So what do you get with a no hitter besides that quasi-erotic hug from your backstop after the game (not that there’s anything wrong with that)? I know its a weird thing to say the day after a guy throws a no hitter, but I’m just trying to be ahead of the game, and although the White Sox are celebrating right now, its not a stretch to assume that Mark will be gone by the trading deadline considering how high this rises his stock value.

Let’s face the facts. Right now Buehrle’s value is as high as its going to be, and even if he goes back to his career numbers after this, that no hitter is going to keep the price high for Mark Buehrle now, and in the offseason. So I’d argue there is no way the White Sox pony up to pay the market value for Mark, so they get dumped into that nice dilemma: trade him, or lose him and get nothing in return.

Right now, its early, but the White Sox are not doing all that well, and a lot of that has to do with an outfield that is not producing and I think Joe Crede’s “breakout season” last year was not that, but was a career year which will be the exception to the rule from this point on. Long story short, the Sox need outfielders and a third baseman (and I’m not totally sold on Josh Fields and Jerry Owens).

So what if they did decide to make a trade, who would they trade with? Well, the better question is who needs a leftie?

The first team that comes to mind is the Mets, Pedro isn’t a kid anymore and if they are willing to part with prospects, I bet they can land Buehrle. The Dodgers probably also fall into that category, as their only solid lefthanded starter is Randy Wolf, and in a weak NL West they may be forced to make some moves once it becomes clear that they are the team to beat (which they are). The Dodgers have more young talent than they know what to do with, and of all the teams I think they are a very likely candidate to make a trade for a lefty.

Another team I wouldn’t count out are the St. Louis Cardinals, who also probably have the best chance for a trade that includes a new contract for Buehrle before he hits the open market in the offseason. Right now, Milwaukee is probably the favorite in the NL Central, so the Cards may not be looking to pick up too many players as they are more likely to be a seller than a buyer, but I think that the Sox have what the Cardinals want and need.

What about teams in the AL? I really don’t think the Sox are dumb enough to trade him into the AL where they then have to face him. But if they do decide to go that way, it won’t be in their same division, and I think its going to take some prospects… and Tampa Bay has those to boot. I’m not sure the Devil Rays would even consider being a buyer, but it seems to me that they have plenty of prospects who can swing a bat, but not many who look good on the mound.