So the Chicago White Sox did have enough cash in the coffers to pay Mark Buehrle…they just had their eyes on someone else. The club signed John Danks to a five-year, $65-million deal yesterday. Buehrle left for the sunny beaches of Florida on a four-year, $58-million deal earlier this month.
The move will accomplish one of two things. A) Provide the staff with a solid lefty at the front of their rotation for years to come, or B) Make him more enticing to other clubs now that he won’t be a free-agent at years end. While nothing has been confirmed, it seems as though Kenny will keep Danks and look to slash payroll in other areas. I’m looking at you Gavin Floyd and Carlos Quentin.
Danks finished 2011 with a subpar 8-12 record and 4.33 ERA over 27 games. His strikeout rate per nine innings stayed pretty consistent, but his WHIP was the highest it has been since his rookie campaign.
Speaking to MLB.com, skipper Robin Ventura is happy to have #50 on his staff in 2012:
"Obviously, I have a tremendous amount of respect for John and what he brings as a talent, but you know just his intangible he brings. Just every day the competitiveness. He's an important part of what you would like to have as a person in the locker room."
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