Read More: Matt Garza (P – CHC), Carlos Zambrano (P – CHC), Ryan Dempster (P – CHC), Mark Buehrle (P – CWS), Randy Wells (P – CHC), Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs

It’s unclear exactly how the Chicago Cubs are going to approach this offseason yet under the new front office led by Theo Epstein, but they’ve already had multiple discussions with the agent for former White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle. According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, the team has spoken with Jeff Berry, Buehrle’s agent, multiple times recently.

If the money is right, Buehrle would certainly be a fit for the Cubs given their need for pitching. It’s unclear how much Carlos Zambrano will be able to contribute next season, if at all, so they really only have three established starters right now in Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza and Randy Wells.

Buehrle would give them a dependable lefty and a steady veteran presence, although the team should be worried about how his contact-oriented approach would work against a defense that was pretty bad last season. There’s a chance that the move from the more difficult American League to the National League would alleviate some of those concerns, though, especially for someone with such a long track record.

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Read More: Mark Buehrle (P – CWS), Jose Reyes (SS – NYM), Albert Pujols (1B – STL), Chicago White Sox, Florida Marlins

By way of the Chicago Tribune‘s Mark Gonzales comes a report that White Sox LHP Mark Buehrle has received a contract offer from the Marlins:

According to a tweet by SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Marlins have made an offer to Buehrle, who visited the Marlins’ new stadium in Miami on Tuesday. That follows a report by FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal who tweeted that the Marlins also made offers to free agents Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes.

If the reports of those offers are all accurate, then the Marlins appear very serious about making a splash during this offseason. Buehrle just completed a 4-year, $56 million deal with the White Sox. He’s been with the Sox for his entire major league career, which spans 12 seasons.

For more updates on the hot stove, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more on the White Sox, check out South Side Sox, SB Nation’s Chicago White Sox blog. And for news from around major league baseball, visit Baseball Nation.

Chicago White Sox GM Ken Williams says that he’s already found that there’s plenty of interest from other teams to make deals for some of his players, such as starting pitchers John Danks(notes) and Gavin Floyd(notes). But Williams tells the Chicago Tribune that he’s not sure if he’s ready to deal for younger players just yet or stick with what he’s got and add to it.

“We got some players that have garnered some interest from a number of clubs,” Williams said, the Trib reports. “And we’ve got to exhaust ourselves to make sure that if we end up making a deal or end up staying the course and try to add to it, that we know exactly what we’re getting ourselves into.”

The 26-year-old Danks went 8-12 with a 4.33 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 170.1 innings pitched this past season. After arbitration, he’ll likely make about $15 million next season, the Tribune notes. The 28-year-old Floyd went 12-13 with a 4.37 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 193.2 innings pitched this past season for the Sox.

Williams also told the paper that the team has had contact with Mark Buehrle(notes) to let him know it is interested in re-signing him.

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Source: Chicago Tribune

Related: Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox ace Mark Buehrle and the Cubs’ Kerry Wood and Carlos Pena were among 148 players filing for free agency Sunday.

The Sox and Cubs have exclusive negotiating rights with their free agents through Wednesday at 11 p.m. After that, other teams are allowed to make financial offers to free agents.

Buehrle, 32, has 161 wins and a 3.83 ERA during his storied Sox career. He has 11 consecutive seasons of at least 200 innings, 30 starts and 10 victories.

The Sox have anticipated that negotiations with Buehrle could be similar to those last year with Paul Konerko, who didn’t re-sign with the Sox until early December after considering an offer from Arizona. Jeff Berry, Buehrle’s agent with Creative Artists Agency, has said his client will listen to offers from other teams before deciding.

The other Sox’s players who filed for free agency were leadoff hitter Juan Pierre, infielder Omar Vizquel and catcher Ramon Castro. The Sox also must decide soon whether to pick up or decline the $3.75 million club option on reliever Jason Frasor, with the latter option considered likely.

