Representatives for the Washington Nationals are meeting Monday with free-agent pitcher Mark Buehrle in Buehrle's St. Louis home, reports Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, citing "people with knowledge."
Washington GM Mike Rizzo already met with Buehrle's representatives last week, but Monday's meeting will include the veteran left-hander who, as Kilgore notes, is almost ideally suited to meet the Nationals' needs. Rizzo cited leadership, professionalism, and durability among the qualities he hopes to see in whichever veteran pitcher he signs. Buehrle provides it all in spades, having pitched at least 201 innings in each of his 11 full major-league seasons, in addition to bringing the intangibles Rizzo desires.
Most recently, Buehrle compiled a 13-9 record for the Chicago White Sox, with a 3.59 earned run average in 205.1 innings. Though a three-time Gold Glove winner and four-time All-Star, Buehrle is probably best known for throwing a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009.
If Buehrle is uninterested in joining the Nationals, the team has alternatives when it comes to veteran free-agent starting pitchers, including Roy Oswalt.