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10-15-2002, 01:21 PM
Whether Frank Thomas returns to the White Sox in 2003 won't be known until sometime after the World Series, but the word among baseball general managers is that the Big Hurt will be there for the taking.
The Sox have informed Thomas they will invoke the revised-payment-rights, or "diminished-skills," clause in his contract, the Tribune has learned, but they are honoring Thomas' request that no announcement be made. Thomas will have until early December to find a team that will give him what he desperately wants: a combination of money and respect.
Because the Sox still owe him more than $40 million, Thomas' ultimate decision may come down to one simple question:
What price respect?
It's believed the Sox have opted to cut Thomas' up-front salary in half for 2003, from $10.3 million per year to about $5 million per year, deferring the rest to retain some payroll flexibility. Thomas' contract runs through 2006 and is guaranteed, so he will get the rest of the remaining $40 million down the road, even if he decides to accept the new salary.
NFL stars sometimes rework contracts and defer money to help their teams remain competitive under the salary cap, and Ken Griffey Jr. deferred some money to help the Cincinnati Reds address some payroll concerns after accepting a "hometown discount" to sign with the Reds before the 2000 season. Would Thomas accept a 50 percent pay cut with the understanding the move was made to help the Sox retain such young stars as Magglio Ordonez, Paul Konerko and Mark Buehrle?
For now, Thomas, 34, isn't saying. He didn't return phone calls Monday. Sox general manager Ken Williams declined to comment on Thomas' contract.
Though Thomas is considering his options and laying low for the time being, he has retained an agent to shop him around during the upcoming free-agency period, which begins two weeks after the World Series ends.
The Sox's decision to invoke the diminished-skills clause is a surprise to no one. In an interview on the next-to-last day of the season in Minnesota, Thomas said he planned to be back in 2003, no matter what the Sox did.
"The bottom line is if I can't get a deal in the open market, I'm not giving away money," he said. "Who's going to be that stupid? I've earned that [guaranteed money]. That's what I tell people.
"I've had an unbelievable run in this game. I just have to have a bigger year next year and everyone will forget this year."
Thomas' 45-day window will end shortly before the winter meetings, scheduled for the first week in December in Nashville, meaning Thomas won't have long to find a suitor. If he doesn't receive a contract offer he likes, Thomas can return to the Sox at a reduced salary of the Sox's choosing. He already has had about $4 million deferred each year.
If the Sox want Thomas back, they could reduce the deferred-payment schedule, giving Thomas the opportunity to get the bulk of his deferred money over a shorter time frame than previously.
The contract states the Sox can reduce Thomas' salary to as low as $250,000, but doing that would be asking one of the best players in franchise history to become the lowest-paid player in baseball—the new minimum salary rises to $300,000 next year. Thomas insisted Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf wouldn't do that and was apparently correct. Though the two spoke briefly during the Sox's final homestand in September, Thomas' relationship with Reinsdorf cooled off after his highly publicized walkout in 2001.
"I'm not trying to be his best friend anymore," Thomas said in March. "It's very important to separate business and friendship. He has been a very fair man with me throughout my career. There are no hard feelings or bad feelings toward him, but we aren't as tight as we were."
Thomas is considered a designated hitter exclusively, so his options are limited, especially if he expects a deal on a par with his guaranteed money. Thomas isn't sure where he stands with Williams and Sox manager Jerry Manuel, so he could take less money if a team shows it really wants him.
"I've got a good relationship with Frank," Manuel said before the final game of the season. "I don't have a problem with Frank. We've always had a good relationship. We've had our little battles and they always happen to get out in the public, but we're still cool."
Chilly is probably a more appropriate description. Both men can be headstrong and stubborn at times, and Thomas never really forgave Manuel for benching him in July and not letting him know in advance.
Thomas' favored destinations are believed to be Seattle and New York, though each has obstacles in the way.
The Yankees can afford him, though they used Jason Giambi as their DH for 63 games in 2002. It's doubtful the Yankees would pay Thomas the money he would want and essentially force Giambi to become a full-time first baseman. And Thomas hasn't forgotten that Yankees manager Joe Torre left him off the 2000 All-Star team in spite of Thomas' deserving numbers.
Seattle could be interested if it does not re-sign longtime DH Edgar Martinez, who turns 40 in January and has been bothered by leg injuries. Martinez has a $10 million option for 2003 and a $2 million buyout.
Seattle management currently is occupied with manager Lou Piniella, who has asked out of the final year of his contract to seek work elsewhere. But when that's settled, general manager Pat Gillick is expected to take the $2 million buyout on Martinez's contract and then try to re-sign him for about $4 million to $5 million.
The AL team with the strongest need for a hitter like Thomas may be division rival Minnesota, which finished next to last in the league with a combined DH average of .245.
Moreover, Anaheim exposed the holes in the Twins' left-handed-dominated lineup in the American League Championship Series. But Minnesota ranked 27th in major-league payrolls in 2002 and has to reward some of its own young stars before throwing money at free agents.
The Sox wound up finishing second in the league in home runs (30) and RBIs (101) from the DH slot, with Thomas as their primary DH. Only Cleveland, with 36 home runs and 104 RBIs, got more production. The Sox were fourth in DH slugging percentage at .478 and sixth in DH on-base percentage with .359.
Thomas finished the season hitting .252 with 28 home runs and 92 RBIs. He considered it an "average season" and was upset over a perceived "double standard" placed on him by media and fans.
"I have 28 home runs and close to 100 RBIs," he said. "That's good for everyone except me."
