The retooling of the 2005 World Series champions started Monday as the White Sox declined the 2006 option on designated hitter Carl Everett while exercising the option on valuable reliever Cliff Politte for $1.2 million.
Everett, who was second on the Sox with 87 RBIs and third with 23 home runs, will receive a $500,000 buyout instead of having his $5 million option picked up.
Everett and reserve infielder Geoff Blum, who hit the game-winning home run in Game 3 of the World Series, were the latest players to file for free agency Monday.
In addition, designated hitter Frank Thomas exercised his $10 million player option for 2006. The Sox, however, have five days to elect to give him a $3.5 million buyout.
The latter is a likely scenario because Thomas is recovering from a second fracture of his left ankle that has sidelined him since July 21, and the Sox want more information on Thomas’ ankle before making a decision on whether to re-sign him at a reduced rate.
Thomas was scheduled to have the ankle re-examined this week.
The Sox’s immediate emphasis is re-signing All-Star first baseman Paul Konerko, who filed Thursday for free agency and could command the most lucrative contract of any free agent this off-season.
But the Sox have exclusive financial negotiating rights to Konerko through Nov. 10.
The Sox face the financial juggling act of trying to retain Konerko and the core of a team that won 99 games during the regular season and was 11-1 in the postseason. They have 012 players signed for 2006 at nearly $52 million.
The Sox are expected to save about $11 million by giving buyouts to Everett and Thomas. But 18-game winner Jon Garland ($3.4 million), catcher A.J. Pierzynski ($2.45 million) and third baseman Joe Crede ($400,000), all eligible for arbitration, are in line for healthy raises.
Garland and teammate Mark Buehrle can earn at least $60,000 if they finished no lower than fifth in the American League Cy Young Award voting to be announced Nov. 8.
———-
Edited by Phillip Thompson (plthompson@tribune.com) and alBerto Trevino (atrevino@tribune.com)
