Sox sign Dunn to 4 year deal.....

[Big Mike]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/12/white-sox-may-be-close-to-signing-adam-dunn.html

[Beninator]

For their sake, I hope Dunn agrees to be a DH.

[Big Mike]

I heard last week he wanted around 15mil/ season......I thought that was high for a guy that cannot field!

[Beninator]

I have been reading on Twitter that Dunn wants to be in the same lineup as Konerko and that KW has room for both... That would be some lineup!
--and I am not a Sox fan!--

[houstontxbrave]

I would have to ask the Sox, if your willing to throw that kind of cash at Dunn and have him clog up the base paths and strike out with the best of them? Why didnt you just save the cash and resign Thome and essentially get the samething?

[thefish7]

I would have to ask the Sox, if your willing to throw that kind of cash at Dunn and have him clog up the base paths and strike out with the best of them? Why didnt you just save the cash and resign Thome and essentially get the samething?

Probably because there's a sizeable difference between Thome and Dunn these days on that other thing they do: hitting.

[houstontxbrave]

Probably because there's a sizeable difference between Thome and Dunn these days on that other thing they do: hitting.

Really? If Thome got the same amount of AB's as Dunn there is no doubt he puts up close to equal numbers. Both are no field, high strike out and give you potential HR's.

The biggest difference is Dunn is getting paid a huge salary and gives you more AB's. I though think there is not much that Dunn can give that Thome doesnt.

I am certain Minnesota is very gratiful that Chicago gave up Thome and muddled around all last year trying to find a left handed hitter.

I just do not think Dunn is much of an upgrade over Thome.

[Da Coach]

...
I just do not think Dunn is much of an upgrade over Thome.

I do. I love Jim Thome, but the Sox won a World Series in 2005 without Jim Thome, and in the 4 years they had Jim, they were never able to come close again. The Twins couldn't get there either. Jim hits a lot of homers, but that's about all he does, and he rarely comes through late in games. It was time for the Sox to make a change.
Dunn, though not a great fielder, is at least capable of playing the field, and the White Sox needed that. If they re-sign Konerko, they needed a backup first baseman, and that is something they did not have with Thome. If they don't re-sign Konerko, Dunn gives them insurance at 1st.

Overall, Dunn and Thome's numbers have been similar, but Dunn's numbers have actually been getting better the past few years, and I think the Sox believed Dunn's best years may still be ahead of him, which cannot be said for Thome. Also, Dunn just turned 31 and never seems to have health issues. He has averaged well over 600 at bats per season for his career. Jim Thome is now 40 years old, and has missed significant numbers of games each year due to injury. He has trouble getting 400 at bats a year. He only played in 108 games last year, and I doubt he will stay healthy for much more this season. This and the re-signing of Pierzynski are great moves by the Sox. Now if their pitchers can stay healthy...

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

Really? If Thome got the same amount of AB's as Dunn there is no doubt he puts up close to equal numbers. Both are no field, high strike out and give you potential HR's.

The biggest difference is Dunn is getting paid a huge salary and gives you more AB's. I though think there is not much that Dunn can give that Thome doesnt.

I am certain Minnesota is very gratiful that Chicago gave up Thome and muddled around all last year trying to find a left handed hitter.

I just do not think Dunn is much of an upgrade over Thome.

Dunn is much better than Thome at this point in his career. Thome had a phenomenal year last year, which the Sox didn't expect. It would certainly be surprising for Thome to have that kind of production next year. At $14 million for a power hitter with over .900 OPS, the Sox certainly got good value. Dunn does strike out a lot, but that's an overrated stat. The Sox signing Dunn puts them much closer to the playoffs. Their pitching staff (if healthy) is the best in the AL central. Williams is an aggressive GM and has made more right moves than wrong moves. He brought a WS championship to Chicago, and I certainly trust his judgment.

[Chico]

IMO, the Sox shouldn't have traded Jim to the Dodgers where he could just pinch hit. If they would have kept him that final month of 2009 and this season when he wouldn't have to share the DH role, as he did this season, he would have 600 or more HRs and be ready to retire and they could have still signed Dunn.
Coach, the Sox did come close to making the WS three years ago when Jim hit the home run to beat the Twins 1-0 in the Central Division playoff game. I believe the walk off homer against the Sox this season tied him for most walk off home runs in a career, including the one he hit to reach 500 while with the Sox. I hope he can catch on with someone and get 600. Would have loved to see him get it in a Sox uniform, but the great OZ wanted the useless DHs they had this season.