Will he stay or will he go?
Only the Big Hurt knows for sure.
Copyright © 2002, The Chicago Tribune
The Sox have informed Thomas they will invoke the revised-payment-rights, or "diminished-skills," clause in his contract, the Tribune has learned, but they are honoring Thomas' request that no announcement be made. Thomas will have until early December to find a team that will give him what he desperately wants: a combination of money and respect.
Because the Sox still owe him more than $40 million, Thomas' ultimate decision may come down to one simple question:
What price respect?
It's believed the Sox have opted to cut Thomas' up-front salary in half for 2003, from $10.3 million per year to about $5 million per year, deferring the rest to retain some payroll flexibility. Thomas' contract runs through 2006 and is guaranteed, so he will get the rest of the remaining $40 million down the road, even if he decides to accept the new salary.
NFL stars sometimes rework contracts and defer money to help their teams remain competitive under the salary cap, and Ken Griffey Jr. deferred some money to help the Cincinnati Reds address some payroll concerns after accepting a "hometown discount" to sign with the Reds before the 2000 season. Would Thomas accept a 50 percent pay cut with the understanding the move was made to help the Sox retain such young stars as Magglio Ordonez, Paul Konerko and Mark Buehrle?
For now, Thomas, 34, isn't saying. He didn't return phone calls Monday. Sox general manager Ken Williams declined to comment on Thomas' contract.
Though Thomas is considering his options and laying low for the time being, he has retained an agent to shop him around during the upcoming free-agency period, which begins two weeks after the World Series ends.
The Sox's decision to invoke the diminished-skills clause is a surprise to no one. In an interview on the next-to-last day of the season in Minnesota, Thomas said he planned to be back in 2003, no matter what the Sox did.
"The bottom line is if I can't get a deal in the open market, I'm not giving away money," he said. "Who's going to be that stupid? I've earned that [guaranteed money]. That's what I tell people.
"I've had an unbelievable run in this game. I just have to have a bigger year next year and everyone will forget this year."
Thomas' 45-day window will end shortly before the winter meetings, scheduled for the first week in December in Nashville, meaning Thomas won't have long to find a suitor. If he doesn't receive a contract offer he likes, Thomas can return to the Sox at a reduced salary of the Sox's choosing. He already has had about $4 million deferred each year.
If the Sox want Thomas back, they could reduce the deferred-payment schedule, giving Thomas the opportunity to get the bulk of his deferred money over a shorter time frame than previously.
The contract states the Sox can reduce Thomas' salary to as low as $250,000, but doing that would be asking one of the best players in franchise history to become the lowest-paid player in baseball—the new minimum salary rises to $300,000 next year. Thomas insisted Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf wouldn't do that and was apparently correct. Though the two spoke briefly during the Sox's final homestand in September, Thomas' relationship with Reinsdorf cooled off after his highly publicized walkout in 2001.
"I'm not trying to be his best friend anymore," Thomas said in March. "It's very important to separate business and friendship. He has been a very fair man with me throughout my career. There are no hard feelings or bad feelings toward him, but we aren't as tight as we were."
Thomas is considered a designated hitter exclusively, so his options are limited, especially if he expects a deal on a par with his guaranteed money. Thomas isn't sure where he stands with Williams and Sox manager Jerry Manuel, so he could take less money if a team shows it really wants him.
"I've got a good relationship with Frank," Manuel said before the final game of the season. "I don't have a problem with Frank. We've always had a good relationship. We've had our little battles and they always happen to get out in the public, but we're still cool."
Chilly is probably a more appropriate description. Both men can be headstrong and stubborn at times, and Thomas never really forgave Manuel for benching him in July and not letting him know in advance.
Thomas' favored destinations are believed to be Seattle and New York, though each has obstacles in the way.
The Yankees can afford him, though they used Jason Giambi as their DH for 63 games in 2002. It's doubtful the Yankees would pay Thomas the money he would want and essentially force Giambi to become a full-time first baseman. And Thomas hasn't forgotten that Yankees manager Joe Torre left him off the 2000 All-Star team in spite of Thomas' deserving numbers.
Seattle could be interested if it does not re-sign longtime DH Edgar Martinez, who turns 40 in January and has been bothered by leg injuries. Martinez has a $10 million option for 2003 and a $2 million buyout.
Seattle management currently is occupied with manager Lou Piniella, who has asked out of the final year of his contract to seek work elsewhere. But when that's settled, general manager Pat Gillick is expected to take the $2 million buyout on Martinez's contract and then try to re-sign him for about $4 million to $5 million.
The AL team with the strongest need for a hitter like Thomas may be division rival Minnesota, which finished next to last in the league with a combined DH average of .245.
Moreover, Anaheim exposed the holes in the Twins' left-handed-dominated lineup in the American League Championship Series. But Minnesota ranked 27th in major-league payrolls in 2002 and has to reward some of its own young stars before throwing money at free agents.
The Sox wound up finishing second in the league in home runs (30) and RBIs (101) from the DH slot, with Thomas as their primary DH. Only Cleveland, with 36 home runs and 104 RBIs, got more production. The Sox were fourth in DH slugging percentage at .478 and sixth in DH on-base percentage with .359.
Thomas finished the season hitting .252 with 28 home runs and 92 RBIs. He considered it an "average season" and was upset over a perceived "double standard" placed on him by media and fans.
"I have 28 home runs and close to 100 RBIs," he said. "That's good for everyone except me."
Will he stay or will he go?
Only the Big Hurt knows for sure.
Copyright © 2002, The Chicago Tribune