White Sox’ Buehrle files for free agency
No surprises Sunday: White Sox starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, left fielder Juan Pierre, infielder Omar Vizquel and backup catcher Ramon Castro filed for free agency.
It would be a surprise if any of the foursome returns to the Sox in 2012.
Pierre, Vizquel and Castro are as good as gone, and Buehrle should follow suit due to financial reasons.
The workhorse left-hander has one more big contract in his 32-year-old arm, and Buehrle should get a deal similar to the four-year, $56 million contract that expired after this season.
The White Sox have exclusive negotiating rights with Buehrle through Wednesday, but they are not likely to make an offer.
“Mark’s probably got to explore the free-agent market similar to how Paul (Konerko) did last year,” general manager Kenny Williams said at the end of the season. “On the other side of it, we’ll all have a better idea of where we stand.”
Konerko received a big free-agent offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks last winter.
Once the Sox decided to go “all in,” they signed their captain to a three-year, 37.5 million contract.
The White Sox also signed Adam Dunn to a four-year, $56 million deal and brought back catcher A.J. Pierzynski.
But with a $128 million payroll, the highest in franchise history, the Sox finished a disappointing 79-83 and said so long to manager Ozzie Guillen.
The White Sox started working younger players into the mix during September, and they have Chris Sale ready to step in if Buehrle signs elsewhere.
One of the most productive and popular players in franchise history, Buehrle said he’d like to spend his entire career with the Sox. But he also understands the business side of baseball.
“They don’t owe me anything,” Buehrle said. “They’ve given me plenty. They gave me a chance to play baseball and they gave me tons of money. If they just said, ‘Hey, we are going a different route,’ there are going to be no hard feelings by me.
“Jerry (Reinsdorf) and the owners have set me and my family up. There will be no hard feelings on my end.”
In addition to throwing a perfect game and another no-hitter, Buehrle has pitched at least 200 innings and won at least 10 games while making 30 or more starts for 11 straight seasons, the longest streak in baseball.
“He’s one of the most pleasant and enjoyable people to be around,” Williams said. “And consistent over the years. Many of you guys have seen some of the moments, and you don’t think of that kind of guy having one no-hitter, much less multiple no-hitters.
“He just knows how to do it. He knows how to get it done, and he gets it done with fun and I like it because he gets it done fast, too.”
Sale is ready to step in for Buehrle, and Alejandro De Aza is expected to replace Pierre. De Aza could wind up in center field, with Alex Rios moving to left.
“I don’t think I’m high on the priority list,” Pierre said at the end of the season. “I know they have some in-house guys that can play the same type of game that I play. De Aza is ready to go. He spent a lot of years in the minor leagues and he’s coming into his own.”