He wouldn’t speculate on his future but Mark Buehrle didn’t hold back on how much he enjoyed Monday night.
A free agent after this season, the former White Sox pitcher said he didn’t treat Monday’s start for the Toronto Blue Jays as if it might be his last ever at U.S. Cellular Field. He won’t spend the next few days believing it could be his last trip to Chicago, where he spent 12 seasons as a player. And he won’t talk about where he may play in 2016 because he doesn’t have a contract and “can’t foresee the future.”
While he was vague about anything beyond 2015, Buehrle immensely enjoyed the atmosphere for his showdown with Chris Sale, outcome aside.
“I’d be lying to say it wasn’t getting me a little more amped up than I should have been,” Buehrle said. “Running out to the bullpen, they’re kind of cheering and coming in, throughout the game, it was just special. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t. Outstanding feeling. Just came out on the wrong end for us.”
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Now in his fourth season away from the White Sox, Buehrle is still the same special talent he was during his tenure on the South Side.
Buehrle, who won 161 games for the White Sox, jokes that what his future holds is “the million dollar” question. It’s hard to imagine nobody offering Buehrle, 36, a contract to play next season.
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But he doesn’t want to put himself in that position. As much as he’d like to come back, Buehrle also won’t allow himself to be the focus of his teammates’ scorn later by returning to U.S. Cellular Field on July 17-19 when the White Sox host their 2005 reunion -- “I’d get worn out from our guys in here,” he said.
As for a return to the White Sox in 2016, Buehrle isn’t going there, either. He still mostly enjoys playing and Monday’s reception only illustrated it. But he only wants to deal with scenarios when they arise and not speculation.
“Well I’m a free agent so if no one gives me a contract then what am I going to do?” Buehrle said. “Sometimes I am (sick of baseball), sometimes I’m not. I don’t know what’s going to happen after this year. I don’t know. (The White Sox) didn’t want me back four years ago so who’s going to say they’re going to want me back now, four years older?”