With a World Series championship, Ken Williams’ work is done. And it is also just beginning.
Actually, most of his team–intentionally–is either signed for next season or under the team’s control, which doesn’t mean they can’t be traded in an effort to upgrade. But there’s an obvious No. 1 priority, and that’s re-signing free agent Paul Konerko.
“We’ll offer him as much as we can offer him and still have a chance to keep the whole of our team and give ourselves a chance to win,” the Sox general manager said. “Beyond that … there’s got to be a middle ground that works for us and for him.”
The remodeling will be much more extensive if Konerko leaves. But even if he stays, the team will have different faces. It’s just the transient nature of the game. Among the questions:
What to do with the options on the contracts of designated hitters Frank Thomas and Carl Everett?
Thomas either has to be brought back at $12 million (not likely) or be given a $3.5 million buyout. If the Sox pay him off, they or any other club would be free to sign him.
Everett is due either $5 million or $500,000. Again, the Sox are likely to buy out his contract and, perhaps, try to re-sign him.
What starter goes when Brandon McCarthy joins next season’s rotation?
The likeliest candidate is Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, but he is due $4.5 million next season. No team is going to pay that much if he is traded, so the Sox may have to eat a large portion of it, even if they package him in a trade.
What outfielder goes when Brian Anderson joins the mix full time?
Scott Podsednik, Aaron Rowand and Jermaine Dye are signed through next season. The solution could be a trade of Rowand, since he has the most value, but Anderson could also be used in a four-way rotation, with the odd man out each day going to DH.
Are Jon Garland and Joe Crede worth what they are going to get in arbitration, assuming that A.J. Pierzynski is?
Garland may double his $3.4 million of this season. Crede could at least quadruple his $400,000 of this season. Either player could be released before arbitration, which is more likely in Crede’s case. But the Sox would have trouble finding a better third baseman at the cost.
Who to trade?
Williams has an itchy trigger finger and most likely almost anyone is available except for Bobby Jenks, Neal Cotts, Jose Contreras and Mark Buehrle. And the Sox are in desperate need of a power left-handed bat, even more so if Everett leaves.
What’s the budget?
This season’s nearly $75 million will climb dramatically given salary increases and arbitration. That is, if most of the players, including Konerko, are brought back. How much will Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf splurge after winning for the first time? Only he knows the answer, but most likely he will agree to as much as $85 million, depending on the personnel.
The bottom line is the White Sox, the world champion White Sox, have the talent to win already and are able to bring almost everybody back. It is up to Williams to decide on the right mix.
