Jerry_Manuel
03-11-2003, 05:58 PM
SouthTown (http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dssports/pro/112sd3.htm)
One day after the White Sox chose to renew the 23-year-old southpaw's contract at $445,000 for the 2003 season, Buehrle's agent, Jeff Berry, told the Daily Southtown that both he and Buehrle were "disappointed" with the picture that was painted by the organization.
"It's disappointing that the White Sox have chosen to use the media to disparage our negotiation attempts, and to put their spin on why they're renewing one of the best pitchers in baseball for the second year in a row," Berry said. "Despite what the Sox have put out there, we have no preferences on preserving either Mark's arbitration rights or free-agency years. We wanted to sign a multiyear deal."
A major league source said Buehrle and Berry walked away from a five-year deal potentially worth $27 million. The first three years reportedly were guaranteed at $11.5 million. If Buehrle were to have pitched at least 200 innings in 2005, he would have earned $6.5 million for 2006. The final year was a Sox option at $10 million with a $1 million buyout that would have made it a $9 million deal.
However, a further examination of the final deal offered by the Sox shows that nearly 70 percent of the dollar value was not guaranteed. There's also the fact that both Oakland's Barry Zito and Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia, each of whom signed multiyear deals before reaching two full years of service, were given four-year deals with one club option. The Sox's offer to Buehrle had two options, according to Berry.
Both sides agreed on the three years guaranteed at $11.5 million, and Berry said Buehrle would have even signed a four-year guaranteed deal with the one-year option in 2007 — Buehrle's free-agent year.
That's why both Berry and Buehrle were upset with what they felt were unfair remarks made in the wake of the renewal. Berry stressed that Buehrle's ability to become a free agent was not the main reason why the deal fell apart.
One day after the White Sox chose to renew the 23-year-old southpaw's contract at $445,000 for the 2003 season, Buehrle's agent, Jeff Berry, told the Daily Southtown that both he and Buehrle were "disappointed" with the picture that was painted by the organization.
"It's disappointing that the White Sox have chosen to use the media to disparage our negotiation attempts, and to put their spin on why they're renewing one of the best pitchers in baseball for the second year in a row," Berry said. "Despite what the Sox have put out there, we have no preferences on preserving either Mark's arbitration rights or free-agency years. We wanted to sign a multiyear deal."
A major league source said Buehrle and Berry walked away from a five-year deal potentially worth $27 million. The first three years reportedly were guaranteed at $11.5 million. If Buehrle were to have pitched at least 200 innings in 2005, he would have earned $6.5 million for 2006. The final year was a Sox option at $10 million with a $1 million buyout that would have made it a $9 million deal.
However, a further examination of the final deal offered by the Sox shows that nearly 70 percent of the dollar value was not guaranteed. There's also the fact that both Oakland's Barry Zito and Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia, each of whom signed multiyear deals before reaching two full years of service, were given four-year deals with one club option. The Sox's offer to Buehrle had two options, according to Berry.
Both sides agreed on the three years guaranteed at $11.5 million, and Berry said Buehrle would have even signed a four-year guaranteed deal with the one-year option in 2007 — Buehrle's free-agent year.
That's why both Berry and Buehrle were upset with what they felt were unfair remarks made in the wake of the renewal. Berry stressed that Buehrle's ability to become a free agent was not the main reason why the deal fell apart.