KW optimistic about Konerko

[aboz56]

If he is going to test free agency, why would we offer him a huge deal right now and drive the price up even more. In negotiations you never throw your best offer out there, you throw out an offer and see what they come back with.

 

I suppose someone else is going to offer a better deal, but its good the Sox didn't throw 60 million out there right away and chance some team throwing out upwards of 65-70 million. At that point we'd be screwed.

 

Smart move by KW if you ask me.

[TLAK]

All teams fear the speed of Konerko!!!

 

Seriously though, he's not one-tool.  He is a strong defender at 1B.  This is something people seem to overlook.  And he has had some .300 (or close) seasons in addition to his power numbers.

The Rally Crede can out run Konerko, and it doesn't even really exist.

 

But speed is not paramount with a 4 hitter. Paulie did have a strong year with the glove, good enough to play for any team in either league in the majors. I don't mean he's better than D. Lee or Pujols but nobody with a opening at 1B need shy away from him. He also showed great durability and played hard every game of the season without wearing down, I can't think of anything about his play that would scare people away. His hitting certainly justifies the rumored salary numbers compared to other players.

 

The risk with him is how good will he be in the later years of the contract. I think if the Sox lose him, it will be because somebody else offers a lot of years.

[Whitewashed in '05]

Konerko is a solid defender, he's as good as anybody picking it. (Damn I think I sound like Hawk now.) For some reason I think Konerko will hit .300 next season who ever he plays for.

[AddisonStSox]

This is just smart negotiation by Kenny Williams.

 

You CAN'T come out of the gate with a $60M offer on the table. No frickin' way.

 

If Kenny can reel him in for 5Y/60M, I'm doing jumpingjacks.

 

Sox possible top offer: 5Y/65M

[kevin57]

[i think if the Sox lose him, it will be because somebody else offers a lot of years.

 

I agree that "years" could possibly be the biggest challenges to a Sox offer. I also think that rationally most teams would be hesitant to offer a guy of Konerko's age such an extended contract, but contracts are not about reason. They quickly become bidding wars.

 

Of PK's possible suitors, who would be most likely to give, let's say, a 6 or even 7 year deal?

[AddisonStSox]

I agree that "years" could possibly be the biggest challenges to a Sox offer.  I also think that rationally most teams would be hesitant to offer a guy of Konerko's age such an extended contract, but contracts are not about reason.  They quickly become bidding wars.

 

Of PK's possible suitors, who would be most likely to give, let's say, a 6 or even 7 year deal?

 

I just want to throw out there, Paulie is 29 years of age.

 

/that is all

[ZoomSlowik]

I agree that "years" could possibly be the biggest challenges to a Sox offer.  I also think that rationally most teams would be hesitant to offer a guy of Konerko's age such an extended contract, but contracts are not about reason.  They quickly become bidding wars.

 

Of PK's possible suitors, who would be most likely to give, let's say, a 6 or even 7 year deal?

 

I got a feeling you're not going to see anyone give him more than 5 years. Too many of these long term deals turn out poorly. However, if someone is that stupid, it will almost certainly be a fringe contender that is trying to give its fan base some hope, ie the Orioles, Blue Jays, or Dodgers. The Mets would also be a possibility because they seem to like giving people long, bloated contracts. If any of these teams are that stupid though, they'll probably regret it.

Edited November 10, 2005 by ZoomSlowik

[TLAK]

I got a feeling you're not going to see anyone give him more than 5 years. Too many of these long term deals turn out poorly. However, if someone is that stupid, it will almost certainly be a fringe contender that is trying to give its fan base some hope, ie the Orioles, Blue Jays, or Dodgers. The Mets would also be a possibility because they seem to like giving people long, bloated contracts. If any of these teams are that stupid though, they'll probably regret it.

I think you are right, but I doubt the White Sox will go more than 4. If, say the Dodgers, offer 5 guarenteed then Paul would be an idiot to turn it down. You're talking like 13 million dollars in his pocket.

[CWSGuy406]

I just want to throw out there, Paulie is 29 years of age.

 

/that is all

 

30 before the start of Opening Day '06.

[witesoxfan]

A little off-topic...

 

Anyone think people overguess Paulie's age because he came up as a 21 year old with Cincinatti, and he was starting and putting up good numbers with the White Sox at 23?

 

It feels like the guy has been here forever - 7 years is a long time in the baseball sense - and so I think people figure he's like 32 or so just because of that.

 

The only thing I ever worry about regarding Paulie is his hip condition, and how serious it is. I'm not a huge fan of a 5 year, $65 mill deal - hell, I'm not a huge fan of a 4 years, $48 mill deal - but that doesn't change the fact that the best replacements you are going to find are not only going to cost money due to their contracts, but are also going to cost the teams in terms of players.

