The White Sox will soon promote their top two baseball executives, Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com confirmed today. Williams will become the team’s president and Hahn will be the general manager and the team’s primary baseball decision maker, as expected. Here’s the latest on three of the organization’s free agents…
- Catcher A.J. Pierzynski loves playing for the White Sox and is close with owner Jerry Reinsdorf. A two-year, $16MM contract could work for both sides, Heyman suggests.
- The White Sox will decline Jake Peavy’s $22MM option, but they hope to agree to terms on a new deal to keep the right-hander in Chicago, Heyman reports. Though there will be lots of competition for Peavy, Heyman guesses the White Sox will be able to re-sign him as long as they make a competitive offer.
- The White Sox plan to decline Kevin Youkilis’ $13MM option for 2013, Heyman reports. However, they loved having the third baseman on the roster this year, so Heyman suggests they’ll try to work out a two-year contract, perhaps in the $15MM range.
The Sox would be extremely lucky to get 2/3 and lucky to retain 1/3.
If I had a gun to my head on who I think the Sox will keep I will go with:
1. AJP
2. Youk
3. Peavy
Don’t forget that Brett Myers also has an option that will get declined, but Sox may have interest in bringing back..
The Sox have lost two big free agents in the last decade: Mark Buehrle (whom they knew they couldn’t afford) and Magglio (who had a falling-out with management). They have been very good at retaining their players who hit free agency, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if AJ and Peavy return. However, I think Youk will explore other options (Atlanta?) and I’m more optimistic about AJ (who is probably a White Sox lifer) than Peavy.
I actually think that Youkilis will be pretty in demand this winter. The 3B market he would be the only regular everyday option, and at 1B there are only a couple mediocre options, no one that really stands out like last year’s pujols and fielder.
White Sox just do not have any internal options. Jose Lopez who is also a Free Agent, and…BRENT MOREL?
No Thank you.
Carlos Sanchez is actually pretty good. Might need another year though.
1. AJ
2. Peavy
3. Youk
AJ I believe will be the only returnee.
Hoping that with Bobby V gone, the Sox look to bring back Youk. Unlikely, but I’ll remain hopeful.
I’d rather them save the money and let Gomez or Sands play.
I have a hard time seeing them go with mauro unless they are trying for top draft picks. Boston is a important market, and they can still sell a ton of tickets if they put a semi decent team out there. It’s not like the cubs who have had many seasons of mediocraty, the rs have been competitive recently, and I doubt they want to hurt their “brand” too much.
why? youk is very good and durable at 1b
Ridiculous…..
“Several Executives” said upton could get $14M aav on the market, while Youkilis will only get $7.5 according to Heyman.
Youkilis is actually a solid player, and on the weak market for 3B and 1B should be able to command a decent deal. His avg is down, but he is still able to get his obp up to a decent level, unlike Upton who is going to be a huge problem in any lineup.
Rangers, Angels, Nationals, Phillies, Dodgers, would all probably at least consider him at that salary, and a couple of them would probably offer more.
David Wrigth is a free agent, sing him to a 4 year/60 million contract. Sing mike adams to a 2 year, 7 million contract. Re-sing AJ to a 2 year / 14 millioncontract. Then resing peavy ro a 2year 12 m
David Wright has a team option still on his contract, and his next deal is sure to exceed both the years and AAV that you’ve mentioned (4/60). Peavy will command far more than 2/12 AAV on the free agent market as well.
That’s way too much for AJ who just had a career year and will be 36 coming into next season. Not to mention he’s still was not very well liked by the pitching staff. And yeah, that does kind of matter.
Youk is another story, is he in decline or did he just have a bad season? Injuries are always a giant concern with him. The Sox will definitely need to pick up a 3B if they plan on contending and Youk might provide the best deal for them.