Dick Allen

QUOTE (Real @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 12:11 PM) We'd have Putz if he was finding money everywhere. Not necessarily. Supposedly they are interested in Wood. If true, he would be more expensive than Putz at least for 2011.

QUOTE (Real @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 12:06 PM) Reinsdorf is gonna give Konerko at least 13m/year, which will cripple our payroll as far as not being able to add any other pieces where we obviously need to fill holes Sucks that D.Lee is even older that Konerko, though I bet we could sign him to a two year deal and have Viciedo waiting I don't know that it will cripple payroll. JR seems to be finding money everywhere the last year and a half. Maybe he's remembering his hiding places. If this "all in" is the theme of the 2011 White Sox, $2-3 million isn't going to make much of a difference.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 11:57 AM) If this thing drags on more, I guarantee you'll see a see on mlbrumors how D. Lee and the White Sox have started contract negotiations. Konerko's hand needs to be forced. Why is it dragging on? How many of the top free agents have signed?

Wow, Jaime McCord gets about $7.5 million a year in spousal support.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 11:27 AM) I'm not sure why people are so impatient on this Konerko thing, it's not even mid-December yet. Nobody's mentioned Derek Lee's name but us so it's not like Plan B is in danger of getting away just yet. If it wasn't time to give up on Konerko a few weeks ago, it's not time now. I agree. Its not like all the other options are flying off the board.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 11:26 AM) The thing is Rangers and Dbacks don't have money to give Paulie 15, heck even 12 million a year. So unless he is willing to reconsider, he will be playing in Baltimore and not spending time with his family. And you can't blame him if he takes the money. Its a few more million to leave Jr. when he dies.

The DBacks do have some talent on their roster. They were the team with nice draft picks and tons of prospects. Basically, they are what a lot of Soxtalk wants the Sox to be.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 11:20 AM) Someone made a great point on the radio. If this was the offseason after 2009, D. Lee would be getting the big multi-year deal and Konerko would be the one who'd be lucky to get a multi-year deal for 6-8 million. And Jeter would have gotten the ARod treatment. Timing is a huge part of making huge money. Someone mentioned earlier that JR wouldn't necessarily spend the money he is prepared to spend on Paulie on others. Normally, I would say this is very true, but because you had a couple of guys defer money, I would imagine they will probably spend it this offseaon if Paulie doesn't come back.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 11:15 AM) We would totally lead the league in simulated wins. They could give away towels in honor of Wood and Prior with the towel drill.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 10:06 AM) Wait, are you telling me that Paul Konerko's family doesn't live in Chicago? (immediate, wife and children) I don't believe that. I believe the only member of the 2010 White Sox to live in the Chicago area during the offseason was Jenks. Paulie lives in AZ, supposedly not more than a block or 2 away from JR's residence there. Playing in AZ would give him more family time. As his kids get to school age, they can't be coming to Chicago in April and May or September. Its understandable why he would take less money to play for the DBacks.

Why does everyone get their panties in a bunch by a Cowley report? The next accurate report Cowley gives will be #1 this offseason.

QUOTE (balfanman @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 08:27 AM) Ya know, I've heard this opinion from several Sox fans that Konerko is not likely to repeat his 2010 season, and I'm not saying it is wrong, but you can say that about several pro athletes who have a fantastic year. In this case though I'm not quite so sure that he can't at least come close. A few weeks back Greg Walker was being interviewed someplace, I forget where, but he was saying how Paul Konerko just "clicked in" somewhere towards the end of the 2009 season and has been going strong ever since. Walker mentioned that this "getting it" happens for great hitters at a point in their careers, some earlier, some later. For whatever reason Greg Walker thinks that Paulie has now "got it" and there is no looking back. Now wether this means that he no longer doubts himself, or gets mad at himself for a bad at bat or not I don't know. But Walker thinks that Konerko now "has it". Now if Quentin could "get it". Its clicked in for Paulie many times. The only things you really have to be concerned with about Paulie is a. his thumb which he gets a couple injections into every year, and b. father time. Age catches up to everyone. You don't have to lose much in reflex, reaction time, or your vision can erode slightly and it can make you go from excellent to mediocre or even horrible. Paulie is right about the age a lot of non steroid guys hit the wall. Some don't. Maybe he's one of them.

