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Report: Buerhle, Reyes claim Marlins broke verbal no-trade promises

Owner Jeffrey Loria and president David Samson have slashed the Marlins payroll. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Jeffrey-Loria-David-Samson-Getty-T

Two of the five Marlins traded to Toronto in a controversial blockbuster deal claim the team broke verbal no-trade promises, according to sources in a report by Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.

The Marlins do not award no-trade clauses, but club officials, while recruiting Jose Reyes and Mark Buerhle as free agents last offseason, assured both players that they would not be moved, sources said.

Buehrle knew the Marlins’ history of dumping high-priced players, and it concerned him, according to a friend. Team president David Samson, however, told both Buehrle and his wife, Jamie, that the team was committed to a long-term vision, sources said.

The Buehrles have two children — a son, Braden, 5, and a daughter, Brooklyn, 3. They also own a 2-year-old pit bull, Slater. The province of Ontario, where Toronto is located, bans pit bulls.

Samson did not respond to a FoxSports.com request to comment on the specifics of this story. Neither did Buerhle’s agent, Jeff Berry.

A source close to Reyes, asked if the shortstop also received verbal assurances from the Marlins that he would not be traded, responded, “The answer is yes. A vehement yes.”

a proposed 12-player trade

still must be approved by commissioner Bud Selig