[Da Coach]

Chico, as I said, I love Jim Thome, but it was time for the Sox to move in a different direction. In the 4 years they had Thome, 2008 was the only year they made the playoffs, and they were eliminated quickly after barely winning the division in that 163rd playoff game. In the other 3 seasons, they never finished higher than 3rd in a relatively weak division. By the way, in that American League Divisional Series in 2008, one of the reasons the Sox lost was Jim Thome hit just .125 (2 for 16) with no homers and just 1 RBI for the Sox against the TB Rays. His postseason BA for his career is just .217
Thome's production dropped off each year he was with the Sox, and by the end of 2009 he was coming off a year with injuries, sub-.250 averages for 2 seasons, lower OPS for 4 years in a row, and he was 39 years old and getting paid almost $15 million a year for the 4 years he was with the Sox. Also, that walk-off homer against the Twins was one of the few game-winning hits I can recall Jim had with the Sox, as he became a notoriously bad late-inning hitter. He was also one of the league leaders in grounding into double plays, and one of the slowest runners, and the Sox felt they needed to go with more speed.
Moves like this will always be debated, especially when a player goes on to have a good season after leaving. But most White Sox fans were OK with the trade. I am sure the Twins will re-sign him for another year.

[Chico]

Chico, as I said, I love Jim Thome, but it was time for the Sox to move in a different direction. In the 4 years they had Thome, 2008 was the only year they made the playoffs, and they were eliminated quickly after barely winning the division in that 163rd playoff game. In the other 3 seasons, they never finished higher than 3rd in a relatively weak division. By the way, in that American League Divisional Series in 2008, one of the reasons the Sox lost was Jim Thome hit just .125 (2 for 16) with no homers and just 1 RBI for the Sox against the TB Rays. His postseason BA for his career is just .217
Thome's production dropped off each year he was with the Sox, and by the end of 2009 he was coming off a year with injuries, sub-.250 averages for 2 seasons, lower OPS for 4 years in a row, and he was 39 years old and getting paid almost $15 million a year for the 4 years he was with the Sox. Also, that walk-off homer against the Twins was one of the few game-winning hits I can recall Jim had with the Sox, as he became a notoriously bad late-inning hitter. He was also one of the league leaders in grounding into double plays, and one of the slowest runners, and the Sox felt they needed to go with more speed.
Moves like this will always be debated, especially when a player goes on to have a good season after leaving. But most White Sox fans were OK with the trade. I am sure the Twins will re-sign him for another year.

I don't know any Sox fan that was happy with the trade to the Dodgers. The Sox were out of the race and the one bright spot was Jim getting closer to hitting 600 HRs. Cost him a lot of ABs. He wouldn't have had enough time to get there that season, but would have made it this past season or been awful close if not for the wasted month. Of course, he had to agree to the trade so I guess he a little bit to do with it. Also, his HR against the Twins in the 163rd game wasn't a walk off.

[Da Coach]

The report at the time was that Jim was agreeable to the trade. One other thing he wants is a World Series championship, which he has never had. The trade to the Dodgers was to hopefully get him another chance at that WS ring. Unfortunately, the Dodgers were eliminated by the Phillies in the NL Championship series.

[BU RICK]

Sox, Konerko agree to 3 year deal. We're gonna have a strong lineup!

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/12/sox-konerko-agree-on-three-year-deal.html

[Chico]

Sox, Konerko agree to 3 year deal. We're gonna have a strong lineup!
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com...year-deal.html

Don't know if Williams is done yet. I doubt it, he's always looking. But if he is, the Sox need for Quenton and Beckham to hit like they did a couple years ago and to find a 3rd baseman. Hopefully the Cuban kid or the kid they brought up near the end last season, can't think of his name, can step in. If Peavy comes back and the others stay healthy they could have a strong pitching staff, but with the way the Great Oz likes to take out pitchers who are pitching good, they need a much better bullpen that last season. Looking forward to seeing a few games in Az. All the stadiums there are within an hour, or just over, of each other. D'Backs and Rockies have a new stadium in the Valley so there are no more teams training in Tucson.