MLB Free Agency: Clock Is Ticking for the Chicago White Sox and Mark Buehrle

The Chicago White Sox should be hearing the ticking growing louder over the next few days regarding Mark Buehrle's future with the organization.

Don't be surprised if GM Kenny Williams lets the clock run out on the popular White Sox pitcher.

Chicago has a window to work with that began on Sunday, when Buehrle and three other White Sox players filed for free agency. Williams can exclusively negotiate with Buehrle to see if the two parties can agree on a new contract that will keep the veteran lefty on the South Side for a few more years.

It would be stunning if such a deal were struck before Buehrle gets a chance to test swim the free agent pool for a lap or two.

Williams doesn't figure to be a big spender this offseason. That thriftiness will likely begin at home, where an inflated 2011 payroll brought a disappointing third-place finish in the AL Central.

That probably means no big-ticket free agents are on their way. What does that mean for Buehrle?

Like Paul Konerko before him, Buehrle can expect to be wooed as early as Thursday morning.

The White Sox captain resigned with Chicago, but not before hearing offers from several clubs. Williams was able to keep Konerko in the fold, but that was with "All In" money. Will the purse strings be as loose with the stalwart of Chicago's pitching staff these last dozen seasons?

Buehrle's home state team, the St. Louis Cardinals, are the current World Champions. Think he wouldn't consider sitting down with them to listen to an offer?

Buehrle is not the type you'd associate with commanding a bidding war, but to think he's going to wait for a call from Williams is pie in the sky thinking of the highest magnitude. At the very least, he'd be a fool not to see what kind of deal is available to him.

Williams is going to have to let Buehrle test the waters of free agency and hope a left-hander who can be written in for 200+ innings a year isn't in high demand around the league. I don't see the team re-signing Buehrle for anything over $12 million. The market should tell us fairly quickly what the price to play will be.

Perhaps Williams will swallow hard and retain Buehrle's services much like he did with Konerko. For now, however, both sides will likely play the waiting game. This will free Buehrle to peruse some offers.

The bidding starts when free agency begins November 3rd. Will Williams set his most durable pitcher free?

The truth is, Williams may not have a choice.