There’s a high sense of urgency for the White Sox to win the American League Central title this year.
But their fortunes and the level of support from fans and sponsors could dictate how the roster is shaped for 2010.
With the recent additions of Jake Peavy and Alex Rios, the Sox have committed about $68.3 million to 10 players for next season — about two-thirds of their 2009 payroll.
Executives Brooks Boyer and Ken Williams each have intimated the projected player payroll could hinge on the team’s success in the final 7 1/2 weeks this season as well as the response of fans and sponsors, including several that have contracts that are expiring.
Here’s a look at several factors that will help sculpt the Sox’s 2010 roster:
Ticket sales/sponsorships: “We follow the traditional business model,” said Boyer, the Sox’s vice president/chief marketing officer. “Projected revenues minus projected expenses equal the player payroll.”
Boyer admits the Sox were “sitting on more inventory than anticipated” until Mark Buehrle’s perfect game July 23 accelerated ticket sales. Sales for the Sept. 25-27 series against the division leading Tigers have increased, and a four-game series against the Red Sox — a traditionally strong attraction — Sept. 4-7 could accelerate.
Boyer hopes the long-term commitments to Peavy and Rios, coupled with a young talent core, will convince current sponsors and prospective new clients the Sox will be competitive for several years.
“That’s what the fan base is looking for,” Boyer said.
They also hope it will convince sponsors to reinvest, which would help alleviate Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf’s worries in March about the club losing several sponsorships.
A decision on those sponsorship renewals won’t occur until after the season.
Guaranteed contracts: Paul Konerko ($12 million in 2010) has full no-trade rights, and ace Mark Buehrle ($14 million) and catcher A.J. Pierzynski ($6.25 million) will have full no-trade rights midway through 2010, when they achieve 10-and-5 status (at least 10 years of major league service with at least five with their current team).
Tyler Flowers has been touted as the Sox catcher of the future and is hitting a combined .301 with 14 home runs and 50 RBIs at Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, but Pierzynski is one of the most durable catchers in the majors.
Free agents: The Sox and right fielder Jermaine Dye have a mutual $12 million option with a $1 million buyout that the Sox could exercise with the hope of re-signing him at a reduced rate. But Dye will attract interest from other teams because of his production and health.
Dye, 35, would like to stay with the Sox and is one of the AL’s most productive sluggers. He could slide into the designated hitter role if the team doesn’t re-sign Jim Thome. But losing Thome and/or moving Pierzynski would leave the Sox without a left-handed hitter in the middle of the order.
Scott Podsednik would like to stay, and a strong finish to an amazing renaissance can only help his chances.
The Los Angeles Angels’ Chone Figgins is enjoying an All-Star year but probably is too expensive for the Sox unless they move some salaries.
Arbitration eligible players: In discussing the signing of Gavin Floyd to a multiyear contract in March, Williams described the closer’s market as fluid.
That probably means the Sox will listen to offers for closer Bobby Jenks, whose salary leaped from $525,000 to $5.6 million as a first-time arbitration-eligible player this year.
Left fielder Carlos Quentin, left-hander John Danks and reliever D.J. Carrasco will be eligible for the first time, although none will receive a salary spike similar to what Jenks earned.
Intangibles: Williams loves to sell high and buy low, as evidenced by his past acquisitions of Danks, Floyd and Quentin. His scouts were told at the end of spring training to pay particular attention to outfielders in other organizations.
But the recent successes of rookies Gordon Beckham and Chris Getz have reinforced his desire to field a younger and more athletic roster.
After winning the 2005 World Series, the Sox increased their payroll by nearly $25 million with the additions of Thome and Javier Vazquez.
They fell short of repeating as division champions, and Williams could feel content now with a larger influx of youth including Flowers, Dayan Viciedo and Jhonny Nunez if they fall short again.
“I have a tendency to get rid of people when we don’t win,” Williams said Monday.
———–
mgonzales@tribune.com
