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Paul Konerko Talks Next Contract

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 2, 2012 at 8:39am CDT

Paul Konerko said 2013 could be his final season as a player, according to Chuck Garfien of CSNChicago.com. The first baseman turns 36 next month and it's not a given that he'll continue playing after his contract expires following the 2013 campaign.

"Yeah, in all reality I would see it ending after next year or maybe another year,” Konerko said. “I mean, at some point you got to go home and be around your kids and have other things to do."

Konerko expects to consider playing opportunities after the 2013 season, but he doesn’t intend to “hang on for another year and kind of go through the motions.” The White Sox briefly considered making Konerko a player-manager this offseason, and though he doesn’t expect to manage any time soon, it could happen at some point. He posted a .300/.388/.517 line with 31 homers in 2011, when he was named to the American League All-Star team for the fifth time in his career.

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Chicago White Sox Paul Konerko

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44 Comments

  1. staxxington

    13 years ago

    how can you blame someone for being loyal to a team? he got his ring in 05 and obviously likes being a part of the white sox organization or he wouldnt have signed 2 extensions.

    Reply
  2. cards2WS

    13 years ago

    Konerko is a consistently underrated player. The guy can mash, but he’s routinely over looked.

    Reply
  3. Dock_Elvis

    13 years ago

    Major League Baseball could certainly use more players with Paul Konerko’s ethics.  Fans tend to clamor for the players who give the greatest sound bites…only to turn on them when their production fades and off the field issues are not as easily overlooked. 

    If anything, Konerko is building quite a legacy with the White Sox.  It might be a stretch to predict another World Series Championship while he is still in uniform, but he proves what a player can mean to a team and to a fan base regardless of won loss record.  That there IS something more important to the game than the constant barrage in the media of player contracts and the battle for championships. 

    I’m hoping Paul Konerko hangs around Chicago for many years after his retirement. He’s a link to history.

    Reply
  4. Dock_Elvis

    13 years ago

    Major League Baseball could certainly use more players with Paul Konerko’s ethics.  Fans tend to clamor for the players who give the greatest sound bites…only to turn on them when their production fades and off the field issues are not as easily overlooked. 

    If anything, Konerko is building quite a legacy with the White Sox.  It might be a stretch to predict another World Series Championship while he is still in uniform, but he proves what a player can mean to a team and to a fan base regardless of won loss record.  That there IS something more important to the game than the constant barrage in the media of player contracts and the battle for championships. 

    I’m hoping Paul Konerko hangs around Chicago for many years after his retirement. He’s a link to history.

    Reply
  5. Adam Sager

    13 years ago

    Will go down as the 2nd best power hitter in team history.  Great teammate and great person.  I have been so happy watching him for the past 10+ years.  Would hate to see him leave as Buehrle did, but wouldn’t be mad.  But if you ask White Sox beat writers they will tell you, he has no problem retiring with just the one ring and he is not worried about stats AT ALL.

    Reply
    • Dock_Elvis

      13 years ago

      Konerko is the only player that stops my 8 year old cold…so he can watch him bat.  It’s important to the Sox and to the game to have players like that.

      Reply
      • tapehead4

        13 years ago

        8 year old cold? Jesus, have you tried Sudafed?

        Reply
        • Dock_Elvis

          13 years ago

          That’s funny.  Yeah….the typed word doesn’t always translate so well.  I respect Konerko…but I’m still on the fence whether he has the cure for the common cold.

          Reply
        • foxtown

          13 years ago

          His name isn’t Jesus.  I think it’s Cory.

          Reply
          • tapehead4

            13 years ago

            coryjesuswilson

            Reply
          • tapehead4

            13 years ago

            coryjesuswilson

            Reply
        • foxtown

          13 years ago

          His name isn’t Jesus.  I think it’s Cory.

          Reply
      • tapehead4

        13 years ago

        8 year old cold? Jesus, have you tried Sudafed?

        Reply
  6. Adam Sager

    13 years ago

    I am sure Jerry has the same deal in place for Konerko and even Buehrle that he does with Jim Thome.  A handshake deal that he has a place in this orginization after they retire.

    Reply
  7. Adam Sager

    13 years ago

    I am sure Jerry has the same deal in place for Konerko and even Buehrle that he does with Jim Thome.  A handshake deal that he has a place in this orginization after they retire.

