Mark, did you hear Kenny saying he's not gonna be forced to pay the ongoing market rate for a pitcher like you?
"Yeah, I saw the quote about him saying that I won't be in a White Sox uniform in 2008. That's part of the business. It's going to happen. I'm not the first person and not the last person to switch teams. I would like to stay here and want to do whatever it takes to stay here, but Kenny has done an outstanding job getting the best talent available on the field each and every year. If he feels that he wants to go young and not pay the veteran guys the money, then that's what they're going to do."
How about a hometown discount?
"You have to look at both aspects. I mean, I'm not going to be looking for Zito money, but how much of a discount can you give? You have to also be able to go out there and get what's fair on the market."
What do you say Kenny?
"Is there going to be a pitcher around here that has the dollars and the years that have been put out there? Very, very unlikely. Unless something dramatically happens where we don't have any options ... but what we've tried to do is give ourselves options. And I think we've done a hell of a job at it over the last year. All we need to be focused on, whether it's Mark Buehrle or any other player that has a contractual issue for 2008 -- I say again, 2008 -- take care of 2007. Take care of 2007, because you win and we win."