White Sox, Konerko Come to Terms

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 8, 2010 5:20PM

Men want to be him. Women want their men to be like him. Jerry Reinsdorf and Kenny Williams didn't want him in a Baltimore Orioles uniform. Either way you look at it, the White Sox and Paul Konerko got it done, agreeing to a 3-year, $37.5 million deal with the proverbial shit-ton of money deferred through 2020.

Under the terms of the deal, Konerko will receive $12 million the next two seasons. The remaining $13.5 million balance is split between a $6.5 million salary in 2013 and $1 million a year from 2014 through 2020. It's a big huge turnaround from when talks between the Sox and Konerko broke down yesterday afternoon, but Reinsdorf stepped in at the last minute to get things done, and assistant GM Rick Hahn hammered out the details of the negotiations. Konerko's camp was adamant about wanting a $15 million annual salary but, good as he was in a contract year in 2010, he's not worth $15 million. But Konerko was due a pay raise and the deferred money helps the Sox stay competitive in the future.

The signing of Konerko and Adam Dunn also means that the White Sox are going to have to get very creative in rebuilding the bullpen, as they've hit the ceiling they want to spend for next year's payroll.