All-Time Top 100 Marlins: #69 Mark Buehrle

During the 2016-17 offseason, Fish Stripes is counting down the Top 100 all-time Marlins from their inception in 1993 through today. Using the Wins Above Replacement (WAR) metric to order the top Marlins in history, today’s player, left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle, earned 2.8 while with the team.

Buehrle was a 6’2”, 240 lb. pitcher form St. Charles, Missouri. Born on March 23rd, 1979, the eventual five-time all star started humbly, getting drafted in the 38th round of the 1998 amateur draft by the Chicago White Sox. Other major leaguers chosen in that round include shortstop Tommy Watkins and right-handed pitchers Trey Hodges and Dennis Tankersley.

Buehrle joined the Burlington Bees in the single-A Midwest League for the 1999 season, where he posted a 7-4 record, a 4.10 ERA, a 1.226 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts in 98.2 innings. A promotion to the double-A level Birmingham Barons in the Southern League in 2000 resulted in an 8-4 record, a 2.28 ERA, and a 0.944 WHIP. He was called up to Chicago in July, 2000, where, he would remain for the first 12 seasons of his major league career.

During his time with the White Sox, Buehrle started 365 games, going 161-119 with a 3.83 ERA, a 1.282 WHIP, 1396 strikeouts in 2476.2 innings, three Gold Gloves, and four all-star selections. He never at any point failed to pitch at least 201 innings in any season, and only once finished with a losing record (12-13 in 2006). After the completion of the 2011 season, he signed a contract through free agency to play for the Marlins, for four seasons and $58 million.

Buehrle joined Miami’s rotation as the number two starter, behind Josh Johnson, and like clockwork, started 31 contests. He went 13-13 for the team, while the Marlins went 15-16 in games that he started (versus 54-77 when someone else did). He led the team with a 1.171 WHIP and 202.1 innings pitched, with a 3.74 ERA, 125 strikeouts, and only 40 walks (his 1.8 walks per nine innings pitched also led the team and placed seventh in the NL). He won his fourth Gold Glove in a row, and in his first (and ultimately only) National League season.

On April 18th, in Buehrle’s first win of the season, he went eight innings against the Chicago Cubs, striking out five and allowing just one earned run on six hits and zero walks. He also collected an RBI-single in the 9-1 Miami victory. In his only complete game of the season, on May 5th, he earned a win by allowing one run on two walks and five hits, striking out three as the Marlins defeated the San Diego Padres, 4-1. On July 5th, he struck out eight over 7.2 scoreless innings, allowing four singles and two doubles in a 4-0 win against the Milwaukee Brewers (see below). In what would be Buerhle’s final start for the Marlins, on September 28th, he struck out eight Phillies over eight innings, allowing one run on six hits and zero walks in an eventual 2-1 loss to Philadelphia. A week after the World Series ended, the Marlins traded him with Emilio Bonifacio, John Buck, Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes and cash to the Toronto Blue Jays for Henderson Alvarez, Anthony DeScalafani, Yunel Escobar, Adeiny Hecharvarria, Jake Marisnick, Jeff Mathis, and Justin Nicolino.

I'm upset with how things turned out in Miami. Just like the fans in South Florida, I was lied to on multiple occasions. But I'm putting it behind me and looking forward to moving on with my career. - Buehrle on his experience with the Loria regime (credit ESPN.COM).

Buehrle spent three seasons with the Jays, always posting a winning record and never missing a start. He went 40-28 over 97 starts, with a 3.78 ERA, a 1.315 WHIP, and 349 strikeouts in 604.1 innings. He led the American League in his final major league season, with four complete games at the age of 36. They really don’t make them like this guy anymore.