Can I ask why they only signed him for one year.  I thought I read that he's not eligable to be a free agent until 2006.  Do the Sox have an option on next year.  I'd hate to have this guy for just one season...I mean...FINALLY...a catcher.

 

He's arbitration eligible next year. I'd imagine if everything went good for the first half of the season, you'd see the Sox try to lock him up for at least three more years.

Twins fans must be loving this move. LOL

Twins fans must be loving this move. LOL

 

I figured the same thing. AJ can become a thorn against the Twinkies. I loved this signing, KW great job. I like the fact that he accepted the sox offer even though other teams are offering more money. Has the world gone wrong bcoz players seem to want to play for us and we keep signing them too!!!!!!!

Aboz, in response to some of your comments;

 

The Garcia trade was fine, and it was even better that we got him to sign a 3 year extension so quickly.

 

Maggs was expected back before the trade deadline, and there was talking about moving him for more pitching.

 

Which pitcher wouldn't get hammered at the Cell after pitching in a pitcher's park?

 

We were coming off a huge series with Cubs and we were heading to Minnesota for a 3 game series (which we f***ing swept them,) so I don't but this bulls*** that we weren't contending. We were getting a ton of national exposure on ATH, SC, and I,Max to name a few.

 

Let's not forget, the 2004 Sox were in first place on Memorial Day, the All-Star break, and as late as July 27th.

 

How exactly would you have expected us to sign 2 SP's (3 if we didn't get Contreras) with this Market?

 

But I forgot the most important part, we would've still had Reed and Olivo!! :rolly

a catcher that can hit, now that is something that will be fun getting used to..

Damn Damn Damn I am starting to believe in the 2005 Squad

Green?

a catcher that can hit, now that is something that will be fun getting used to..

 

Did you post something? Because I swear I was simply staring at your avatar

 

DAMN

Did you post something? Because I swear I was simply staring at your avatar

 

DAMN   

 

 

Ya, that avatar is like a train wreck....its so bad, and yet i keep looking at it,..

I thought this was interesting from the Southtown;

 

Williams said Pierzynski had more lucrative offers on the table from other teams, but the catcher couldn't pass up the chance to return to the AL Central and haunt the Twins.

 

"Ultimately, the decision came down to a chance to win in a division I'm familiar with," Pierzynski said. "I have no hard feelings towards the teams I've been with. I look forward to competing against them.

 

"I look forward to beating them."

Williams said Pierzynski had more lucrative offers on the table from other teams, but the catcher couldn't pass up the chance to return to the AL Central and haunt the Twins.

 

"Ultimately, the decision came down to a chance to win in a division I'm familiar with," Pierzynski said. "I have no hard feelings towards the teams I've been with. I look forward to competing against them.

 

"I look forward to beating them."

 

In addition, after looking at the catchers who are currently on the Sox, AJ knows should everything pan out, he would be the primary catcher for the Sox for a long time.

 

How sweet it is for the Sox to finally have a real catcher!

Very odd, it seems like two guys(dye and aj) signed with the sox when they got better offers elsewhere. That's something I definitely love to hear and something I don't recall happening for the White Sox in quite a while, props to Jermaine and aj for not just caring about money. With the current market the sox have signed some very good players for a very good value, very impressive imo.

Very odd, it seems like two guys(dye and aj) signed with the sox when they got better offers elsewhere.  That's something I definitely love to hear and something I don't recall happening for the White Sox in quite a while, props to Jermaine and aj for not just caring about money.  With the current market the sox have signed some very good players for a very good value, very impressive imo.

Could it be that the Cell is actually working in our favour (for once) when it comes to free agent hitters.

Very odd, it seems like two guys(dye and aj) signed with the sox when they got better offers elsewhere.  That's something I definitely love to hear and something I don't recall happening for the White Sox in quite a while, props to Jermaine and aj for not just caring about money.  With the current market the sox have signed some very good players for a very good value, very impressive imo.

 

It's not really odd. In fact, it makes very good business sense for both of these guys. Dye and AJ both have seen their values drop [dye to injury, AJ to his reputation]. The Sox are a good fit for both to up their values. They'll play in a hitter's park, on a team with solid pitching and that contends for the playoffs every yr, and in a major city.

 

If they perform up to their capabilities, put in the hard work etc, they'll get contracts [from the Sox or elsewhere] that will reward them much better than going to a team like Tex, or TB.

With AJ, playing in the AL Central, a league he knows the hitters and pitchers well, also has big benefits. AJ needs to have short term success. Playing in the NL on LA wouldn't guarantee him short term success

It's not really odd. In fact, it makes very good business sense for both of these guys. Dye and AJ both have seen their values drop [dye to injury, AJ to his reputation]. The Sox are a good fit for both to up their values. They'll play in a hitter's park, on a team with solid pitching and that contends for the playoffs every yr, and in a major city.

 

If they perform up to their capabilities, put in the hard work etc, they'll get contracts [from the Sox or elsewhere] that will reward them much better than going to a team like Tex, or TB.

Beck, by odd I mean odd to me like I said I'm not used to free agents signing on the southside for such good values, I just absolutely love to see this, what you said makes perfect sense to me but like I said I'm just not used to that happening, just very glad to see it

Beck, by odd I mean odd to me like I said I'm not used to free agents signing on the southside for such good values, I just absolutely love to see this, what you said makes perfect sense to me but like I said I'm just not used to that happening, just very glad to see it

 

I think I knew what you meant. I'm glad, too.

 

I think we're starting to see a pattern. I think Ozzie has a lot to do with KW "selling" FA's on the Sox. Players know they'll be coming into a stable team, with a manager and GM on the same page, with a baseball philosophy they can buy into or not.

What was really shocking was the two teams he chose the Sox over ... LA and StL .... those are historically two of the "premier" franchises, though LA is ina transition period right now. No one really knows what to expect from the Dodgers.

The Mets are going after Cairo.

Its hard to believe that KW turned Carlos into Vizcaino, SPODS, El DUQUE and AJ, fantastic way to work KW!!!!! I think we have quietly had one of the best offseasons I have seen in several years, and probably one of the best in the AL. If we sign Iguchi, we will have taken our lineup and plugged almost every offensive blackhole, and absolutely improved our defense 100 percent. Unbelieveable.

 

On a side note AJ is arb eligible next season, so technically he is locked up as well

In AJ's press conference he wouldn't mention whether he had a better offer. If he did I don't think it was much more than the Sox offered. I know the Dodgers made an offer but theres probably had some contigencies.

 

Regardless he seems excited to be a White Sox and I like the way he plays the game.

I like to thank Dustin Hermanson changing kennys minds.

Great move! Congrats KW! He used the bad rep in SF to push AJ into this deal. AJ was offered slightly more $ elsewhere but no one was offering more than 1 yr. Given that AJ still as an arbit year left there was no reason for a team to do that. AJ was over barrel so to speak.

 

KW just landed a former CWS nemesis who happens to be one of the best hitting C's in the game for 2.25M. The CWS get a full yr to decide whether to offer AJ a multi-year deal to avoid arbit in 2006. The odds are that AJ's bad rep in SF is going to surface in Chicago. I don't think it's going to affect Ozzie's clubhouse but I do think enough to where Moronitti & others will decide to write articles about him. That should be enough to keep him a ? mark & lower his price in the future.

I like to thank Dustin Hermanson changing kennys minds.

Kenny is a schizo?