Paul Konerko Re-Signs with White Sox

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

Derrek Lee, 2 picks and maybe a little extra cash is looking better and better by the minute when I think about it. He and Konerko are just such incredibly similar players that -- assuming injuries are not a factor, huge assumption, I know -- it's kind of a toss up as to who will put up the better numbers next season.

 

Just looking at Bill James' usual optimistic projections for next season, which truly mean next to nothing at face value but does succeed in emphasizing the similarity:

 

.273/.361/.496 wOBA: .372

.278/.365/.475 wOBA: .367

 

If our doctors like the looks of Lee's wrist this does look like the best course of action.

You have to assume PK will be more productive if for no reason other than familiarity with the park, division, and league overall. However, if the difference is $5M or so then that could be, say, Arthur Rhodes as a lefty specialist and Matt Guerrier as a middle reliever, which may not be the sexiest names but may be enough to keep the back end of the pen guys in their roles and keep the pen strong. Then you've got 2 draft picks and you also don't have to deal with such a lengthy commitment.

 

OTOH, the Sox could go with Lee, then spend the money on someone who just ends up DFA'd in June, and the difference between Lee and PK costs us the division. And because it costs us the division we end up reloading/rebuilding in 2012-14 instead of contending.

 

But then maybe we get Wood on a great bargain due to the savings and he kills it for us, and then we sign Lee and he's just a monster on a sweetheart deal because we picked up an affordable 2012 option in the process.

 

Huge decision.

[Tannerfan]

This thread is starting to remind me of the Johnny Damon one from last year.

[Reddy]

first legit source:

 

SI_JonHeyman:

konerko's agent is pressing beyond where #chisox had planned. but theres still pretty decent optimism for deal.

[SoxFan562004]

Heyman just said PK's agent is pressing beyond what the Sox expected but optimism still there for a deal. That tells me no other team at this point has jumped in big on PK. Sounds like negotiations

[The Ginger Kid]

DLee is an injury waiting to happen.

[bschmaranz]

You have to assume PK will be more productive if for no reason other than familiarity with the park, division, and league overall. However, if the difference is $5M or so then that could be, say, Arthur Rhodes as a lefty specialist and Matt Guerrier as a middle reliever, which may not be the sexiest names but may be enough to keep the back end of the pen guys in their roles and keep the pen strong. Then you've got 2 draft picks and you also don't have to deal with such a lengthy commitment.

 

OTOH, the Sox could go with Lee, then spend the money on someone who just ends up DFA'd in June, and the difference between Lee and PK costs us the division. And because it costs us the division we end up reloading/rebuilding in 2012-14 instead of contending.

 

But then maybe we get Wood on a great bargain due to the savings and he kills it for us, and then we sign Lee and he's just a monster on a sweetheart deal because we picked up an affordable 2012 option in the process.

 

Huge decision.

 

According to mlbtr earlier, Guerrier is looking for something in the neighborhood of what Benoit got from Detroit ($16.5/3).

[Soxbadger]

Sox and PK will split the baby Solomon style.

 

I still believe PK will be back with the Sox, but you cant hate him for squeezing every dime out of what may be his last huge pay day.

[The Ginger Kid]

first legit source:

 

SI_JonHeyman:

konerko's agent is pressing beyond where #chisox had planned. but theres still pretty decent optimism for deal.

i still say he'll go Dye with this deal and just go home to Scottsdale if he doesn't like the deal.

[Balta1701]

DLee is an injury waiting to happen.

Lee is younger than Konerko and has had nearly 200 more plate appearances than PK14 over the last 4 years, with the difference being that PK14 missed more due to injury.

[SoxFan562004]

Sox and PK will split the baby Solomon style.

 

I still believe PK will be back with the Sox, but you cant hate him for squeezing every dime out of what may be his last huge pay day.

I don't blame either side at this point, White Sox are going to have a bigger payroll next year and it's PK's last big deal, makes sense that each side pushes the boundaries and explores every option. I wonder if JR wasn't involved if KW would have just inked his Plan B at this point.

