The Miami Marlins have agreed to a four-year deal worth $58 million with pitcher Mark Buehrle, sources told ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark.
“I’m very happy to have this kid,” Guillen told ESPNChicago.com. “He’s one of my favorite players. We have what we want. Now how about three more (big free agents). Hey, you shoot for the moon just in case.”
Buehrle went 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA last season, his 12th with the White Sox.
“I think we’re comfortable because I know what I’m going to get from him, and he knows what’s going to come from us,” Guillen said. “I think that helps. I talked to him a little while, what’s going on, what we’ve got … I don’t want to say I’m a big part of that (Buehrle coming to Miami), but a little bit, because the Marlins know how much I love him, and I know how much he can help us.”
The move comes on the same day sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney the Marlins had emotionally moved on from Albert Pujols, and shifted their focus to starting pitching.
Miami had offers out to both Buerhle and C.J. Wilson, sources told Olney.
ESPN’s Karl Ravech reports that Wilson is set to fly to Dallas for an announcement in the next 48 hours, signaling that the finish line is close.
It may come down to whether the Angels match the Marlins with a six-year offer. If they don’t, Wilson would have to decide if he wants to take fewer years to go west. Wilson is from California.
Hanley Ramirez’s representative talked to the Marlins on Wednesday and asked for a restructured deal after the shortstop was asked to move to third base with the signing of Jose Reyes. The Marlins, upset with this, now are looking to trade Ramirez, the sources said.
If the Marlins can clear the payroll, they will pursue Milwaukee Brewers free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder.
“Of the top guys out there, we signed (closer Heath) Bell, we signed Buehrle and we signed Reyes,” Guillen said. “That means we’re showing people that they want to play for us, and for me.”
The Marlins were described by as being “well down the road” in negotiations with Wilson, multiple sources told Stark.
One source said the Marlins told Pujols’ camp if the team reached a deal Wednesday with one of their pitching targets, it would end their pursuit of Pujols. With Buehrle agreeing, Miami’s 10-year offer to Pujols, that sources say would pay him more than $200 million and include provisions that would link Pujols to the Marlins beyond his playing career, may well be off the table.
A source told ESPN.com Buehrle had narrowed his list down to three teams Wednesday — the Marlins, the Washington Nationals and, according to sources, the Texas Rangers.
Wilson is being actively pursued by the Marlins and Los Angeles Angels. His agent, Bob Garber, also met Tuesday with his old team, Texas. The Nationals also maintain interest but are reluctant to guarantee either Wilson or Buehrle more than three years, sources said.
Source: ESPNChicago.com
Photo: Jacek Urbanczyk/Polish News