http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago...tm_medium=email

 

White Sox know they'll miss plenty if Pierzynski leaves

October 3, 2012, 10:23 pm

DAN HAYES

 

CLEVELAND -- There’s a very real chance A.J. Pierzynski’s career with the White Sox came to an end on Wednesday night.

 

The veteran catcher and free-agent-to-be addressed the situation in the team’s home finale on Sunday and said he hoped to return to the White Sox.

 

But Pierzynski, who didn’t play on Wednesday, knows there’s a chance he won’t be back as he might have priced himself out of the team’s plans after a banner offensive season.

Pierzynski, 35, clubbed a career-high 27 home runs this season and tied a career-high with 77 RBIs.

 

If Wednesday was it, thus ends an eight-year run that saw Pierzynski help the White Sox to their first World Series title in 88 years. Pierzynski’s teammates reflected upon the possibility and said they hope the veteran returns.

 

“You don’t think about it as it’s happening and then you look up one day and it gets there,” said Paul Konerko, who has been Pierzynski’s teammate since 2005. “I think the big part of that is we were on a team that won and when you do that people tend to stay around longer. Unfortunately other than (2008) we didn’t get to the playoffs besides (2005). Whatever team he’s on, whether it be here or somewhere, they’re going to be a better team for it.”

 

Reliever Matt Thornton said if Pierzynski goes whatever team signs him would acquire instant leadership. Not only is Pierzynski a vocal leader, Thornton said, but he also offers a strong example for other teammates to follow.

 

Pierzynski averaged 134 games a season since he joined the White Sox in 2005.

 

“We got spoiled because he’s there every day,” Thornton said. “You kind of take it for granted. You don’t realize, unless you’re in here, what he goes through: the nicks, the bangs, the soreness, the different things he does to prepare himself every day.

 

"He’s a winner. All he cares about is winning ballgames and he’s been a good teammate. He does it every day. He brings the energy every day no matter how beat up he is. … A.J. has played through a lot of pain throughout every season I’ve ever been with him. He’s always there in the clutch, always grinding an at-bat out, always going to be a pain in the butt to the pitcher, always yelling at pitchers, antagonizing the other team and stuff, but that’s what he is. It makes him a winner.”

i love AJ. don't care what you haters say.

With Flowers ready, that money just has to be spent elsewhere. The chance of a repeat of AJ's offense is not worth what we'd probably get...which is the free-swinging high avg/low obp.. plus poor catching.

 

There is no question AJ's offense was a huge part of us getting as far as we did. It also should not be something that keeps us from doing...anything

Edited October 4, 201213 yr by Jose Paniagua

With Flowers ready, that money just has to be spent elsewhere. The chance of a repeat of AJ's offense is not worth what we'd probably get...which is the free-swinging high avg/low obp.. plus poor catching.

 

There is no question AJ's offense was a huge part of us getting as far as we did. It also should not be something that keeps us from doing...anything

 

Defensively I think he is ready, as well as calling a game. Offensively? I don't know about that.

But Flowers is ready in that he can contribute in all facets passably well and then the AJ money can be spent on other things.

 

The opportunity cost of keeping AJ is the thing that happens to the other positions of need. Due to money lacking.

But Flowers is ready in that he can contribute in all facets passably well and then the AJ money can be spent on other things.

 

The opportunity cost of keeping AJ is the thing that happens to the other positions of need. Due to money lacking.

 

I don't think that is a fair assumption. There will be a large drop off offensively. Plus when you look at what is out there is at the positions of need (2nd and 3rd mostly), I don't see big enough improvements to merit letting AJ walk away.

 

 

I'm not sure Flowers is ready, or ever will be...at least offensively. I'd love to see AJ back, but I'm afraid he'd have to give a discount for the Sox to sign him. He might get some big 1-year offers and maybe a couple sizeable 2-year offers. I think his age will keep many teams from offering too much for too long. I'd like to see him back for 2/$15M tops. Much more than that, and I couldn't see the Sox paying. I couldn't see them making a 1-year offer for more than $7M or $8M, either. He could certainly get some 8-figure 1-year offers.

