Bye-Bye: Buehrle Signs with Marlins

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 7, 2011 10:25PM

Mark Buehrle is trading in black and white for whatever colors the Miami Marlins will wear next season. Buehrle signed a four-year, $58 million deal, reuniting him with Ozzie Guillen and making our chances of sitting alone at U.S. Cellular Field all season closer to reality.

Both MLB.com and Washington Post reporter Adam Kilgore reported earlier the Washington Nationals were among the final three teams vying for his services.

Buehrle has been the Nationals' top free agent target since Thanksgiving, and the team believed the southpaw would provide veteran leadership to a starting rotation that includes phenoms Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. Nats GM Mike Rizzo even paid a visit to Buehrle in St. Louis and was willing to offer him the four-year deal he's seeking, along with a no-trade clause.

With John Johnson returning net season, Buehrle doesn't have the pressure of being the staff ace in Miami. The signing makes the Marlins, who have been spending money faster than Tony Montana can earn it in the offseason, serious players in the National League. Buehrle's 24-6 record in interleague play is another attractive number for the two teams.

The White Sox were the third team in the running. Buehrle and his agent already said the White Sox would have the right to match any offer but yesterday's trade of Sergio Santos and continued interest in John Danks and Gavin Floyd are further signals the Sox are in rebuilding mode.