With just over a month before the July 31st trade deadline the Boston Red Sox have become the front runners to land Chicago White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
ChiSox GM Ken Williams feels that all avenues have been exhausted in trying to sign Buehrle to a contract extension that it’s time to talk trade. And supposedly it is serious with Boston as they sent assistant GM Allaird Baird to scout Buehrle’s last start against the Cubs.
Williams is reportedly interested in several of the BoSox top farm hands. Those on the list are pitcher Clay Buchholtz, outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, pitcher Michael Bowden and short stop Jed Lowrie. Buchholtz and Bowden were just said to be ‘untouchable’ in an ESPN.com article by Peter Gammons.
The Sox, those of the Red variety, are reportedly willing to give Buehrle the long-term extension he desires. This would be a drastic change in the company policy of not talking contract during the season.
A Buehrle pick up and contract extension could signal the end to Curt Schilling’s Boston tenure after this season. If that were to happen the Sox could have a 2008 rotation of Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Mark Buehrle, Tim Wakefield and Jon Lester.
Stay tuned Red Sox Nation this could get interesting.
