The Miami Marlins are proving that all of their talk about spending big before going into their new stadium in 2012 was never a joke. They've already signed Jose Reyes and Heath Bell, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports is reporting that the Marlins have now agreed to sign lefty pitcher Mark Buehrle for four years and $58 million. MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez confirmed the deal, which bolsters a Marlins rotation in need of some depth.
Buehrle, 32, has spent his entire career with the Chicago White Sox, but now he's joining former Sox manager Ozzie Guillen as the two move on to Miami. Guillen was hired by the Marlins a couple months ago, and now it appears that he's brought along one of the most durable pitchers in the game. Since entering the league in 2001, Buehrle has pitched at least 200 innings in every single season, the only pitcher in the game that can make such a claim.
His ability to take the ball every fifth day is a big part of why he stands out, but Buehrle is effective, too. He posted a 3.59 ERA in 2011 over 31 starts, not far off from his 3.83 career mark. Unreal command is his primary positive trait, as he's walked just 2.1 guys per nine innings in his career. He'll now join Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco and presumably Chris Volstad in a solid Marlins rotation.
Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago White Sox be sure to visit South Side Sox. Visit Baseball Nation for more news and notes around the league, and check out MLB Daily Dish for off-season rumors and reports.