Baseball Notes | Chisox lock up lefty Buehrle

Mark Buehrle

is staying with the Chicago White Sox. The lefthander agreed yesterday to a $56 million, four-year contract extension through the 2011 season.

Buehrle, a three-time all-star, was eligible to become a free agent after this season. With the White Sox struggling just two years after their World Series win, he had been mentioned often in trade rumors.

He is 6-4 with a 3.03 ERA. Buehrle pitched a no-hitter on April 18 against the Rangers.

Albert Pujols has agreed to participate in tonight's Home Run Derby, even though the St. Louis Cardinals star is mired in a career-worst power slump.

Pujols and Alex Rios of the Toronto Blue Jays were the final two participants added to the field yesterday. The derby will be held at San Francisco's AT&T Park, the site of tomorrow night's All-Star Game.

Pujols' homerless streak reached 22 games and a career-worst 74 at-bats in the Cardinals' 7-0 win over the Giants yesterday.

Chin-Lung Hu of the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system had a pair of RBIs and stole a base, leading the World team to a 7-2 victory over the U.S. team in the All-Star Futures at AT&T Park.

Florida's Miguel Cabrera was scratched from the Home Run Derby because of an injured left shoulder.

Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco sat out yesterday's win over Boston with a back injury. The former Phillie said he hoped to be healthy enough to play in his first All-Star Game.

Polanco is batting .335. He is the hardest player in the American League to strike out, whiffing every 22.4 plate appearances.

ESPN will not be allowed to televise its Baseball Tonight show live from the All-Star Game in San Francisco.

Major League Baseball limited ESPN's access this week after the cable network broke an embargo and announced the all-star rosters before the end of a selection show on TBS. Fox is broadcasting the game.

ESPN will produce the show in Bristol, Conn.

- Associated Press