Buehrle can begin listening to offers

Teams were free to submit offers to free-agent Mark Buehrle at midnight Wednesday. As a Type B free agent, Buehrle won’t cost another team a high draft pick if they sign the 32-year-old left-hander.

With CC Sabathia re-signed by the New York Yankees, Buehrle and the Rangers’ C.J. Wilson are the top two lefties on the open market.

A five-day period in which free agents were allowed to negotiate only with their most recent team ended Wednesday night. The Sox plan to wait and see what kind of offers Buehrle receives before making a possible pitch at bringing him back. A similar scenario unfolded last year for Paul Konerko when he signed during the winter meetings after weighing an offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Buehlre, who made $56 million over the last four seasons with the Sox, is one of the Sox most popular players of all time. He has pitched 10 consecutive seasons with at least 200 innings, 30 starts and 10 victories. He won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award on Tuesday as the American League’s best fielding pitcher.

Buehrle grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan and lives in Missouri. It’s always been speculated that would be his next landing place, although the World Series champions are fairly set with their starting rotation. Among other teams that might have interest are the Royals, Yankees and Marlins.