. Just imagine the things he would do!
I wouldnt think the Cardinals are interested in Buerhle anymore, now that they signed Leake.
Agreed. In terms of starters i think Cards should focus on typical Pirates projects (lincecum, latos, fister) though beuhrle does make sense for a one year deal. 1b, OF, and a defensively sound bench SS/middle infielder seem more important than a starter for Cards though. As a Bucs fan, I love all the attention going to the Cubs this off season. Count me in the minority but I see the Cubs scratching and clawing for 2nd in NL Central…
The Cardinals contacted him before signing Leake. They were told be him the same thing that he was most likely going to sit out 2016. So the had interest before signing Leake not since.
I can’t believe Dan Uggla is still trying. He had a good stretch but there is a time to hang up the cleats. He doesn’t have to get all Brett Favre on us.
Typical white sox. If they don’t add some veteran right handed starting pitching and upgrade depth fro bench and in the event of injuries, I hope they don’t draw more than 1,000 fans a game. That’s what you get when you give your fan base no shot at winning. I’m sick of this team.
A player doesn’t make a team, they don’t want to break the bank for one guy. When they could trade for an outfielder with Garcia in mind
But what’s the point of trading for Frazier if you’re not going all the way?
Take Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout Away from their teams for a whole season
There’s not a single player available that’s even close to Trout/Cabrera’s level. MAYBE Price or Greinke was.
There’s also nobody they can trade for that’s even close to Trout/Cabrera. Why would you want to throw prospects away in a trade rather than spending money?
The upgrade from Upton/Cespedes to whoever they can trade for isn’t worth the prospects they’d be giving up. If you want to go “all in,” go all in.
White sox are perennial leaders in half measures. They always spend just enough to act as if they are serious contenders to keep people thinking they have a chance. Year in year out plausible but not probable contenders.
won’t change until they have an owner who is willing to go the extra mile for his team and city. Unfortunately, that is not Reinsdorf.
As a Red Sox fan, and resident of Chicago, I am tired of Kenny Williams and Jerry Reinsdof handcuffing this team because they refuse to spend money or because the player doesn’t align with their interests. Feel bad for Rick Hahn who has actually been extremely impressive with the moves he has made. Without offense this team will be lucky to win 85 games. Add in one of Upton,Cespedes, and even Chris Davis and this team has one of the best 3-5 in baseball. for the foreseeable future.
Uggla just needs to come to the self realization that his baseball career should have come to an end years ago
Yeah but he’s probably fighting for his 10 year pension..that’s sort of a good reason to keep playing
Uggla still has talent. When he was with the braves he got ocular dysfunction. Then when he recovered he played well when he got to play with the Nationals.
Uggla still has talent. When he was with the Braves he got Ocular Dysfunction, then when he recovered he played well when he got to play last year with the Nationals.
Mark Buehrle would be a natural signing for the White Sox if they were able to unload another southpaw from their current starting rotation, preferably John Danks who ironically was the main reason the long time team ace departed as a free agent following the 2011 season.
The White Sox decided to give the younger Danks a 5 yrs/$65M contract extension to buy out his final year of arbitration eligibility and four years of free agency rather than extend or re-sign the older Buehrle who eventually signed a 4 yrs/$58M FA deal with the Miami Marlins on December 7th, 2011.
They already have too many lefties. Even if they are somehow able to unload Danks, another lefty still wouldn’t make much sense. They’d have to get rid of 2 lefty starters for me to even think about Buehrle.
Buehrle would be signed to a one season farewell contract and be upgrade over Danks who has a single year left on his deal. By this time next year, top pitching prospect Carson Fulmer may be ready to occupy the White Sox rotation full time as a needed right-handed starter to balance out a rotation that still figures to include southpaws Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Carlos Rodon, as well as. perhaps, rhp Erik Johnson pending his performance in 2016.
Buehrle would look good logging 200 innings in a Tigers uni this year. He knows the central pretty well already to boot.
Khris Davis would be a good fit and Brewers might be looking to deal him.
For White Sox