P. Konerko

[Jordan4life_2007]

I spend so much time stroking other teams' stars, I unintentionally take the ones on my team for granted. But PK? Do people realize this dude has been every bit as good, if not better, than some Albert Pujols guy? He's having arguably his best season at the ripe old age of 34. Tied for 5th in baseball in HRs, 11th in RBIs, 6th in SLG%, 10th in OPS. And for the saber crowd, he's only 5th in ISO power and 8th in wOBA. Don't even have to get into how many errors he saves our infielders. He's been nothing short of amazing and is a legitimate MVP candidate. Take a bow, Paul. You deserve it.

[shago]

I spend so much time stroking other teams' stars, I unintentionally take the ones on my team for granted. But PK? Do people realize this dude has been every bit as good, if not better, than some Albert Pujols guy? He's having arguably his best season at the ripe old age of 34. Tied for 5th in baseball in HRs, 11th in RBIs, 6th in SLG%, 10th in OPS. And for the saber crowd, he's only 5th in ISO power and 8th in wOBA. Don't even have to get into how many errors he saves our infielders. He's been nothing short of amazing and is a legitimate MVP candidate. Take a bow, Paul. You deserve it.

Excellent post, completely agree ... Craig Landis is certainly thanking him

[Quin]

A bow? To shoot Mark Kotsay with?

 

But kidding aside, Paulie has been amazing and its great to watch. I hope he comes back next year, as even with Buehrle and Gordon around, Paulie is still my favorite player.

[witesoxfan]

It's impossible to know how Konerko will do the rest of the year simply because there's no real pattern to his struggles and successes throughout the past 5 years. Worth noting is that Konerko has been a bright spot when the team has either made it to the postseason, or were in contention late in the year, outside of last year when he was rather ordinary in August and September(.815 OPS in August, .859 OPS in September).

 

05 August - .300/.369/.600/.969 (9 HR)

05 September - .336/.425/.617/1.042 (8 HR)

05 October - .265/.321/.612/.933 (5 HR)

 

06 August - .336/.383/.500/.883 (3 HR)

06 September - .344/.402/.600/1.002 (6 HR)

 

08 August - .333 /.483/.591/1.074 (4 HR)

08 September - .260/.321/.649/.971 (9 HR)

08 October - .313/.353/.688/1.040 (2 HR)

 

It's entirely possible that he keeps this up. Replicating '05 would be just fine by me, because 42 homers would more garner MVP votes.

[Balta1701]

It's impossible to know how Konerko will do the rest of the year simply because there's no real pattern to his struggles and successes throughout the past 5 years.

Really, yeah there has been...if he's been close to 100%, he's produced. In 2003, he stank most of the year and he was coming off of a broken foot. In 2008 he stank for a part of the year and he was dealing with, what was it, that thumb injury?

[chw42]

Color me selfish or whatever, but I almost don't want to see Paulie get too many MVP votes. That could mean more money next year to bring him back.

[Jordan4life_2007]

Color me selfish or whatever, but I almost don't want to see Paulie get too many MVP votes. That could mean more money next year to bring him back.

 

I said a couple months ago that I wanted PK back but not if he wants to get paid like it's 2006. 'Problem' is he's having a better year than he did in 2006. So I'm torn.

Edited August 4, 2010 by Jordan4life

[justBLAZE]

Color me selfish or whatever, but I almost don't want to see Paulie get too many MVP votes. That could mean more money next year to bring him back.

 

General thought around here is that Paulie is leaving and Dayan is your new 1B.

[chw42]

General thought around here is that Paulie is leaving and Dayan is your new 1B.

 

I think this organization would love to play Dayan at 3B. Much more valuable.

[Balta1701]

General thought around here is that Paulie is leaving and Dayan is your new 1B.

Really, I want PK14 to be offered something like 3/$21-$24-ish to stay on and at least add another warm body to the 1b/DH spot next year.

[Balta1701]

I think this organization would love to play Dayan at 3B. Much more valuable.

I don't think they would have moved him from 3b to 1b if they thought his defense would develop adequately there.

[witesoxfan]

Really, yeah there has been...if he's been close to 100%, he's produced. In 2003, he stank most of the year and he was coming off of a broken foot. In 2008 he stank for a part of the year and he was dealing with, what was it, that thumb injury?

 

I was referencing late in the year. His other struggles have made sense. He was healthy all of 2007, unless he was hiding his injury, and he put up a .242/.330/.449/.779 in August and September, and he was perfectly healthy (other than a contusion on his shoulder from a HBP in late August) last year and his .257/.370/.469/.839 was rather pedestrian, even though it matched up just fine with his season totals.

 

I do worry about some sort of breakdown, similar to Dye.

[chetkincaid]

The guy needs to retire a Chicago White Sox. He shouldn't go anywhere. This is why I wasn't all that upset that Adam Dunn didn't come here. I mean, I was stoked with the thought of Dunn coming here and being extended for the next few years, but not at the expense of Konerko. That is why I hated it when people would say that if Dunn is brought on and extended, then Paulie would be out the door next year.

[justBLAZE]

Really, I want PK14 to be offered something like 3/$21-$24-ish to stay on and at least add another warm body to the 1b/DH spot next year.

 

Is it a reasonable offer for someone having a career year and with the current economic situation?

 

 

[Balta1701]

Is it a reasonable offer for someone having a career year and with the current economic situation?

I think someone might offer him like $8-$9 million for a season...but no one's offering him a couple years.

[greg775]

I think someone might offer him like $8-$9 million for a season...but no one's offering him a couple years.