QUOTE (robinventura23 @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 07:33 AM) So.....this is Plan B? I think Ward was signed as a solid to his father. The Sox had him several years ago and let him go to the Newark Bears I believe. He's pretty much done at the major league level. Gray has a slight chance to pitch in Chicago, but either he would have to show a lot more than he's shown recently or a lot of things would have to go wrong. These are Charlotte Knights not Chicago White Sox.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 03:06 AM) The fact that Dunn and Pierzynski both deferred money in order to try and get Konerko back, and Konerko still didn't resign, makes me think Konerko is being a big jerk. I'm starting to think "good ridance" to Konerko. Paul Konerko owes you and me and the White Sox nothing. If he chooses to go elsewhere, that's his decision and he's earned it. I hope he comes back. If the Sox can't wait around for him to make his decision fine, but don't blame him for taking his time. There's a lot of unsigned players out there. They deferred their money. Its not like they gave it back. They will still get it and chances are they probably don't need it in the next year.

There were new writers this season. I think a couple of them were from "24".

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 02:01 PM) Sox players I've spoken to are still hearing that PK deal will happen. It better happen soon, because KW now has a Plan B in case. - Cowley The same Cowley who said AJ was headed to Toronto, then edited his story. He signs with the Sox and was close to signing with the Dodgers. I wonder if when he talks about the "Sox players" he's speaking to, if he means Oney.

Lovie Smith has a higher winning pct. as an NFL head coach than Mike Ditka.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 09:22 AM) I still think it was Cowley doing a favor for AJ by just throwing out something to try and force our hand a bit... AJ used to be a Cowley source. They had a falling out. Maybe he was throwing him a bone, but considering he isn't on the beat anymore, I doubt it.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 05:56 PM) Anyone think that Boston might offer to Konerko? He did grow up early on in Rhode Island. Anything is possible, but I think they are looking for someone a little younger.

QUOTE (scenario @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 05:51 PM) Because they might have had a Plan B... like Werth. Take him and a few others off the board this week and scarcity will drive prices up. And Gonzalez... rather than having Boston set the price... will be able to let the market set it. Not unlike what Konerko is doing. Konerko is a free agent. Gonzalez can only negotiate with SD. Heyman said the entire breakdown was because of the years. I don't see Boston budging just because Jayson Werth signed for 7 years. To have a player under contract for 9 years is very, very risky.

QUOTE (scenario @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 05:37 PM) I expect Gonzalez to Boston will happen. Not necessarily a bad strategy for Gonzalez to delay on agreement to a deal until after the winter meetings. Boston wants him bad. The price will go up by the end of the week. I don't understand this at all. If a week from now they are willing to go 8 years, why would they risk losing him completely by not just giving it to him now?

QUOTE (chunk23 @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 05:05 PM) Werth already has a ring and if the Nats win while he is there he gets to be a hero. I don't blame Werth for taking the money, I just think Gonzalez needs to examine the situation a little harder and realize a 6 year $120 million extension to play in Boston is not necessarily a discount. Boston isn't going to go 8 years with him. That's been established. The Yankees have a first baseman. They won't be in it. Maybe a surprise desperate team goes 8 years, but that would be a team like Detroit. Does anyone really want to spend 8 years in Detroit? If you're still a good player 6 years from now, you can get another contract. If you're garbage, you still have a nice amount of change to live the rest of your life high on the hog. Timing is a huge part of the big contracts. Take Jeter and Konerko. If both had flipflopped their 2009 and 2010 seasons, there would be a huge difference in the contracts they each will have signed. The other thing is what teams are going to have huge money available to sign the player. Gonzalez has a red flag with his shoulder. Another injury, or a real slow recovery could definitey hurt his offers next offseason. I just don't see why you bother risking it unless you just really aren't all that interested in playing in Boston.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 04:53 PM) And Willingham is probably a better defender than Dunn at 1B. So overall, the Nats improved their defense a lot while they didn't lose too much on offense. Considering what they added to their payroll, that's what should happen. Apparently Boston was only going 4 years for Werth.

Werth owes Ryan Zimmerman a big thank you.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 03:47 PM) Yeah, and no teams will step up to pay Gonzalez. There's another possibility off the board. Gonzalez was offered the same amount of cash even while playing for only 6 million in 2011, and setting himself up with a stacked team. Its a little different than Werth.