They are committed to $85.75 million for eight players in 2013 (with an certain to happen $4 million for Peavy’s buyout). I had high hoped for Peavy, Dunn, and Rios. But the facts are that they just have not produced relative to their salary. (For the record, I would love to be proven wrong here.)
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- Jake Peavy: ’12: $17M, ’13: $22M or $4M buyout
- Adam Dunn: ’12: $14M, ’13:$15M, ’14:$15M
- Alex Rios: ’12: $12M, ’13: $12.5M, ’14:$12.5M, ’15:$13.5M or $1M buyout
- Paul Konerko: ’12: $12M, ’13: $13.5M
- Gavin Floyd: ’12: $7M, ’13: $9.5M club option
- A.J. Pierzynski: ’12: $6M
- Matt Thornton: ’12: $5.5M, ’13: $5.5M, ’14: $6M or $1M buyout
- Alexei Ramirez: ’12:$5M, ’13:$7M, ’14:$9.5M, ’15:$10M, ’16:$10M club option
- Jesse Crain: ’12: $4.5M, ’13: $4.5M
- Will Ohman: ’12: $2.5M
- Dayan Viciedo: ’12: $2.5M
Mark Buehrle headed south to join Ozzie Guillen in Miami and Sergio Santos’ got traded to Toronto. So, this leaves pitching coach Don Copper quite a different looking pitching staff to work with in the upcoming season. Will Chris Sale make the move to the starting rotation and be productive? Can Phillip Humber and a recovering Jake Peavy be productive?
John Danks and Gavin Floyd now need to take that next step and be ready to be the ace of the pitching staff.
Who will be the closer in 2012? 2011 was closer by committee until the now departed Sergio Santos took over that role at towards the end of the season. Will it be Matt Thorton? Jesse Crain or maybe Addison Reed? It really appears to be anyone at this time. I am looking for spring training to give a better indication who will file the closer role.
Now that Carlos Quentin has been shipped off to the Padres we won’t have to suffer to sparks of brilliance in between time spent on IR. The last couple of seasons have been nothing short of disappointing as he finished both on the IR. With his departure though that does provide Dayan Viciedo the chance to see how he will do being the full-time starter. There are some people that are thinking that this was only the first move to make room on the payroll in order to sign Cuban sensation Yoenis Cespedes. Only time will tell on that. If Danks or Floyd are moved being spring training opens it could signal just that.
I have to admit that bringing in Robin Ventura as manager looks like another potential battle between Kenny Williams and the manager. My hope is that we don’t see the coaching staff turn into more of a former player chess set. Yes, Ozzie did great his first couple of years. Harold Baines is a quiet and well respected leader. I always had my doubts about bench coach Joey Cora and hitting coach Greg Walker. During too many games last season I was able to see a clear pattern that the opposing pitchers would be throwing. If I could see it why couldn’t they see it and make the necessary adjustments?
Bill Kosla
NJFFL- Chicago White Sox
@wolfhound89
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