On the eve of what could be his final start in a Chicago White Sox uniform, left-handed ace Mark Buehrle said Monday he’s looking to pitch at least two more seasons.
That would seem to quell any talk about him considering retirement, as he pondered in the spring of 2010.
Buehrle said he has yet to hear from the Sox regarding negotiations, but he understands the team still had to solve what direction they plan to head in 2012 and what their finances could be.
Obviously, I’d like to play two or three more years,” said Buehrle, 32, who is concluding the final year of a four-year, $56 million contract. “I think getting a five-year deal is probably not going to happen. But (if) a one-year deal was the only offer, then you got to take it. But I’m looking for a couple more years.”
After Texas’ C.J. Wilson, Buehrle becomes the premier left-handed pitcher on the market.
Buehrle said he has tried not to think about Tuesday night’s start against Toronto possibly being his final start in a Sox uniform because of the possibility that he could return.
“To be honest with you, I’m not trying to blow it off but I’m not trying to make a big deal of it,” Buehrle said. “I know family and friends are. I’m getting a lot of text messages from friends saying, ‘enjoy it, soak everything in.’ but there’s not a 100 percent chance that I’m not coming back.
“So I’m not going to do this big farewell tour. I might get emotional a little bit, but I’m not trying to because I could be back here next year and everything going on this year could be laughed off and say, ‘why did you go through all that?’
“Obviously, it’s the last start of the year and I need five outs to get to 200 (innings), which is my goal, which I hope I can get (Tuesday).”
