Mark Buehrle and his agent had said all along that they would not back down from their demand for a no-trade clause from the Chicago White Sox. In the end however, Buehrle agreed to sign a 4 year, $56 million deal with the Sox which does not contain a full no-trade clause. Instead, the deal has a no-trade clause in the first year alone, and a trade in the second or third season would move his salary from $14 million to $15 million as well as add a fifth season, also at $15 million.
Buehrle's deal raises two questions. First, how much more could he have signed for as a free agent? And secondly, will this contract actually protect him from being traded? To answer the first question let's take a look at Buehrle's performance over the past six years. Buehrle has been remarkably consistent, as is witnessed by the following statistics;
Mark Buehrle
12 Win Seasons: 6
16+ Win Seasons: 4
30+ Start Seasons: 6
200+ IP Seasons: 6
Not only has Buehrle pitched at a very high level, he has added value due to the fact that he is left handed and only 28 years old. To compare, here are the stats in those same categories from the top four pitchers from last year's free agent crop along with their contracts and ages at the end of last season:
Ted Lilly 30, 4 years, $40 million ($10 million per year)
12 Win Seasons: 3
16+ Win Seasons: 0
30+ Start Seasons: 3
200+ IP Seasons: 0
Gil Meche 28, 5 years, $55 million ($11 million per year)
12 Win Seasons: 1
16+ Win Seasons: 0
30+ Start Seasons: 2
200+ IP Seasons: 0
Jason Schmidt 33, 3 years, $47 million ($15.7 million a year)
12 Win Seasons: 5
16+ Win Seasons: 2
30+ Start Seasons: 2
200+ IP Seasons: 3
Barry Zito 28, 7 years, $126 million ($18 million per year)
12 Win Seasons: 5
16+ Win Seasons: 3
30+ Start Seasons: 6
200+ IP Seasons: 6
As you can see, pitchers with poorer results and far less consistencty over the past few years signed deals that were comparable or greater to the one Buehrle just signed. In fact, of the four above pitchers Zito is the most comparable as he was the same age as Buehrle, is also lefthanded, and had almost equal success and consistenct to Buehrle. So if he was able to get $18 million a year, how does Buehrle's contract in light of that fact? If Buehrle had hit the free agent market he would have likely commanded $16-$17 million a year. Proven and consistent lefties are a valuable commodity in baseball, and they are paid accordingly. By signing with the Sox for $14 million a year, Buehrle is likely giving up $8-$12 million over the life of the contract.
From Buehrle's perspective however, giving up that money is worth it if it means being able to stay in Chicago. So will the contract keep him in Chicago? To put it simply; no way on earth. If the White Sox don't improve next season Buehrle will be shipped out, no question about it. Even with the trade kicker, what big market team wouldn't want a 29 year old stud lefty for 4 years and $60 million? At that rate Buehrle would still be at or even slightly below the market value for a left handed pitcher of his age and ability. Buehrle lost big time in these contract negotations, and the money he gave up won't keep him in Chicago any longer than the first year of the contract.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Buehrle Must REALLY Love Chicago
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
No one talks about this but the Buehrles have a baby on the way in a few weeks. Don't discount the power of a pregnant women's hormones and nesting instinct to influence this decision.
Good call Panger, I actually was unaware of that.
With respect to your "no way the contract will protect him from being traded" comment, here's something you missed. Buehrle is a 5/10 player by the second year into the contract. That gives him absolute control over whether he is traded for the life of the contract. Check this quote from wikipedia:
"the 5/10 Rule whereby players who have been with a club for 5 consecutive years and have been a major league player for 10 years cannot be traded without their consent. "
Thanks
The 5/10 rule will not apply until after the second season of the contract. (2009) Therefore the Sox can deal him before the trading deadline in that season, or during the preceeding offseason. My money is on that happening.
Yeah, but there's also the factor that if he is traded a fifth year at $15 million kicks in on the contract.
Even with the fifth year added on, a team acquiring before or during the 2009 season would be getting him for $60 million for the remaining 4 years of the contract, which would still be a bargain based on the current market.
Just remember one other thing too. Major leaguers dealt in the middle of a multiyear contract can ask for a trade (once they have been traded from the original team) and if the team deosn't trade them they can become a free agent. (Baltimore's starter they got from the mets Benson could have done this) Also with the 50% tax americans pay really would you need an extra 6 million and another year to rot your career away in Kanas City?
Buehrle would not have ended up in KC. He certainly would have had money coming at him from all over. The Yankees certainly have some holes in their rotation, you don't think they would have offered at least $16 million a season?
If a players worth was simply about baseball statistics, then I would agree that Buehrle should have gotten Zito money. However, you have to factor in marketability because baseball is a business. And Zito is far more marketable than Buehrle.
People are so used to baseball players and their huge salaries that they lose sight of the fact Buehrle is going to make 56 million dollars. He obviosly could have made more but he loves Chicago. In regards to the White Sox trading him, if Kenny ever did get rid of him, he would not be able to walk the streets of Chicago because White Sox fans would kill him.
1.) I certainly agree that Zito got a large amount of his money because of his marketability. I don't think Buehrle would have signed for Zito money ($18 million), but I do think that he would have signed for at least $16 million in a place like Boston or New York. My main objection to the contract though, is that Buehrle gave the Sox a hometown discount without getting a full no-trade clause in return.
2.) Williams would trade Buehrle in a second if the right package came along. Why else would he refuse to budge on Buehrle's demands for a full no-trade clause?
Hello, just wanted to make some clarifications here from Chicago. Per today's Tribune:
Mark Buehrle has a complete no trade provision in his contract from now until the end of next (2008) season.
He can only be traded to an unspecified number of specific teams from from 2009 through July 2010. That's when the contract kicker would factor in.
Mark Buehrle won't get the 5/10 no trade protection until July 2010. Then he can't be traded anywhere without his approval until the end of the deal after the 2011 season.
Cheers,
Mike
I'd tend to agree with the guy/girl that brought up he is still making $56 million over the life of the contract. I mean sure he passed up a couple million more on the open market, but that means moving your family and away from your friends. He may like the clubhouse with the Sox. When you get to making that much money, I can see how a guy can turn down another $2 million a year to stay in a place that makes him happy. If he wasn't really really happy in Chicago this deal would have obviously never happened.
Williams would have no more qualms over trading Buehrle than he did over trading Aaron Rowand - who was more loved at the time he was traded than Buehrle is even now.
Post a Comment