ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen would like to see Mark Buehrle stay in his rotation for a long time.
Guillen said before Wednesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays that he’s hopeful the left-hander, who could become a free agent after the season, will sign a contract extension before the White Sox return from a road trip next Monday.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the team and Buehrle, who has been the subject of trade talks, have been working on a new deal.
“I think he’s going to sign. That’s my hope,” Guillen said. “But there are so many things – so many hard things in the middle. Hopefully we’ll sign him before we get to Chicago. I think the way that both sides love each other, I think we’re fine.”
Buehrle started Wednesday night’s game. A handful of teams, including Atlanta, Houston, Toronto and the Los Angeles Dodgers, had scouts in attendance. Boston and the New York Mets are considered two teams that would make a serious bid if Buehrle was on the trading block.
“Like I told Mark, ‘I’m your friend, but I’m working for this organization. I just want to work out the best I can for both sides. You make a decision – no matter what decision you’re going to make, I respect that decision,”’ Guillen said.
“Mark don’t want to leave,” the manager added. “Is he going to stay? We don’t know. Is he going to leave? I hope not.”
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