Long-time White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko went to high school in Scottsdale and still makes his offseason home in the area, and if the Diamondbacks have their way he'll be playing there year-round as well. ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine reports Konerko will be an offseason priority for the D-Backs once the free agency period opens in another week or so.
Arizona received good but not great production out of Adam LaRoche in 2010 (.261/.320/.468 with 25 homers), and this report seems to indicate that they will buy out his $7.5MM mutual option for $1.5MM rather than pick it up. Konerko had a monster season, hitting .312/.393/.584 with 39 home runs in 631 plate appearances. New GM Kevin Towers expressed an interest in cutting down on his team's strikeouts, something Konerko would certainly help with; he struck out 62 fewer times than LaRoche in 16 more plate appearances.
The 34-year-old Konerko told reporters back in September that he could retire if he's unhappy with the way his offseason shakes out, but I'm sure playing close to home will be an interesting option. Konerko has also said that contract length isn't much of a priority because he isn't sure how much longer he wants to play. He just wrapped up five-year deal that paid him $12MM annually.
To bad he’ll be re-signing with the South Side.
Not a foregone conclusion, you know how many times he hinted on leaving?
Buehrle was really the one that hinted he may leave
PK ever hinted at leaving…he has stated from the start he will do his job and look at all the offers and take the one that makes sense…my guess the sox give him what ever he wants
Got proof of that?
I’ll step in and answer that.
“No, not a shred.”
Hows about JR, said he’s not letting Konerko leave?
It has been rumored he would really like to play closer to family all season. If the DBacks make a reasonable offer, wouldn’t be surprised to see him move on.
I acaully would really like the redsox to go after him and move youk to third. But ya I think that he’d be a great fit in Arizona. He probably won’t replicate his 2010 number(although with the thin air in ARI who knows?) but he’d still be a great addition. The question is would he be willing to play for a team that probably won’t be competing next year?
I have a feeling that they’ll go hard after Adrian Gonzalez, and move Youkilis to third
San Diego may be tempted to wait until July, and they wouldn’t get much less for him, but they’d be hard pressed to move him if they’re in a pennant race. It will take a big haul. If that deal doesn’t go down, maybe they bring Beltre back.
I don’t know I’m not sure Adrian is worth it at this point. I mean it would take at LEAST Kelly, Ellsbury, Lowrie, and Reddick. And I don’t even that would be enough. Then when you figure in the 20mill a year its going to take to extend him, I’m not sure it’s worth it. Look at it like this if Kelly becomes a number 2 in a fewyears, reddick becomes a solid outfielder, and lowrie continues his success, then they would be worth more to the redsox the adrain would. Thats not even taking into account ellsbury. I’m just not sure theo would pull the trigger.
I dont think Reddick can develop to a good OF. Maybe they will want Bucholz or Bard
For that record im not sold on him either at all. But I was just pointing out how it would be very easy for the red sox to trade more then they would get back when you factor in the money needed to retain him.
Just if the Braves could get him… But we got Freeman so that would be useless or put Freeman back in AAA where he’d have another monster year
Is Freeman athletic enough to play LF? If so, the Braves could sign PK to play 1B and be the right-handed power bat they’ve been needing so badly.
This guy has got to re-sign with the White Sox and finish his career there.
the first thing the sox will do is see if there is a trade for a firstbasemen ie prince or andrian…..if that does not work they will go very very hard after konerko with pena or dunn as a back up, and dyan vicedio as a back up of a back up………..But as for zona i dont get it dont they have brandon allen in the mix?
Allen has been playing alot of OF, and looks pretty good out there.
This post sounds like only White Sox, Red Sox are interested in these players. You know what its no guarantee. AD is 29 yrs. old PF is 27 yrs. old coming off a down year. So buy low. I hope Boston get AD for Kelly, Ellsbury, Lowrie, Reddick, Bucholz or Bard
combonation plus 20mil to sign. Dunn could do this 3 yrs 35mil.
Please do it Kevin Towers, me being a die hard D-Backs fan, I would be so excited to see them sign Konerko even if it’s only for a couple years. He would flourish in Chase Field. (very hitter friendly) And it would allow them to deal Mark Reynolds much easier. I would love Towers if he could somehow pull this off. Go Dbacks!
People keep getting the RedSox’ name involved anytime a premium 1B is mentioned. But when it comes to the infield and DH, don’t a lot of the RedSox moves have to do with whether or not they think they can come to terms with Beltre?
If Beltre is on third, Youkilis is the first baseman, and all that’s left is DH and catcher for V-Mart, Papi, and whomever else they want in the mix.
I think the BoSox have a lot of infield options and their only issues are who is in the outfield and who is in the pen.
Well obviously my personal prefrence would be to have beltre at third and youk at first. The best all around team by far avalible. But if theo decides to sign say crawford and then signs vmart….. well then beltre will be to much….. its all just speculative…. Beltre is the real prize.
As a die hard White Sox fan I would love Paulie to be back with the White Sox. This is turrbile news for any White Sox fan. I just remember from his interviews about making the allstar team he definitely would have preferred to be in Arizona with his family. I could imagine if the DBacks offer give him the right offer he will be in Arizona next year giving all the national league pitchers a lot of trouble
One of these two men will be playing 1B for the Chicago White Sox in 2011:1. Paul Konerko2. Prince Fielderend.