In case you missed it, the White Sox - after lying in the weeds this off-season - leaped out of the brush to make bold and swift moves today, principle among said moves is the surprising signing of free agent Adam Dunn to a 4 year $56 million dollar contract.
Before signing Dunn however, the Sox decided to pick up Alexei Ramirez's club option of $2.75 million for 2011, and virtually gave a "don't let it hit you in the ass" gesture to 2005 World Series hero Bobby Jenks by non-tendering him for 2011. Both of those moves are very logical in The Beard's mind.
Then seemingly out of nowhere, not only does Kenny Williams sign Adam Dunn after word quickly got out that Dunn and the Oakland A's were not going to be able to make a deal, but Williams decided to shock everyone who has followed this team by saying:
"I've made no secrets that we have strong interest in bringing him back,'' Williams said of Konerko. "Not only is there room for it, but it would be the ideal fit from our perspective. The one thing Paul and I talked about at the end of the season is being mindful of each other's process. It's a fine line I have to walk right now where I am respectful of his process, but where we are also putting the best baseball team on the field.''
But wait, Kenny didn't stop there, with reports emerging late that the White Sox have resigned A.J. Pierzynski to a 2 year $8million dollar contract. This is significant because Kenny has said that talks with A.J. were put "on hold" because there needed to be progress made with Konerko first before A.J. situation could be addressed. Sounds like whatever sort of progress with Konerko Williams was talking about, has been made to me...
As for my take on all of this, as I mentioned earlier I am equal parts impressed and confused. Confused, because all season long as well as this offseason, the underlying understanding from the White Sox front office has been "We don't have the money to resign Konerko".
Now it seems that they looked under ALL the couch cushions and have found whatever money they needed plus some extra cash to land a big free agent like Adam Dunn, and by all accounts seem ready to spend more! Going into today the Sox had $83 million committed to the 2011 Payroll. They've cut loose $7.5 million by saying bye to Jenks, but are seemingly headed right back to the $103 million they spent on last years payroll. So why did they say they didn't have the money?
While that question may or may not be answered with the upcoming press-conference that's scheduled for Friday afternoon, one thing is for certain. The White Sox have made it clear that they are "going for it" in 2011, and I admire the fashion in which they are doing so.
They went out and signed most likely the best available Lefty slugger they could get, while retaining fan favorites Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski. This will be the final time they will be able to go for it with this group of veterans since Ozzie Guillen has one more season left on his contract, as does Mark Buehrle.
Will Adam Dunn provide the left handed firepower the White Sox have been looking for? I'm not really sure. Obviously Dunn can hit and get on base. Since 2004 the only player who has hit more home runs than Dunn is Albert Pujols. Sabermatricians love Dunn's numbers, but I've never looked at building a championship team being as simple as solving an Algebra Equation like the Dateless Wonders Living In Their Parents Basements that call themselves Sabermatricians.
I guess we'll find out eventually, but all we know right now is that if these moves work, the Sox will win the division. If these off-season moves don't work, and the White Sox aren't in contention by the trading deadline, you will most likely see Dunn, Konerko, and Buehrle traded, with the youth movement taking over at that point.
In terms of risk-reward, it's as solid bet as any to be made. Either way as the White Sox often say they are NEVER boring...
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