http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...sp&c_id=mlb

 

 

Although the money and possibly even the demand might not quite be the same for the White Sox captain, who turns 34 on March 5, Konerko doesn't intend to change that free-agent gameplan in 2010. He begins season No. 12 with the White Sox, and he hopes it's not his last on the South Side of Chicago.

 

"Absolutely, I would like to stay [with the White Sox]," Konerko told MLB.com on Saturday night, prior to the 15th Joyce Thome Benefit for Children's Hospital of Illinois at the Peoria Civic Center. "I know I'm not going to play forever. But I've come this far, so I might as well finish it out with them.

 

"That would be my hope. At the same time, I'm prepared for anything. We'll have to see how it plays out."

 

I'd be fine with this, since we might not have Viciedo ready by then, and if we somehow acquire a lefty power hitting 1B, I could see Konerko being a good DH.

 

Of course, he'd have to take a pay cut.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...sp&c_id=mlb

 

 

 

 

I'd be fine with this, since we might not have Viciedo ready by then, and if we somehow acquire a lefty power hitting 1B, I could see Konerko being a good DH.

 

Of course, he'd have to take a pay cut.

I would like for them to do the same thing they did with Thomas when they put him at DH in 1999 after 10 seasons at 1B. This would be ideal especially with Adrian Gonzalez likely being available at the trade deadline

If we try to resign Konerko to a cheaper contract, how do we avoid the rules where players cannot have, like, more than a 20% pay cut, or something like that?

 

Or is that only for arbitration players?

If we try to resign Konerko to a cheaper contract, how do we avoid the rules where players cannot have, like, more than a 20% pay cut, or something like that?

 

Or is that only for arbitration players?

Yep. Players can not be awarded or offerred less than 80% of their current salary in arbitration. If they hadn't reached an agreement by the time that the arbitration deadline rolled around, they could opt not to offer arbitration. They would still be able to resign him in that case under the new rules.

It's also worth considering that if all PK can give is 15-20 home runs a year and a .280 average, he might not make a great DH next year either. Depends on the kind of production we can get from him. He might fit better as a 1b in the NL, giving some power to a team that has nothing at 1b (NYM), rather than DHing in the AL.

Hope he stays with the Sox. He could DH and is still physically able to play 1B when needed

Edited January 18, 201016 yr by elrockinMT

Will see how he produces this year!! I love paulie tho - so I wish him the best!

I'm in the wait and see camp with Konerko. I want to see who does what the minor league level, and what Konerko does this year.

I'm in the wait and see camp with Konerko. I want to see who does what the minor league level, and what Konerko does this year.

He'd be wise to be in the best shape of his life going into this season. The difference between him hitting 20-25 and 30-35 HR this year could easily be worth $10 million or more to him.

He'd be 35 in Spring 2011, so if they could do a 3 year, $12 million for him to DH, that would be nice. (or 2/$10 mil)

If we could keep him cheap at 1B/DH, and use the cash to upgrade somewhere else, that's fine. But I don't want to overpay for someone who will most likely be a below average 1B/DH in a year or two just because he's a fan favorite.

It is all about balance. There's nothing wrong with paying some extra $$$ for character and leadership. Fan favorites are favorites for a reason, some if it history and some of it the character and leadership that I mentioned before. Fan favorites also put some people in the seats and some dollars in the coffers. I like PK a lot. It's his number and name I wear to every Sox game in Chicago and Glendale and wore for every postseason game in 2005 and 2008.

Balance that with the team's budget and with his skills and age, which have decreased in value over the last couple years, and then decide if it is a fit. That's KW's job, with some input from Ozzie.

FWIW, I think KW, Ozzie and I both see value in PK's leadership and character. I, personally, don't think he'll price himself out of reach. At least I hope not... Paulie, are you listening?

Yep. Players can not be awarded or offerred less than 80% of their current salary in arbitration. If they hadn't reached an agreement by the time that the arbitration deadline rolled around, they could opt not to offer arbitration. They would still be able to resign him in that case under the new rules.

 

Den the kind of year he has will determine if he is offered arbitration. If he has a year like 09 I don't think he will command $10M+ and the Sox will not offer arbitration.

Konerko for 2/10 or 1/5 with some incentives would be a fine by me after the season is over. Five mil per year is what like Hideki and Vlad got for the DH position at the same age.

I would like for them to do the same thing they did with Thomas when they put him at DH in 1999 after 10 seasons at 1B. This would be ideal especially with Adrian Gonzalez likely being available at the trade deadline

 

That's what I still hope for.

 

It's also worth considering that if all PK can give is 15-20 home runs a year and a .280 average, he might not make a great DH next year either. Depends on the kind of production we can get from him. He might fit better as a 1b in the NL, giving some power to a team that has nothing at 1b (NYM), rather than DHing in the AL.

 

I could see him hitting .280 with 30 HR as a full time DH. Haven't most of his thumb issues stemmed from fielding?

 

Plus, he can still field, so in a pinch he could start at 1B.

Den the kind of year he has will determine if he is offered arbitration. If he has a year like 09 I don't think he will command $10M+ and the Sox will not offer arbitration.

If this last off-season is any indication, he won't be offered arbitration even if he matches his 2005 or 2006 numbers.

Edited January 19, 201016 yr by JorgeFabregas

That's what I still hope for.

 

 

 

I could see him hitting .280 with 30 HR as a full time DH. Haven't most of his thumb issues stemmed from fielding?

 

Plus, he can still field, so in a pinch he could start at 1B.

 

Sounded to me like his worst issue was getting jammed on the riding fastball on his fists.

Who cares what he wants? He'll play where we allow him to.

Who cares what he wants? He'll play where we allow him to.

 

Well, not if we don't resign him...

I love Paulie.

Ranger ... is Paulie as upstanding a guy as he appears? He seems like a decent guy as well as one of the all-time Sox greats.