Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko has meant so much to the history of White Sox baseball. After bouncing around with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds in his first two seasons in Major League Baseball, Konerko found a home with the White Sox in 1999. During his time in Chicago, Konerko helped the White Sox win the World Series in 2005. Konerko is a six-time American League All-Star and he has been the team captain of the White Sox since 2006. Konerko is also third in White Sox franchise history in hits (2,203), third in doubles (392), second in home runs (422), and second in runs batted in (1,341). Konerko is so respected within the White Sox organization that he was actually considered for the managerial position after the departure of Ozzie Guillen in 2011.Injuries have curtailed Konerko’s production this season and at 37-years of age you wonder if this will be his swan song as a player?
Konerko is eligible to become a free agent at the end of the season and I doubt that White Sox general manager Kenny Williams would be willing to bring Konerko back as a player when the White Sox are looking to get younger and also shed salary.
In 74 games this season, Konerko has a .244 batting average, 7 home runs, and 34 runs batted in. This is a far cry from a man who is a career .281 hitter and has averaged 31 homers along with 100 runs batted in for his MLB career as age and injuries appear to have caught up to him.
What I could see Williams doing is bringing Konerko back in a role within the organization.Over the years Williams and the White Sox have been loyal to former White Sox players. Guillen spent the first 13 seasons of his MLB playing career with the “South Siders” before he became White Sox manager in 2004. The current White Sox managerial staff contains former White Sox players in manager Robin Ventura, assistant hitting coach Harold Baines, first base coach Daryl Boston, and bullpen coach Bobby Thigpen. In a season where the White Sox currently find themselves in last place of the AL Central, there will definitely be changes heading into 2014. Konerko could find a place on the White Sox managerial staff or he could put on a suit and join Williams in the front office.
For 14 years, Konerko has been a man’s man in the White Sox uniform and the city of Chicago recognizes that. Konerko has had one hell of a ride with the White Sox and if this is it, he has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
Source:Baseball-reference.com
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