 

Love this thread. I've love watching him hit and dig throws at first for a long time.

 

You really think he can't get a three year deal at that kind of money per season? Just one year? I don't see why he wouldn't be able to land a multi-year deal. I have no reason to doubt you, I just think teams always find money for guys who produce. He won't be THAT old, either. Do guys his age still get multi-year deals from teams with cash?

[Balta1701]

You really think he can't get a three year deal at that kind of money per season? Just one year? I don't see why he wouldn't be able to land a multi-year deal. I have no reason to doubt you, I just think teams always find money for guys who produce. He won't be THAT old, either. Do guys his age still get multi-year deals from teams with cash?

Adrian Beltre turned 31 this year and he only got 2 years from Boston. Looking through the list from last year, I can hardly think of any guys over 32 who got multi-year deals.

[greg775]

Adrian Beltre turned 31 this year and he only got 2 years from Boston. Looking through the list from last year, I can hardly think of any guys over 32 who got multi-year deals.

 

So if nobody that age is getting a multi year deal, the key for a player is, at 29, to sign a huge, six-year deal like they do in the NBA.

[hogan873]

So if nobody that age is getting a multi year deal, the key for a player is, at 29, to sign a huge, six-year deal like they do in the NBA.

Right, but they'd have to hold a one hour special on ESPN announcing that they just signed a huge multi-year deal with a team.

[Balta1701]

So if nobody that age is getting a multi year deal, the key for a player is, at 29, to sign a huge, six-year deal like they do in the NBA.

Like the 5/$60 deal Konerko signed as a 29 year old?

[witesoxfan]

Adrian Beltre turned 31 this year and he only got 2 years from Boston. Looking through the list from last year, I can hardly think of any guys over 32 who got multi-year deals.

 

Quite a few did actually, though Beltre may have been the best of the 31 or over bunch. He didn't get it because his agent is Scott Boras, and Boras looks to capitalize on the long-term investment while accepting a shorter but still expensive 1-2 year deal.

 

From Soxtalk itself, Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Kendall, Brian Schneider, Placido Polanco, Jamey Carroll, Marco Scutaro, Chone Figgins, Mark DeRosa, Marlon Byrd, Mike Cameron, John Lackey, Randy Wolf, Joel Pineiro, Jason Marquis, LaTroy Hawkins, Danys Baez, Mike Gonzalez, and Fernando Rodney were all 31 or older and signed multi year deals, though none of those were longer than 3 years (except for Figgins and Lackey), which is about what you'd offer Konerko. On top of that, there were two players - Matt Holliday and Brandon Lyon - who were 30 and were given multi-year deals, and Holliday's is 7 years.

 

The counter argument to this is that no 1B or DHs signed for multi year deals, but quite frankly, that market was full of either mediocre or older players. The two most comparable players to Konerko were Adam LaRoche and Aubrey Huff, but frankly, I would say that Konerko has proven that he is superior to both of those two.

 

It will definitely be interesting to see the type of deal that Konerko gets. There have been times in the past where I have thought his name was bigger than his production, but it's the opposite this year and I'm not sure many people realize how good of a year he has had thus far. Barring a drastic fall off in the next two months, he has set himself up for very nicely for another payday.

 

If I had to guess, I would say his agent will ask for a 4 year deal, and teams will offer 1-2 year deals for him. In the end, I think he'll sign a 2 year deal with an option for a 3rd, unless he is willing to sign for, say, $6-$7.5 mill per year over 3 years.

Edited August 4, 2010 by witesoxfan

[SouthsideDon48]

I spend so much time stroking other teams' stars, I unintentionally take the ones on my team for granted. But PK? Do people realize this dude has been every bit as good, if not better, than some Albert Pujols guy? He's having arguably his best season at the ripe old age of 34. Tied for 5th in baseball in HRs, 11th in RBIs, 6th in SLG%, 10th in OPS. And for the saber crowd, he's only 5th in ISO power and 8th in wOBA. Don't even have to get into how many errors he saves our infielders. He's been nothing short of amazing and is a legitimate MVP candidate. Take a bow, Paul. You deserve it.

Amen!

 

I'll be honest, man. I hope the Sox bring Konerko back, hopefully Konerko will agree to a cheap contract again. I'd honestly like to see Konerko retire as a White Sox and I don't think the Sox has anyone else in the minors to play 1st base.

 

Plus, retaining Konerko will be cheaper than going after someone like Fielder or Dunn, and that would allow the Sox to use their money for players at other positions.

[Logan]

Right, but they'd have to hold a one hour special on ESPN announcing that they just signed a huge multi-year deal with a team.

 

Paul Konerko 2011, The Geriatrician: "I'm taking my talents to North Ave. Beach."

[BigSqwert]

Welcome aboard Logan!

[Balta1701]

If I had to guess, I would say his agent will ask for a 4 year deal, and teams will offer 1-2 year deals for him. In the end, I think he'll sign a 2 year deal with an option for a 3rd, unless he is willing to sign for, say, $6-$7.5 mill per year over 3 years.

One thing worth noting is that there are several options on the market this offseason for a team looking to bring in a 1b/DH. Dunn obviously at the top of the list, but beyond that you've got Konerko, Derek Lee, Berkman, probably Manram in some fashion if he doesn't retire, possibly Ortiz depending on whether the Red Sox pick up his option, Carlos Pena, LaRoche again, Cantu, and a few guys like Huff, Glaus, etc., who have had good years, along with guys like Matsui and Thome at the elder side.

 

There's a lot of 1b types on the market this year.