Marlins Sign Mark Buehrle

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Marlins have inked yet another big name — this time, Mark Buehrle. As of right now, it’s a four-year deal worth $58 million, an average of $14+ a year. We don’t know for sure, but this presumably ends the Albert Pujols-to-Miami talk given the fact that the Marlins, like all teams, do have a budget and have already spent nearly $200 million this off-season. That said, Jon Heyman recently tweeted that even after signing Buehrle, the Marlins still plan on targeting C.J. Wilson and even Prince Fielder.

Buehrle, a left-hander, has earned the White Sox 3+ wins each of the past five years. I’m not sure whether or not it’s fair to say that the Marlins signed Buehrle to a “team-friendly deal,” but he’s a reliable left-handed starter who has managed to stay healthy basically throughout his entire career and post decent peripherals. In 2011, Buerhle rocked a 3.98 FIP while walking just under two batters per nine innings. Assuming the dimensions in Marlins Ballpark are as large as advertised, Buerhle should have even more success for the Fish than he did in previous years with the Sox.

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There is currently no time set to announce the deal, but it’s definitely agreed upon. The Buerhle signing marks the third big player the Marlins have signed this off-season, and it also means I have to eat yet another kitten.