 

When considering that, 5 years, $65 million sounds a hell of a lot better than, say, Gio and Anderson for Delgado, or something along those lines plus 4 years and god knows how much more money on an incoming contract.

[Chisoxfn]

Konerko is 29 years old and I've never once seen anything about his hip anywhere but on message boards. So until I see someone write about it or Konerko himself tell me, I tend to think its an issue that was overly blown out of proportion. Just my 2 cents.

 

He's also done nothing but play the past few seasons. Basically the only time I ever remember him missing games is for the ocassional off-day and his awful 2003 season. Aside from that he's been pretty much steady Paulie ever since joining the South Side (oh and there was the time back in 2000 when the Sox traded for Baines who was going to replace him, lol).

[Steff]

Konerko is 29 years old and I've never once seen anything about his hip anywhere but on message boards.  So until I see someone write about it or Konerko himself tell me, I tend to think its an issue that was overly blown out of proportion.  Just my 2 cents. 

 

He's also done nothing but play the past few seasons.  Basically the only time I ever remember him missing games is for the ocassional off-day and his awful 2003 season.  Aside from that he's been pretty much steady Paulie ever since joining the South Side (oh and there was the time back in 2000 when the Sox traded for Baines who was going to replace him, lol).

 

From Paul's mouth...

 

http://reds.enquirer.com/1998/11/4071.html

 

Monday, November 16, 1998

BY The Cincinnati Enquirer

 

CHICAGO - Paul Konerko was blessed with the quick wrists and powerful forearms that are key ingredients for a big-league hitter.

 

Konerko did not come to the world, though, with ideal hips. But the 22-year-old first baseman, traded by the Reds to the Chicago White Sox last week, disputed reports in the Boston Globe that he has a hip condition that could threaten his career.

 

"My hips don't hurt at all. It's just the way the bones are structured," Konerko said Sunday. "They're no better or worse than they were four years ago. And they won't be better or worse four years from now.

 

"Look, if I had perfect hips, I still wouldn't be stealing 20 or 30 bases (a year). The hips are the least of my problems."

 

"I don't have any concerns," said Sox General Manager Ron Schueler. "If it was legit, how could he be working out four days a week with a personal trainer?"

 

If there was an injury, Schueler could seek to nullify the trade that sent Mike Cameron to Cincinnati for Konerko.

 

 

 

It's called degenerative... the same thing Belle has. One day Belle was belting out homers, then next he could barely walk. It's something he has no control over, and cause for concern, IMO, when paying out millions of $$'s.

[YASNY]

Reading the words from Paul's mouth, it doesn't sound degenerative to me.

[Steff]

Reading the words from Paul's mouth, it doesn't sound degenerative to me.

 

 

Because, of course, you fully expect him to advise on how bad his condition might be.

[YASNY]

Because, of course, you fully expect him to advise on how bad his condition might be.

 

All that I've said, and right along with Jason on this one, is that Soxtalk is the ONLY place I've ever seen anything referring to Konerko having a degenerative hip condition. You put that quote out by Pauli, and as I'm reading it I'm thinking, ok so it's not degenerative then. Then I see your comment on the bottom of the post. Now, I'm thinking "Where did she get that it's degenerative?"

 

Hell, he MAY have a degenerative hip condition. But I've seen nothing outside of Soxtalk that would lead me to believe so.

[Steff]

All that I've said, and right along with Jason on this one, is that Soxtalk is the ONLY place I've ever seen anything referring to Konerko having a degenerative hip condition.  You put that quote out by Pauli, and as I'm reading it I'm thinking, ok so it's not degenerative then.   Then I see your comment on the bottom of the post.  Now, I'm thinking "Where did she get that it's degenerative?"

 

Hell, he MAY have a degenerative hip condition.  But I've seen nothing outside of Soxtalk that would lead me to believe so.

 

 

 

Apparently you've not been watching him run the past several years..

 

He MAY have a condition.. yea.. this Cincy reporter just pulled it out of his ass and Paul said.. 'yea.. my hips aren't perfect..."

 

EVERY YEAR he gets slower on the bases... but naaa.. there's nothing wrong with those hips.

 

And if you do some research, it's been mentioned plenty outside of here. Starting with since 1998 - from Paul's mouth.

[YASNY]

Apparently you've not been watching him run the past several years..

 

He MAY have a condition.. yea.. this Cincy reporter just pulled it out of his ass and Paul said.. 'yea.. my hips aren't perfect..."

 

EVERY YEAR he gets slower on the bases... but naaa.. there's nothing wrong with those hips.

 

His hips aren't perfect. Given.

 

Degenerative? Like Belle's?

[Steff]

His hips aren't perfect.  Given.

 

Degenerative?  Like Belle's?