Edited December 7, 2010 by SoxFan562004

[G&T]

Only if you look at 2010 and ignore 2007-2009.

 

and ignore his age.

[Kalapse]

Since a Dunn/Konerko comparison has now been made; over the past 4 seasons:

 

.257/.382/.533/.915, 39 HR per season, 31 years old

.273/.361/.504/.865, 30 HR per season, 35 years old

[chetkincaid]

Lee is younger than Konerko and has had nearly 200 more plate appearances than PK14 over the last 4 years, with the difference being that PK14 missed more due to injury.

 

Konerko is about 7 months younger I think...

[SoxFan562004]

Lee is younger than Konerko and has had nearly 200 more plate appearances than PK14 over the last 4 years, with the difference being that PK14 missed more due to injury.

Real question with Lee is how is his wrist? I believe B & B said he had surgery in the offseason and many speculate if that's what was bugging him last year... So medicals for any team will have to be strong on him to see where his wrist is at.

[The Ginger Kid]

Lee is younger than Konerko and has had nearly 200 more plate appearances than PK14 over the last 4 years, with the difference being that PK14 missed more due to injury.

in the last two years PK has more than twice the number of plate appearances. Who cares about early in their careers? DLee is injury prone, PK is not

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

According to mlbtr earlier, Guerrier is looking for something in the neighborhood of what Benoit got from Detroit ($16.5/3).

His agent said that's not the case last I saw. He should be in the $2.5-3M range I'd think, unless someone else goes nuts.

[Balta1701]

in the last two years PK has more than twice the number of plate appearances. Who cares about early in their careers? DLee is injury prone, PK is not

WTF? Lee has 1241 plate appearances in 2009 and 2010, Konerko has 1252. In what world is 1252 = twice 1241?

[Kalapse]

in the last two years PK has more than twice the number of plate appearances. Who cares about early in their careers? DLee is injury prone, PK is not

???? Konerko has 11 more PA than Lee over the past 2 seasons. 1252 to 1241

[Reddy]

in the last two years PK has more than twice the number of plate appearances. Who cares about early in their careers? DLee is injury prone, PK is not

besides the point the others made - PK is ENTIRELY injury prone. He was hurt ALL of 2009!

[SoxFan1]

in the last two years PK has more than twice the number of plate appearances. Who cares about early in their careers? DLee is injury prone, PK is not

I'm sorry, but you are incredibly mistaken.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

I think if you sign either PK or Lee beyond 2 years you're going to expect some kind of setbacks. Thankfully we have Hermie.

 

The main thing is that we get this s*** figured out like ASAP because there's no benefit to signing Lee if we don't have anyone worthwhile to sign with the savings he'd allow us.

 

*Edit: Actually, if you sign Lee or Paulie for even 1 year you should expect some setbacks. They should both be pretty good bets for the 15-day DL sometime in August. As long as it's not a lot more than that it'll be fine though. Viciedo is insurance.

Edited December 7, 2010 by Kenny Hates Prospects

[The Ginger Kid]

WTF? Lee has 1241 plate appearances in 2009 and 2010, Konerko has 1252. In what world is 1252 = twice 1241?

IN MY WORLD!

 

where i misread his stats

[bigruss]

in the last two years PK has more than twice the number of plate appearances. Who cares about early in their careers? DLee is injury prone, PK is not

Twat was that?

 

From 2008-2010, # of PAs:

DLee: 1939

PK: 1766

Edited December 7, 2010 by bigruss22

[bschmaranz]

His agent said that's not the case last I saw. He should be in the $2.5-3M range I'd think, unless someone else goes nuts.

 

My bad, hadn't read that. If that's the case, sign him up Kenny. Maybe we can trade him for Marte mid-season

[Balta1701]

IN MY WORLD!

 

where i misread his stats

Which is why we jumped on you when you said that Lee was an injury waiting to happen but Konerko wasn't.