I'm not sure Flowers is ready, or ever will be...at least offensively. I'd love to see AJ back, but I'm afraid he'd have to give a discount for the Sox to sign him. He might get some big 1-year offers and maybe a couple sizeable 2-year offers. I think his age will keep many teams from offering too much for too long. I'd like to see him back for 2/$15M tops. Much more than that, and I couldn't see the Sox paying. I couldn't see them making a 1-year offer for more than $7M or $8M, either. He could certainly get some 8-figure 1-year offers.

 

I don't see any team offering AJ $15M guaranteed. I want him back, but not for more than $6.5M for one year or $11.5M for two. If some other team will beat those offers then they can have him. As much as I like him he is going to be 36 next year.

At least we can get a draft pick for AJ, right?? Make him a qualifying offer, which is based on his 2012 salary, and we get the pick, probably a sandwich pick between rounds 1-2. Although, I hope we do sign him.

 

Can you guys think of any other compensatory potential draft picks that we can get?

At least we can get a draft pick for AJ, right?? Make him a qualifying offer, which is based on his 2012 salary, and we get the pick, probably a sandwich pick between rounds 1-2. Although, I hope we do sign him.

 

Can you guys think of any other compensatory potential draft picks that we can get?

 

Under the new CBA, a qualifying offer has to be something like $12M, which isn't happening. Only player the Sox might get a pick for is Peavy.

Under the new CBA, a qualifying offer has to be something like $12M, which isn't happening. Only player the Sox might get a pick for is Peavy.

Hickory, are you sure about that? I know the new CBA changed the rules on draft picks from mid season trade acquisitions (like Youk), but for players like AJ, I thought it was still based on 2012 salary, which was in the $5mm range.

Edited October 4, 201213 yr by oldsox

Hickory, are you sure about that? I know the new CBA changed the rules on draft picks from mid season trade acquisitions (like Youk), but for players like AJ, I thought it was still based on 2012 salary, which was in the $5mm range.

 

No, it's based on the average salary of the top 125 players, which is something around $12M. It no longer has anything to do with the player's previous salary.

 

No, it's based on the average salary of the top 125 players, which is something around $12M. It no longer has anything to do with the player's previous salary.

Thanks for that info. However, I still think the Sox would/should offer AJ a deal at that amount -- whatever it takes to qualify. It would just have to be for one year, right? AJ would probably turn it down for a multi year deal elswhere; then we get the draft pick. I think. If AJ takes it, then we don't have to look elsewhere for another catcher. Could be worse.

Thanks for that info. However, I still think the Sox would/should offer AJ a deal at that amount -- whatever it takes to qualify. It would just have to be for one year, right? AJ would probably turn it down for a multi year deal elswhere; then we get the draft pick. I think. If AJ takes it, then we don't have to look elsewhere for another catcher. Could be worse.

 

If the Sox offered AJ 1 year/$12M he would sign the deal before the printer was finished spitting it out.

If the Sox offered AJ 1 year/$12M he would sign the deal before the printer was finished spitting it out.

 

Haha agreed.

 

I think if we let AJ go and thus go cheap at catcher, we really need to splurge on an impact bat for the 3 hole.

 

Flowers looks like he'll be pretty good behind the plate but we could be looking at another sub .300 OBP added to our already bountiful list of such felons.

I'm totally fine letting the AJ era end. I think it's time. He had a hell of a run. Blind loyalty to aging players is policy no team should have that wants to win.

 

I don't really care if Flowers isn't a finished product offensively, I want a solid defensive catcher behind the dish and that's exactly what he is. He'll hit some bombs, call a solid game, keep base runners in check and block pitches in the dirt, all while costing very little. Sign me up for that.

I get the feeling that this was it. He's on my White Sox Mt. Rushmore, so that's a bummer, but he earned himself a payday with this season's performance. With his age being what it is, I'm not sure that it would be worth that risk.

 

Don't let anyone wear #12, and hopefully, have a spot waiting for him somewhere in the organization for when he decides to hang it up, be it coaching staff or calling games.

I'm totally fine letting the AJ era end. I think it's time. He had a hell of a run. Blind loyalty to aging players is policy no team should have that wants to win.

 

I don't really care if Flowers isn't a finished product offensively, I want a solid defensive catcher behind the dish and that's exactly what he is. He'll hit some bombs, call a solid game, keep base runners in check and block pitches in the dirt, all while costing very little. Sign me up for that.