In addition to Wood and Pena, the Cubs’ other players who filed for free agency were outfielder Reed Johnson and pitchers John Grabow, Rodrigo Lopez and Ramon Ortiz.

The Cardinals’ Albert Pujols, Edwin Jackson, Gerald Laird, Nick Punto and Arthur Rhodes were also on the list.

Among the high-profile free agents are Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, shortstops Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies and Jose Reyes of the Mets, and Padres closer Heath Bell and Milwaukee pitcher Francisco Rodriguez.

Beyond the list of 148, there are other players who are eligible for free agency pending provisions in their contracts. Yankees ace CC Sabathia is among them.

Tribune News Services contributed to this report

mgonzales@tribune.com

Twitter @MDGonzales

White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, right, soon might follow manager Ozzie Guillen, left, out of Chicago as his contract is up after this season. First, though, he will start against the Blue Jays Tuesday night. (Brian Kersey/Getty Images)

With the end of a disappointing season drawing near, the Chicago White Sox’s attention has turned to next year.

Ozzie Guillen won’t be a part of their future.

Released from his contract per his request, Guillen will no longer be the manager Tuesday when the White Sox continue a three-game set with the visiting Toronto Blue Jays (7:10 p.m CT).

Guillen, who had one year left on his contract, met with owner Jerry Reinsdorf before Monday night’s 4-3 win over Toronto (80-80) to express his interest in returning in 2012, but only with an extension for more money.

“Was it time for a change? I don’t think so,” general manager Kenny Williams said. “I guess things were accelerated. We had no intention of firing him. This was kind of acquiescing to some of his desires more than anything. It is what it is. I don’t wish to expound on any of the peripherals to the degree that they become more of a story than they really are.

“This is a case of a man making a business decision for himself and his family. And we respected it, we respected it enough to allow this to happen. Obviously we didn’t agree to the request for an extension.”

Chicago (78-82) retains the right to compensation should Guillen accept a managerial position with another big league team next year. With Florida manager Jack McKeon retiring, there is speculation Guillen could be bound for the Marlins.

“It could be anybody. They sound like they are interested,” Guillen said.

World Series champion

The only manager in franchise history to lead the White Sox to more than one division or league title, Guillen compiled a 678-617 record during his eight seasons in Chicago — highlighted by winning the 2005 World Series.

“It was my call and I appreciated the White Sox organization letting me do what I like to do and what is best,” he said. “… Maybe not the best, maybe it’s the worst. You don’t know what is out there. Maybe I’m dreaming. I might not appreciate what I got here. You don’t know. You have to close the page and move on. That’s life. Hopefully the next book treats me the way this book treated me.”

Tuesday’s scheduled White Sox starter Mark Buehrle (12-9, 3.72 ERA), whose contract is up after this season, could also find himself with another team in 2012.

“I’m not looking at it as my last start,” he said. “I’m going to go out there as if I’m coming back next year. It all depends on what the White Sox want to do. They spent a lot of money this year and we didn’t get it done. They may want to go young. It’s up to them.”

With 198 1/3 innings, Buehrle is on the verge of reaching 200 for the 11th consecutive season. He had gone 0-3 with an 11.74 ERA over his previous three starts before regrouping Wednesday, throwing six innings of two-run ball in an 8-4 win at Cleveland.

The left-hander is 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in his last six home meetings with the Blue Jays.

Buehrle has had his way with slugger Adam Lind, holding him hitless in 12 career at-bats. Jose Bautista, who is 3-for-20 (.150) in his last six games at Chicago, is 5-for-19 with a home run off Buehrle.

With 43 homers — two more than the Yankees’ Curtis Granderson — Bautista is on the verge of finishing as the major league home run leader in back-to-back seasons.

The Blue Jays will give the ball to rookie Henderson Alvarez (1-2, 3.65 ERA).

The 21-year-old right-hander, who has never faced the White Sox, is 1-1 with a 0.64 ERA and a .196 opponent batting average over his last two road starts, but has no decisions in four September outings — all at home.