CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox have exercised the 2006 club option on right-handed pitcher Cliff Politte ($1.2 million) and have declined the 2006 club option on designated hitter Carl Everett ($500,000 buyout).
Picking up Politte's option, and declining Everett's, was a no-brainer. Carl was one of the easiest outs in baseball the final 3 months of the season. Politte was one the best relievers in baseball for the entire year.
The White Sox also announced that designated hitter Frank Thomas has exercised the 2006 player option ($10 million) in his contract. Under terms of the contract, the White Sox have five days to exercise a buyout of Thomas' player option.
I expect Thomas to be bought out in the next couple of days. The buyout will cost the Sox $3.5M. The Sox simply can not afford to have a $10M question mark on their payroll. -- I suppose the question will be if Frank will sign an incentive laden deal with the Sox after his contract has been bought out, and how do the Sox structure such a deal?
I know that I want Frank back next season, but I would also be looking at having a backup plan at DH. Erubiel Durazo, something like that.