I feel much the same. I've become a huge AJ fan going so far to say that he's surpassed Louie Aparicio as my all-time favorite Sox player. Sorry Louie!

But all good things must come to an end and I feel that it might be best if AJ moves on. I would hope that when his playing days are over he'd return to the White Sox in some capacity though.

I don't think that is a fair assumption. There will be a large drop off offensively. Plus when you look at what is out there is at the positions of need (2nd and 3rd mostly), I don't see big enough improvements to merit letting AJ walk away.

3rd base is a need with the almost certain departure of Youkilis, but 2B?

 

Beckham is really good defensively, young, cheap, healthy, and will likely improve offensively in the coming years. He's shown signs of being an above-average hitter who just has to figure out how to put it together offensively for the duration of a season.

 

Not seeing 2B as a problem, unless you're referring to needing a utility bench player who can play 2B since Hudson will be gone. I'm thinking the middle infield combo of Ramirez and Beckham should be kept in place for the foreseeable future. It's not broken, so it shouldn't be fixed.

 

We need a fresh veteran starting pitcher to replace Peavy, a 4th outfielder, a backup catcher to platoon with Flowers (I'm betting that AJ won't be back and Flowers isn't good enough offensively to be an everyday catcher), and bullpen help to go with 3B.

3rd base is a need with the almost certain departure of Youkilis, but 2B?

 

Beckham is really good defensively, young, cheap, healthy, and will likely improve offensively in the coming years. He's shown signs of being an above-average hitter who just has to figure out how to put it together offensively for the duration of a season.

 

Not seeing 2B as a problem, unless you're referring to needing a utility bench player who can play 2B since Hudson will be gone. I'm thinking the middle infield combo of Ramirez and Beckham should be kept in place for the foreseeable future. It's not broken, so it shouldn't be fixed.

 

We need a fresh veteran starting pitcher to replace Peavy, a 4th outfielder, a backup catcher to platoon with Flowers (I'm betting that AJ won't be back and Flowers isn't good enough offensively to be an everyday catcher), and bullpen help to go with 3B.

 

Outside of resigning Peavy we are not signing another starting pitcher.

If somebody else is willing to give AJP 18 million for 2 years, why can't it be the Sox? The team that signs him will also be well aware of his weaknesses (arm and his slumps; he can be the king of the pop up and routine grounder). Why not offer him 16-18 mill for 2 years? I mean, AJ has a horrible arm now. Why would any team offer him 12-15 million a year?? Is that actually going to happen?

 

I'd say 18 mill for 2 years; ask him for a hometown discount of 16 mill or 17 mill for 2 years.

Edited October 4, 201213 yr by greg775

Outside of resigning Peavy we are not signing another starting pitcher.

 

 

Or Floyd (although technically that's exercising an option, not a signing).

 

But I wouldn't be so sure about keeping Gavin when they've gotten "very reasonable" production out of Quintana and Santiago on the cheap.

 

Of course, the problem is the left-handedness of that rotation...the main mitigating factor forcing Gavin back into the rotation.

 

And the fact that while they were quite fortunate with Quintana's development, it doesn't automatically mean the same thing would happen were they to stick Axelrod, Rienzo, Castro or Molina out there in the rotation as well for 2013.

 

If they let Peavy AND Floyd both go, they're definitely going to have to sign someone like a Liriano, Guthrie, Haren, etc.

Edited October 5, 201213 yr by caulfield12

If somebody else is willing to give AJP 18 million for 2 years, why can't it be the Sox? The team that signs him will also be well aware of his weaknesses (arm and his slumps; he can be the king of the pop up and routine grounder). Why not offer him 16-18 mill for 2 years? I mean, AJ has a horrible arm now. Why would any team offer him 12-15 million a year?? Is that actually going to happen?

 

I'd say 18 mill for 2 years; ask him for a hometown discount of 16 mill or 17 mill for 2 years.

 

I don't think any team is going to offer AJ 18 million for two years, but if they do, there's no way the Sox should match it. I think he'll end up re-signing for $11-14M for 2 years.

But Flowers is ready in that he can contribute in all facets passably well and then the AJ money can be spent on other things.

 

The opportunity cost of keeping AJ is the thing that happens to the other positions of need. Due to money lacking.

 

You must be thinking of plants and not the baseball player. If people get ticked at the way Gordo bats....