Marlins Sign Mark Buerhle to 4 Year, $58 Million Deal

[jOOj]

One of his favorites! That's pretty cool.

[Jorge18]

Anyone know if they'll be showing the press conference online?

[Ramp]

more of a fantasy column, but Marc Normandin knows his shit

The Marlins didn't get everyone they wanted to at the winter meetings -- you can thank the Angels for that -- but they did come away with Jose Reyes, Heath Bell, and Mark Buehrle. Reyes was covered here earlier in the week, as was Bell, so now it's time to turn our attention to Buehrle, who is moving to a new division, league, and home park.

We know plenty about that division and the NL in general, but we don't know a whole lot about the park, as it's a brand new structure. The NL East is tougher than the AL Central, in that there are a few competitive teams there in the Braves and Phillies, but there are plenty of reasons for future Buehrle owners to be happy about the switch. First, the obvious lack of a DH in the NL means more pitchers for Buehrle to mow down. Second, the Phillies and Braves are good -- there is no arguing that -- but neither is a massive offensive force. There is no Red Sox, Yankees, Rangers, or Tigers in the NL, especially now that the Cardinals (who led the NL in True Average in 2011) have lost Albert Pujols.



Buehrle, a career AL guy, might end up with a softer schedule than he's used to because of that. The park is a bonus, too. While we don't have exact park factors for Marlin Ballpark, its dimensions and environment give us some insight as to how it might play. From a dimensions point of view, it's larger than Petco Park in San Diego, the most pitcher-friendly stadium in the game. The walls are 340 feet down the left field line, 420 in left-center, 416 in center, 392 down the right field power alley, and 335 down the line.

Our Marlins' blog, Fish Stripes, drew an overlay of the dimensions over Petco Park, and while it isn't scientific, it gets the job done. This is a large park, and with a roof, too. With the air conditioning on, and cooler temperatures inside the park, the ball is not going to travel -- batted balls travel faster in hotter air, if you're wondering what makes the Rangers' home park even scarier in August. Coming from US Cellular, a stadium known for offense entirely due to its homer-friendly nature, is a significant shift for Buehrle.

He's never been bad with homers, averaging one homer per nine in his career, but given he isn't a strikeout guy, anything that lessens the impact of balls in play is a plus. If the new park plays how we expect it to, favoring pitchers, then Buehrle is going to love his new surroundings, and so will his owners.

Buehrle is never owned in 100 percent of mixed leagues due to his low strikeout rates and occasionally high WHIP, but with a better defensive team in front of him (the Marlins are average, whereas the White Sox were among the league's worst in Defensive Efficiency), a pitcher-friendly park, and a softer slate of opponents, now is the time to snag him on draft day. Don't go crazy by picking him too early or for too much, but he should be on your radar more than he's ever been.

http://www.rotohardball.com/2011/12/...inter-meetings

[Todd]

The White Sox, Cubs, and Cardinals must have either ridiculously low balled him or not offered him a contract at all.

[Ramp]

Really? That?

Come on. Be a good sport about it atleast. Jeez.

[MiamiHomer]

I was wrong.

Is how that should have read...

[Mainge]

Not surprised in the least.

[Beef]

The White Sox, Cubs, and Cardinals must have either ridiculously low balled him or not offered him a contract at all.

0%

You're the worst.

You are the 0%.

[Todd]

Really? That?

Come on. Be a good sport about it atleast. Jeez.

Thats how I take it, sorry. I was wrong, but he is still a guy who took discounted contracts his entire career to stay in the midwest, spoke about wanting to stay in the midwest, he gave the White Sox every possible chance to retain him, and has always spoke of his desire to play in St. Louis. For him to come to the Marlins, the teams in the midwest must have had zero interest as he would not have came to the Fish otherwise.
--------------------
And I am not the worst.

[Mainge]

Thats how I take it, sorry. I was wrong, but he is still a guy who took discounted contracts his entire career to stay in the midwest, spoke about wanting to stay in the midwest, he gave the White Sox every possible chance to retain him, and has always spoke of his desire to play in St. Louis. For him to come to the Marlins, the teams in the midwest must have had zero interest as he would not have came to the Fish otherwise.
--------------------
And I am not the worst.

[MiamiHomer]

And I am not the worst.

Yeah, you kind of are.

[Todd]

It amazes me. Why do people take that opinion so poorly? Do you have reason to believe it not to be true?

[Beef]

Nobody else here has had to eat two frogs. And that includes kingzfan, lilchris, NY4EVERR, etc.

[Todd]

You didnt answer my question.

[Mainge]

It amazes me. Why do people take that opinion so poorly? Do you have reason to believe it not to be true?

Common sense tells me that you shouldn't speak in absolutes.