 

 

 

They both have the same ball and socket issue. Belle was 32 when his became unbearable. Who do you think is giving him advise on what kind of contract to go after... his trusty neighbor down in Scottsdale.

[YASNY]

I don't know Steff. I'm not trying to argue with you, that's for sure. You may be 100% correct on this. I just don't know. However, nothing you have said changes the point of view I came in with. Which was, I haven't seen anything outside of Soxtalk that points to it.

 

I'm not being stubborn here, either. If you said, "Paul told me himself it's degenerative." I'd believe you. But Paul's quote doesn't lead me to the same conclusion it's leading you. Now you are asking me to take a leap of faith that he, in fact, does have a degenerative hip based on the fact that he has a neighbor in AZ who may or may not be Albert Belle, and who may or may not be advising him on his contract and that his hip may or may not be the reason he's doing so.

[Steff]

I don't know Steff.  I'm not trying to argue with you, that's for sure.  You may be 100% correct on this.  I just don't know.  However, nothing you have said changes the point of view I came in with.  Which was, I haven't seen anything outside of Soxtalk that points to it. 

 

I'm not being stubborn here, either.  If you said, "Paul told me himself it's degenerative." I'd believe you.  But Paul's quote doesn't lead me to the same conclusion it's leading you.  Now you are asking me to take a leap of faith that he, in fact, does have a degenerative hip based on the fact that he has a neighbor in AZ who may or may not be Albert Belle, and who may or may not be advising him on his contract and that his hip may or may not be the reason he's doing so.

 

 

Yas.. you know me well enough to know what I would and wouldn't say, and who that neighbor might be... which relative to this thread, and your claim that you've not heard about an issue anywhere but here, is moot.

 

Bottom line, it doesn't matter. Take out degenerative and you and Jason have both been provided a source, Paul himself, that he has a hip issue. Whether it's degenerative or not will come out in the wash.

[greg775]

does anyone else feel that 4/52 is shockingly (almost insultingly) low in terms of years/total money

 

 

It's a great offer. i have a gut feeling the sox won't go over four years and they probably shouldn't.

[JDsDirtySox]

I think the Sox will go higher than the 4/52 offer that is out there, but I am hearing they may not have to. I have been told that the Los Angeles Dodgers, not the Angels could be the biggest competitor for Paulie, but that all depends on if they decide to trade Jeff Kent.

[ptatc]

I don't know Steff.  I'm not trying to argue with you, that's for sure.  You may be 100% correct on this.  I just don't know.  However, nothing you have said changes the point of view I came in with.  Which was, I haven't seen anything outside of Soxtalk that points to it. 

 

I'm not being stubborn here, either.  If you said, "Paul told me himself it's degenerative." I'd believe you.  But Paul's quote doesn't lead me to the same conclusion it's leading you.  Now you are asking me to take a leap of faith that he, in fact, does have a degenerative hip based on the fact that he has a neighbor in AZ who may or may not be Albert Belle, and who may or may not be advising him on his contract and that his hip may or may not be the reason he's doing so.

 

He does have a degenerative hip problem. At his current age the degeneration is not rapid. There is no guarantee that it will become bad enough to effect his playing career. However, there is no guarantee that it won't. It is similar to what Belle had but not as advanced at similar ages. I have not seen the medical reports recently but know people who have. I do not think the problem will effect this contract but you never know.

[Chisoxfn]

From Paul's mouth...

 

http://reds.enquirer.com/1998/11/4071.html

 

Monday, November 16, 1998

BY The Cincinnati Enquirer

 

CHICAGO - Paul Konerko was blessed with the quick wrists and powerful forearms that are key ingredients for a big-league hitter.

 

Konerko did not come to the world, though, with ideal hips. But the 22-year-old first baseman, traded by the Reds to the Chicago White Sox last week, disputed reports in the Boston Globe that he has a hip condition that could threaten his career.

 

"My hips don't hurt at all. It's just the way the bones are structured," Konerko said Sunday. "They're no better or worse than they were four years ago. And they won't be better or worse four years from now.

 

"Look, if I had perfect hips, I still wouldn't be stealing 20 or 30 bases (a year). The hips are the least of my problems."

 

"I don't have any concerns," said Sox General Manager Ron Schueler. "If it was legit, how could he be working out four days a week with a personal trainer?"

 

If there was an injury, Schueler could seek to nullify the trade that sent Mike Cameron to Cincinnati for Konerko.

It's called degenerative... the same thing Belle has. One day Belle was belting out homers, then next he could barely walk. It's something he has no control over, and cause for concern, IMO, when paying out millions of $$'s.

Thanks Steff

 

I was going to ask, I'm assuming the Sox could get this insured?

[SSH2005]

If Konerko does have a degenerative hip problem, does anyone think he would ever admit that? Of course he wouldn't.