    Reply
  8. Russell Stephens

    13 years ago

    why would he manage if he wants to be home with his family?

    Reply
  9. Cachhubguy

    13 years ago

    Love Konerko but he isn’t a good fielder. He has no range. Looked at Bill James fielding bible and he lists the top 17. No Konerko. Him and Dunn are listed as the least best over the last 3 three years for “runs saved”. Great hitter, great guy, great teammate but not a good fielder.

    Reply
    • lolpods

      13 years ago

      he may not have range, but he makes every play. and he’s great at the throw to 2nd to start double plays.

      Reply
  10. Ruppie Ray

    13 years ago

    He’s not likely going anywhere. He had his big chance after 2005 to go to the Angels, and he took a home town discount.  He’s now a Chicago fixture, poignant handing the last ball from the 2005 World Series to Jerry Reinsdorf as a keepsake. Could conceivably see Kenny/Jerry trading him to a contender for one final pursuit of glory, the way the team traded Thome to a playoff bound team.   Some others noted this, but reiterating, he’s always been a decent fielder, handles chances cleanly and is league average with range.  Not top five, but definitely not a liability.  He is slow, especially due to a gimpy left leg, but he’s not a bad baserunner. If anything, he’s too conservative on the bases. Overall, one of the best deals the franchise made, getting him from the Reds for Mike Cameron and will go down in Franchise history as one of the team favorites, alongside Buerhle and the Big Hurt. 

    Reply
    • Dock_Elvis

      13 years ago

      I tend to believe that Konerko has deeper roots in the organiztion than Thome had.  Both quality guys for sure.

      Reply
  11. vtadave

    13 years ago

    Paul,

    There will always be a place for you in my organization. Your past abilities, grittiness, and most importantly, your age are all positives in my book.

    Sincerely,

    B. Sabean

    Reply
  12. bvw87

    13 years ago

    Always got to wonder about whether he’ll be able to go through with it once “a year or two” becomes “now.” That said, Konerko is a class act, it will be sad to see him go.

    Reply
  13. bvw87

    13 years ago

    Always got to wonder about whether he’ll be able to go through with it once “a year or two” becomes “now.” That said, Konerko is a class act, it will be sad to see him go.

    Reply
  14. Fishing Bill

    13 years ago

     “I mean, at some point you got to go home and be around your kids and have other things to do.”

    What a nerd… the guy’s 35, not 45. At this rate he’ll be fishing outside an old folks home by 50.

    Reply
    • whitesoxfan424

      13 years ago

      And? He’ll be *a millionaire* fishing outside an old folks home by 50.

      That sounds great with me.  

      Reply
    • whitesoxfan424

      13 years ago

      And? He’ll be *a millionaire* fishing outside an old folks home by 50.

      That sounds great with me.  

      Reply
  15. Fishing Bill

    13 years ago

     “I mean, at some point you got to go home and be around your kids and have other things to do.”

    What a nerd… the guy’s 35, not 45. At this rate he’ll be fishing outside an old folks home by 50.

    Reply
  16. windycitywarrior

    13 years ago

    Paulie is the best Sox hitter since Big Hurt. Plain and simple. He is a very competent fielder at first. I watch about 60 percent of the games they show on tv. I have two eyes and I dont need Bill James to explain to me what Im looking at. He is not flashy and doesnt tend to jump and get the ones over his head like other 1Bs do. But he doesnt let himself get beat either. As for on the basepaths he is nothing to write home about for sure. No speed. Its hard to judge how good a baserunner is when they have negative quickness. But with all that said Paul Konerko is probably the most underrated slugger in the MLB.

    Reply
  17. jay-2

    13 years ago

    He puts up #’s nearly on par with other first basemen in the league and gets on base a TON, but doesn’t get any publicity. Oh well, he’s a class act and I’m glad he wants to stay with my Sox.

    Reply
  18. Joey Doughnuts

    13 years ago

    About his fielding, let’s put it this way……

    No one ever watches him and says “Wow, he is a great fielder”, and no one ever says “Wow, he is really bad out there”. Paulie has no range and average athletic ability, but he has a great glove and great judgement on picking balls out on low throws. He is not a liability by any means, but he is also not going to make very many plays that aren’t routine.

    As far as baserunning, he is only bad at it because of his “speed” or lackthereof. He doesn’t mess up on the bases or run in to outs, he is just slow as hell.

    Reply

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