White Sox decline options on Ken Griffey and Toby Hall

The Chicago White Sox have declined the club options for 2009 on the contracts of outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and catcher Toby Hall. Griffey and Hall will be eligible for free agency.

8 months ago The Wizard Comment 13 comments 0 recs |

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rumor has been that the sox want toby back on a cheaper deal than the $2.25M he would've gotten.

we’ll see what the sox do w/r/t backup catcher.

he's stubborn. and lacks discipline. and i hope he drowns in front of his children. but I’ll have to document all that when I see him next year, assuming he stays here, which he probably will. i don’t wanna be dissin’ without substance.

by larry on Oct 30, 2008 1:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

no good options out there, yes?

any catcher expected to be nontendered like toby was?

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Oct 30, 2008 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

blanco probably will get his option declined

though the cubs would likely intend to re-sign him at a lower rate, too.

by larry on Oct 30, 2008 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he already did

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Oct 30, 2008 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

haven't seen anything about it, though it is probably just a formality either way.

by larry on Oct 30, 2008 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

nix also officially signed, added to 40 man

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20081030&content_id=3655055&vkey=pr_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws

by larry on Oct 30, 2008 1:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

uribe also files for free agency

By Mark Gonzales – 1:37 p.m.

The White Sox set the tone Thursday for what figures to be a busy off-season by declining the options on center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. and backup catcher Toby Hall, and signing second baseman Jayson Nix.

In addition, infielder Juan Uribe filed for free agency.

The decision to decline options on Griffey and Hall were expected, as they can now file for free agency. But the signing of Nix virtually cinches that Alexei Ramirez will move to shortstop, a position occupied in 2008 by soon-to-be free agent Orlando Cabrera.

Unless the Sox sign another free agent, Nix will compete with Chris Getz for the starting second base position. Nix, 26, is regarded as a top-flight defensive second baseman but quickly lost his starting job with Colorado.

Nix, the younger brother of major league outfielder Laynce Nix, batted .303 with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs in 67 games at Triple-A Colorado Springs. He was 7-for-56 (.125) in a brief stint with the Rockies. Nix was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team that won a bronze medal.

Nix batted .292 with 33 doubles, 11 home runs and 58 RBIs for Colorado Springs in 2007 and led all Pacific Coast League second basemen with a .986 fielding percentage.

The signing could impact the status of Uribe, who could get more playing time with another club because of his versatility. Uribe could attract interest from San Francisco.

Griffey, 38, will receive a $4 million buyout split between Cincinnati and the Sox. Hall will receive a $150,000 buyout. Hall would like to return to the Sox, who outrighted backup catcher Donny Lucy to Triple-A Charlotte earlier this month.

The Sox remain high on catching prospect Cole Armstrong, but Armstrong, like starter A.J. Pierzynski, bat left-handed.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/10/griffey-uribe-h.html

by larry on Oct 30, 2008 2:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The signing could impact the status of Uribe

will the giants give him a starting job?

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Oct 30, 2008 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

When did Gonzales turn into Tonto and Frankenstein?

Armstrong, like starter A.J. Pierzynski, bat left-handed.

Fire BAD!

Whoosh!

by winningugly on Oct 30, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

by The Wizard on Oct 30, 2008 6:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Although Uribe has been an extremely popular and entertaining figure in the White Sox clubhouse and provides excellence through his defensive versatility, he is not in the White Sox starting plans. Uribe is expected to look for a full-time job on the open market.

The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.

by The Wizard on Oct 30, 2008 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs