I thought this was actually a week or two away still....but not according to Tim over at:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/04/konerko-granted.html

Edited April 29, 200818 yr by iamshack

Tribune indicated the same.

Konerko will be with this team until the end of his contract for sure, and will be the teams full time DH in 2010 for sure. In 2009 Konerko and Swisher will begin to share time at 1B, with Swisher playing OF and Konerko being DH the other half. IMO Thome's $13 Mil option will not be picked up for 2009 and he will become a free agent and ponder retirement vs. Frank Thomas like contracts (2 Yrs-18 Mil) from the A's, M's, and O's. Thome's bat speed and presence as a premiere slugger will continue to fade all year has he struggles to keep his Avg above .260 and his HR total above 30. Konerko and Swisher could be your 3/4 combo in the batting order in 2009 and 2010.

Konerko will be with this team until the end of his contract for sure, and will be the teams full time DH in 2010 for sure. In 2009 Konerko and Swisher will begin to share time at 1B, with Swisher playing OF and Konerko being DH the other half. IMO Thome's $13 Mil option will not be picked up for 2009 and he will become a free agent and ponder retirement vs. Frank Thomas like contracts (2 Yrs-18 Mil) from the A's, M's, and O's. Thome's bat speed and presence as a premiere slugger will continue to fade all year has he struggles to keep his Avg above .260 and his HR total above 30. Konerko and Swisher could be your 3/4 combo in the batting order in 2009 and 2010.

Unless of course he gets 460 more PA this season. If Thome stays healthy he'll be back.

Unless of course he gets 460 more PA this season. If Thome stays healthy he'll be back.

Honestly, the way we're using these guys this season so far, I think it's probably only a matter of time before Big Jim starts having something hurting him.

Jim Thome is going to get his PAs and hit about .270 with 35-40 HR. That's my prediction.

... and yet countless new threads will continue to appear with him being traded.

when your 10/5 kicks in as a player, does it look badly upon your character if you deny a trade? is that generally frowned upon?

when your 10/5 kicks in as a player, does it look badly upon your character if you deny a trade? is that generally frowned upon?

Why would it be? It's your contract, and your career.

... and yet countless new threads will continue to appear with him being traded.

 

This is true.

Konerko and Swisher could be your 3/4 combo in the batting order in 2009 and 2010.

Carlos Quentin says hi.

Why would it be? It's your contract, and your career.

 

i could think of quite a few reasons why one might frown upon it, one being that the GM is, in his mind, trying to improve his ball club by trading you, and you're denying the trade is keeping him from doing that.

when your 10/5 kicks in as a player, does it look badly upon your character if you deny a trade? is that generally frowned upon?

 

It depends largely on the situation. If you're on a team that's clearly trying to rebuild, and they try to trade you to a favorable situation (i.e. a contending ballclub), yes, it is generally frowned upon. But if the team is trying to deal you just for the sake of dealing you, then no, most players are not looked upon poorly for executing their contractual rights.

 

Many players these days will try and work with the team to try and amicably resolve the situation however, as they don't usually wish to stay where they are not wanted.