posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 10:12 PM by Jim

Four more years!

The Minnesota Twins' feed showed Mark Buehrle hugging teammates in the dugout during the eighth inning.  My stomach dropped -- until he turned around and showed a huge smile.

Contract details:  Four years, $56 million.  There's a one-year no-trade provision, followed by the 18-month window where the Sox can trade him.  His salary escalates to $15 million if he's traded, plus a vested $15 million player option if he's dealt.  After that, the 10-and-5 rights kick in.

J've also heard that Buehrle may have some veto power for a list of teams like Javier Vazquez has, but there's no official word on that yet.

I thought I would have more to say, but I think I've already said enough.  More than anything, I'm thrilled it's over.

In the words of Mel Torme, I think that's the tops.

(Oh, and Jim Thome saying "What a happy day" in the above Ken Rosenthal story fits in perfectly with his progressiveboink.com persona.)

Comments

# re: Four more years!

Friday, July 13, 2007 12:36 AM by Gregory Pratt
Buehrle definitely and absolutely had to be re-signed or else there'd be hell to pay with the fanbase. But let me tell you: if Buehrle loses 3MPH on his fastball....

...that is going to be an albatross contract.

It had to be done, but I'm just saying. He's not Glavine pitching away, as Grace pointed out. He bullies right-handers in with his cutter. He starts to lose heat, he's done.