Notes: Konerko looks ahead

[greasywheels121]

http://whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/cws/new...s_cws&fext=.jsp

 

Notes: Konerko looks ahead

Front office does not expect bitter negotiations

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com 

 

CHICAGO -- Those White Sox fans who weren't exactly enamored with the often-acrimonious saga that became the Magglio Ordonez negotiations should not fear history repeating itself with Paul Konerko.

Konerko, 29, will earn $8.75 million in the final season of a three-year deal. The White Sox have not broached the idea of a new contract to Konerko as of yet.

 

However, both sides seem interested in extending his stay in the South Side.

 

"[Konerko's] free agency is something we will talk about," said White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn. "When the time comes, whether it's a few weeks from now or during Spring Training or during the season or the end of the season, we are confident that when we do speak with Paul, it will be handled in an equitable matter."

 

"I'm glad to be back here," Konerko added. "This is where I like to play, where I'm comfortable."

 

After stints in the Los Angeles and Cincinnati systems, Konerko quickly became a Major League stalwart upon being traded to the White Sox for outfielder Mike Cameron in 1998. He's had one sub-par season out of the six he's spent in Chicago and is coming off of a career-best effort in 2004, slugging 41 home runs and driving in 117 runs.

 

Negotiations with Konerko obviously will be influenced by the hefty free agent contracts signed by first basemen Troy Glaus with Arizona, Richie Sexson with Seattle and the deal eventually to be worked out for Carlos Delgado. But even differences in opinion of worth shouldn't escalate into serious problems, according to Hahn.

 

"I don't see it happening," Hahn said of Konerko, who is represented by Craig Landis. "I can't account for why it would be different, but our relationship with Paulie, signing him to two multi-year deals previously in his career, at no time during those negotiations did things turn into a soap opera-like atmosphere.

 

"All deals for similar situations will be brought up -- some by us, some by his agent. At the end of the day, it may come down to where Paul wants to be and the ability to field a better team around him."

 

Trade bait: Konerko was rumored as part of a trade to Los Angeles during the 2003 offseason, following the worst season of his career. During the current offseason, Konerko's name came up whenever a deal for Arizona ace Randy Johnson was discussed -- even after his monstrous 2004 performance.

 

The talk of trade, and even the possibility that it could happen, doesn't bother the veteran at this point in his career.

 

"When you are younger, you kind of worry about it and take it to heart," Konerko said. "After a while, you realize that you have no control.

 

"But I don't stress about anything in the offseason. I stress enough about things during the season. When I go home, I just say, 'Hey, I'll show up somewhere next year with a uniform.'"

 

The combination of Konerko, Ordonez, Carlos Lee, Frank Thomas and Jose Valentin has been together for the past four years. That combination has been blown apart.

 

Ordonez and Valentin left via free agency, Lee was traded and Thomas is rehabbing his surgically repaired left ankle. Konerko stands as the lone remaining staple in the White Sox lineup.

 

"Maybe I'll be gone," said Konerko with a laugh. "Maybe they are trying to tell me something.

 

"Teams will do what they have to do. We make a good living, and the compensation is they do what they want with you and we have to deal with that."

 

On second thought: The White Sox remain interested in second baseman Tadahito Iguchi, although the two sides remain significantly apart in terms of compensation.

 

Iguchi, 30, hit .330 last season with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, while hitting 24 home runs and stealing 18 bases. According to a source close to the negotiations, interest from the Yankees and Red Sox in Iguchi has cooled, and he eventually might have to take the White Sox's two-year offer, believed to be between $4 million and $5 million, if he wants to make the move to the United States.

 

Sick bay: Ken Williams missed the opening day of SoxFest with a severe case of the flu. The White Sox general manager had no specific events in which he was scheduled Friday, aside from meeting with the media, but should be available for Saturday afternoon's Town Hall meeting at the Hyatt Regency.

 

Take the fifth: Moving to the back end of the rotation doesn't seem to faze Jon Garland. The 25-year-old right-hander expects to work more than 200 innings, as he did for the first time in his career least season, and will not change his approach from a higher spot in the starting staff.

 

"You can call me what you want to call me," Garland said. "Every fifth day I want that ball to compete and win.

 

"What's it last? One time around?" remarked Garland, who doesn't exactly believe in the fifth-starter label. "When it comes to the playoffs and stuff like that, then you are looking [at a situation] where you might go to the bullpen. Otherwise, it doesn't bother me.

 

"I just want to play the game. I love playing and competing."

 

Taking the pressure off of Garland could help the young hurler excel, following his third straight season with 12 victories and an earned run average above 4.50. Having Garland in the fifth spot certainly helps the White Sox, who used eight different starters en route to a combined 5-16 record in that slot during 2004.

[AngelasDaddy0427]

I think Pauly is one of the classiest players in the game and as long as he can keep his numbers but I would love to keep him on this team. He isn't a bad defensive 1B really and I could see him maybe even pulling some DH work when Frank finally retires.

[ChWRoCk2]

I think Pauly is one of the classiest players in the game and as long as he can keep his numbers but I would love to keep him on this team. He isn't a bad defensive 1B really and I could see him maybe even pulling some DH work when Frank finally retires.

 

definitely keep him, two years ago was a fluke or something