Buehrle, White Sox reach deal

Mark Buehrle is staying with the Chicago White Sox.

The left-hander agreed to a four-year, $56-million deal Sunday, ending weeks of trade speculation.

The crowd at Sunday’s game was told over the public address system that Buehrle had signed as the White Sox left the field after a 6-3 win over the Minnesota Twins. In the eighth inning, Buehrle was seen in the dugout hugging Manager Ozzie Guillen and his teammates.

“Knowing that he’s going to be here takes a load off everyone. What a happy day. It’s pretty cool,” Chicago’s Jim Thome said. “You play with guys, and when this time of year comes around, you always hear different rumors.”

Buehrle said he didn’t get a complete no-trade clause, but there are provisions to compensate for that. His contract calls for $14 million in each of the four years. He has a no-trade provision in the first season. If he is traded during a window in the second or third seasons, the annual salary goes to $15 million that year and a fifth season is added, also at $15 million.

“My thinking was I wanted to be guaranteed I was going to be here for four years,” the 28-year-old Buehrle said. “And there are some options put in there and some things that if I do get traded, stuff works out for me.... Both sides had to give in.”

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Kip Wells, demoted to the bullpen after pitching poorly as a starter earlier this season, will get another chance for the St. Louis Cardinals after the All-Star break. The reinstatement of Wells means Todd Wellemeyer returns to the bullpen.

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The Cincinnati Reds optioned rookie right-hander Homer Bailey to the minors so the top prospect can keep pitching over the All-Star break.

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Albert Pujols of St. Louis and Alex Rios of Toronto were added to Monday’s Home Run Derby. Rios, Justin Morneau of Minnesota, Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels and Magglio Ordonez of Detroit are the AL’s representatives. Pujols, Ryan Howard of Philadelphia and Prince Fielder of Milwaukee are the NL contestants. Florida’s Miguel Cabrera was scratched Sunday because of a shoulder injury and will be replaced.