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12-06-2003, 01:01 PM
December 5, 2003
BY DOUG PADILLA Staff Reporter Advertisement
For the second time in a month, the White Sox appear close to landing left-handed starter Odalis Perez from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Looking to help last season's nonexistent offense, the Dodgers are trying to acquire first baseman Paul Konerko in return. At the general managers meetings last month in Arizona, the Sox reportedly were close on a deal to send Carlos Lee to the Dodgers for Perez.
According to the Los Angeles Times, two Dodgers sources confirmed the Konerko-Perez deal is in the works.
Perez likely would become the Sox' No. 3 starter behind Esteban Loaiza and Mark Buehrle, with Jon Garland also factoring into the mix after re-signing with the team last month.
Another potential starter is left-hander Scott Schoeneweis, whom the Sox obtained in a trade with the Anaheim Angels in late July. Perez, Buehrle and Schoeneweis would give the Sox three left-handed starters or possibly leave Schoeneweis on the outside looking in.
"You certainly don't want to be top-heavy,'' general manager Ken Williams said, "so you strive for balance in every facet of your club, whether it be starting pitching, relief pitching or your lineup.''
Perez, 26, made $3.4 million last season and is eligible for arbitration. His numbers were down in 2003, when he posted a 12-12 record and a 4.25 ERA and found himself an outcast in a divided Dodgers clubhouse.
He lashed out to the media about his lack of run support and reserved some choice words for the team's front office, as well. All-Star catcher Paul Lo Duca responded by saying players who vent in the newspapers have "no guts.''
Perez's 2003 season was in stark contrast to the previous year, when he blossomed with the Dodgers and made Dan Evans a rising star among general managers. Evans, a former Sox assistant GM, acquired Perez and Brian Jordan from the Atlanta Braves for Gary Sheffield.
Perez went 15-10 with a 3.00 ERA in 222-1/3 innings in 2002 and nearly pitched a no-hitter at Wrigley Field that season.
Konerko, who came up in the Dodgers organization before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1998, had the worst season of his career in 2003. Always known as a hard worker, he batted just .234 with 18 home runs and 65 RBI but closed on a roll, with 43 of those RBI in his final 61 games.
Last season was the only time in his five seasons with the Sox that Konerko did not have at least 81 RBI and 21 homers. He had a career-high 104 RBI in 2002 and 32 homers in 2001. He entered last season with a .287 career batting average and batted a combined .291 in his first four full seasons with the Sox.
"If you know the character of Paul Konerko and know the talent and desire of the man, it was difficult to see somebody put that into his work and not get any returns,'' Williams said. "But this is a humbling game, and everybody struggles. The perception out there is that Paul had a bad year, but he did not. He had a bad first three months.''
Konerko, 27, is scheduled to make $8 million in 2004 and $8.75million in 2005.
Unable to come to terms thus far with midseason acquisitions Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett, both of whom are free agents, Williams also sent out word Thursday that Willie Harris and Aaron Rowand must show more production next season.
"Both [Harris] and Aaron need to get more regular playing time this year to see what they are about,'' Williams said. "They have been exciting payers in the minor leagues. With young players, you are going to see more about what they are about and what they have to offer if they are playing with the same frequency they played with in the minor leagues.''
Williams, who doesn't hide the fact he is a huge Everett fan, still hasn't given up on re-signing the switch-hitting outfielder, even though he doesn't fit into the team's budget.
"Never say never,'' Williams said. "It's a long process and a long offseason, and sometimes you get more optimistic than others that you might retain a guy.''
The New York Post reported Thursday that the Angels might have offered Bartolo Colon the four-year deal he is seeking. With the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies already filling starting pitching needs, the Angels are believed to be one of the last teams in the market for Colon.
The right-hander could end up negotiating with the Sox again if the Angels deal falls through. The Sox were offering Colon a three-year deal at $12 million per season.
BY DOUG PADILLA Staff Reporter Advertisement
For the second time in a month, the White Sox appear close to landing left-handed starter Odalis Perez from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Looking to help last season's nonexistent offense, the Dodgers are trying to acquire first baseman Paul Konerko in return. At the general managers meetings last month in Arizona, the Sox reportedly were close on a deal to send Carlos Lee to the Dodgers for Perez.
According to the Los Angeles Times, two Dodgers sources confirmed the Konerko-Perez deal is in the works.
Perez likely would become the Sox' No. 3 starter behind Esteban Loaiza and Mark Buehrle, with Jon Garland also factoring into the mix after re-signing with the team last month.
Another potential starter is left-hander Scott Schoeneweis, whom the Sox obtained in a trade with the Anaheim Angels in late July. Perez, Buehrle and Schoeneweis would give the Sox three left-handed starters or possibly leave Schoeneweis on the outside looking in.
"You certainly don't want to be top-heavy,'' general manager Ken Williams said, "so you strive for balance in every facet of your club, whether it be starting pitching, relief pitching or your lineup.''
Perez, 26, made $3.4 million last season and is eligible for arbitration. His numbers were down in 2003, when he posted a 12-12 record and a 4.25 ERA and found himself an outcast in a divided Dodgers clubhouse.
He lashed out to the media about his lack of run support and reserved some choice words for the team's front office, as well. All-Star catcher Paul Lo Duca responded by saying players who vent in the newspapers have "no guts.''
Perez's 2003 season was in stark contrast to the previous year, when he blossomed with the Dodgers and made Dan Evans a rising star among general managers. Evans, a former Sox assistant GM, acquired Perez and Brian Jordan from the Atlanta Braves for Gary Sheffield.
Perez went 15-10 with a 3.00 ERA in 222-1/3 innings in 2002 and nearly pitched a no-hitter at Wrigley Field that season.
Konerko, who came up in the Dodgers organization before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1998, had the worst season of his career in 2003. Always known as a hard worker, he batted just .234 with 18 home runs and 65 RBI but closed on a roll, with 43 of those RBI in his final 61 games.
Last season was the only time in his five seasons with the Sox that Konerko did not have at least 81 RBI and 21 homers. He had a career-high 104 RBI in 2002 and 32 homers in 2001. He entered last season with a .287 career batting average and batted a combined .291 in his first four full seasons with the Sox.
"If you know the character of Paul Konerko and know the talent and desire of the man, it was difficult to see somebody put that into his work and not get any returns,'' Williams said. "But this is a humbling game, and everybody struggles. The perception out there is that Paul had a bad year, but he did not. He had a bad first three months.''
Konerko, 27, is scheduled to make $8 million in 2004 and $8.75million in 2005.
Unable to come to terms thus far with midseason acquisitions Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett, both of whom are free agents, Williams also sent out word Thursday that Willie Harris and Aaron Rowand must show more production next season.
"Both [Harris] and Aaron need to get more regular playing time this year to see what they are about,'' Williams said. "They have been exciting payers in the minor leagues. With young players, you are going to see more about what they are about and what they have to offer if they are playing with the same frequency they played with in the minor leagues.''
Williams, who doesn't hide the fact he is a huge Everett fan, still hasn't given up on re-signing the switch-hitting outfielder, even though he doesn't fit into the team's budget.
"Never say never,'' Williams said. "It's a long process and a long offseason, and sometimes you get more optimistic than others that you might retain a guy.''
The New York Post reported Thursday that the Angels might have offered Bartolo Colon the four-year deal he is seeking. With the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies already filling starting pitching needs, the Angels are believed to be one of the last teams in the market for Colon.
The right-hander could end up negotiating with the Sox again if the Angels deal falls through. The Sox were offering Colon a three-year deal at $12 million per season.