Mark Buehrle. (Photo by Sarah Glenn/Getty Images)
(WSCR) It may have just been a gentleman’s agreement, but there was reportedly a deal in place.
According to a report from FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Miami Marlins, who do not award contractual no-trade clauses to their players, had a verbal agreement with Mark Buehrle and Jose Reyes that neither player would be traded.
Rosenthal reports these verbal agreements were key in landing both of the high-priced free agents last offseason.
The Marlins do not award no-trade clauses, but club officials, while recruiting Reyes and Buehrle as free agents last offseason, assured both players that they would not be moved, sources said.
Buehrle knew the Marlins’ history of dumping high-priced players, and it concerned him, according to a friend. Team president David Samson, however, told both Buehrle and his wife, Jamie, that the team was committed to a long-term vision, sources said.
The Buehrles have two children — a son, Braden, 5, and a daughter, Brooklyn, 3. They also own a 2-year-old pit bull, Slater. The province of Ontario, where Toronto is located, bans pit bulls.
Jamie, sources said, was emotional in a conversation that she had with Samson after learning of the trade Tuesday. Samson had initiated contact with the Buehrles to inform them that a deal was imminent.
