Was it rejected because:

a) Konerko wants more money.
b) Konerko is smart enough to stay away from Baltimore.

Is that what the Sox are offering?

If so, I don't like it.  If it's the reported 4/$52, I'm much happier with that.

Thoughts?

I'm not a huge fan of a guy who can only get LHB out, but if you're gonna get a LOOGY, it seems like Myers is the guy to get (so long as you don't overpay him).  

I'd also be a fan of trading Marte to a team for a prospect, but at this point, can't think of what I'd want in return.  Probably a SP or a MIF prospect.  Obviously, they wouldn't be able to get the Wood's or the Drew's of the world, but maybe a level before that?  Maybe?

What exactly would you be trading him for?  Prospects, or someone that could help the team in '06?

On Konerko signing with Chicago by Friday.

And peeked you-know-where:

Hey everybody, reading all of the internet analysis of Paul Konerko possibly signing with the Angels might convince you that Paulie is a disaster waiting to befall someone:

*Arthritic hip? Check.
*Age 30 on Opening Day? Check.
*Good friends with the Field Manager? Check. (Baseball's claims toward meritocracy always fail when this surface is scratched)
*Would block a position at which the team is deep? Check.
*Is a shitty defender at that position? Check.
*More money per year than Vlad? Check.
*More years than Vlad? Check.
*Couldn't carry Vlad's jockstrap? Check.

Of course, Mike Scioscia's buffet buddy, radio Legend Joe McDonnell loves the thought of one of Mikey's Dodgerbuddies returning to the Non-Tommy Fold. Joe McDonnell would take a bullet for Mike Scioscia he is so mancrush in love with the Head Halo. But that don't make this right.

Analysis...
At his absolute best, Konerko would be Troy Glaus as a 1B with a bad glove. And making $6 million more per year than Troy is making now. And that is the BEST we could hope for, and it would not be likely to last more than a season and they are talking about five or six for a guy who struck out 109 times last season and grounded into 23 Double Plays.

Konerko signed 5 yr deal with White Sox.

you know what this is
its a celebration, bitches

5 yrs/60 mil sounds like a lot, and it is...but if the market has Loiaza at 3yrs/21 mil, this might not be a bad move.  Lets not forget that 05 was Konerko's peak year, not a decline.

If Konerko repeats his performance and Thome rebounds....I like our chances in 06.

The Thome deal!

We'll know more details later, but perhaps there are some "diminished skills" protections in there somewhere.  Knowing JR, it wouldn't surprise me.

"Signing Konerko will allow the Sox to complete their offseason mission, which includes landing a speedy No. 2 hitter to complement leadoff man Scott Podsednik."

Huh?  Iguchi is too slow?  I know Oz wants to bat him lower to "free" him from the sacs and takes, but isn't his OBP great for a #2?  And isn't that what you want in front of Kon and Tho?

This was the absolute Max that I would have given Paulie. I'm happy with this. Sure Paulie could be posting only .800 OPS by the end of this contract.

But right know this gives us a legit shot to repeat. I'm glad to see the Sox putting the extra revenue that the World Series win is giving them back into the payroll. It's gonna be afun summer!!

I'm ok with this but only just.  Most of the guys comparable to Konerko (Hrbek, Jason Thompson, Kluszewski, etc.) were useless by the time they were 35 and I don't see Pauley having the late career that guys like McGriff or Delgado have had.  In 2009-10, this is likely going to be a very bad contract that will probably kill our chances of competing.  But, with the Thome deal and the way our payroll explodes in 2007, 2006 is the best chance we have in the forseeable future anyway so we're paying a premium in the future to maximize our chances of hitting our window now.  That's defensible.  

FWIW, a few days ago I wrote "Assuming I'm reading all this correctly, it comes down to Konerko's gut desire to stay here.  I think his agent is probably correct that he can maximize his money by waiting and letting teams drive up the bidding.  (It worked brilliantly for Ordonez last year.)  But I think Konerko would like to stay here if he thinks he's getting comparable value.  So, in early December, he's going to have to decide whether he wants to be comfortable and rich or less comfortable and more rich."  If you read between the lines of the agent's comments in the ESPN story, he's pretty clearly saying that Konerko could have held out for more money but decided not to because he's happy here.  

Well, I hope it works out.  Pauley is one of our guys and I'll be happy to see him back.  Of course, I'll be happier if it turns out he holds value until he's 35.

From the ESPN article:

""Paul really did some soul-searching over the last couple of days," Landis went on. "And he started to realize that, if all else was equal, he wanted to be a member of the Chicago White Sox. He really likes it there. And just as important, he feels people like him there. He knows he has a lot of fans, and he respects that. He even talked about the fact that some kids there would be disappointed if he wasn't back there."

And the first thing a co-worker and I did (independently) upon hearing was call our kids.

Anyone know off-hand what we're up to?