Post by zpustka on Nov 1, 2007 10:47:46 GMT -5
Asked Monday where he stood with the start of his offseason plans, White Sox general manager Ken Williams responded with little hesitation, ''Full go.''
He wasn't kidding.
The Sun-Times has learned from two sources in the Sox' organization that Williams plans to meet with Minnesota Twins free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter in the next week. Hunter is headed to Arizona to be inducted into the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame.
While the Sox are not able to discuss years or salary with Hunter at this stage, Williams will be offering Hunter his best sales pitch about how he would fit in and the benefits of joining his division rivals. He took a similar approach with outfielder Jermaine Dye before the 2005 season.
And while Hunter appears to be 1-A atop Williams' wish list -- with Aaron Rowand 1-B -- the feeling might be mutual. Hunter told a person close to the situation this week that he was ''receptive'' to the idea of playing on the South Side.
Why not?
Hunter has said he loves playing at U.S. Cellular Field, where he has hit nine home runs since 2004 and made his share of highlight-reel catches at the center-field wall, and would seem like a perfect fit with the Sox.
Williams might not be alone in the recruiting process when Hunter arrives in Arizona. Dye also lives in the Phoenix area and also is being inducted into the Fall League Hall of Fame. Back in May, the Texas Rangers were rumored to be interested in both Dye and Hunter as a sort of free-agent package, but that fell apart when Dye signed an extension to stay with the Sox.
Williams said in September that the Sox would have room to add at least one free agent to the payroll and that money anywhere under the Alex Rodriguez stratosphere wasn't an issue ''as long as it makes sense.''
Hunter would seem to make sense at $15 million a year if the sides can work out the number of years. He already reportedly turned down a three-year, $45 million offer from the Twins because he wanted a five-year deal.
With the Sox hoping to refocus on defense and pitching, they could try to lock up the perennial Gold Glover for four years.
Williams also is expected to meet with Rowand soon, but considering the familiarity between the sides, most of what needs to be discussed likely has taken place.
Also on the Sox' immediate radar is shortstop and leadoff hitter David Eckstein. In fact, getting a feeler from Eckstein might be the reason the Sox have not made an announcement about picking up their $5 million option on shortstop Juan Uribe.
A source indicated that the Sox likely will pick up Uribe's option either way and that he might be a possibility at second base or even third base if the Sox decide to part ways with Joe Crede before he becomes a free agent after the 2008 season.
The Sox did make two predictable decisions Wednesday, declining options on infielder/ outfielder Darin Erstad and left-handed reliever Mike Myers.
Erstad, 33, was injured for almost two months last season and hit .248 with four homers. Myers, 38, was 1-0 with an 11.20 ERA after signing with the Sox in August.
He wasn't kidding.
The Sun-Times has learned from two sources in the Sox' organization that Williams plans to meet with Minnesota Twins free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter in the next week. Hunter is headed to Arizona to be inducted into the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame.
While the Sox are not able to discuss years or salary with Hunter at this stage, Williams will be offering Hunter his best sales pitch about how he would fit in and the benefits of joining his division rivals. He took a similar approach with outfielder Jermaine Dye before the 2005 season.
And while Hunter appears to be 1-A atop Williams' wish list -- with Aaron Rowand 1-B -- the feeling might be mutual. Hunter told a person close to the situation this week that he was ''receptive'' to the idea of playing on the South Side.
Why not?
Hunter has said he loves playing at U.S. Cellular Field, where he has hit nine home runs since 2004 and made his share of highlight-reel catches at the center-field wall, and would seem like a perfect fit with the Sox.
Williams might not be alone in the recruiting process when Hunter arrives in Arizona. Dye also lives in the Phoenix area and also is being inducted into the Fall League Hall of Fame. Back in May, the Texas Rangers were rumored to be interested in both Dye and Hunter as a sort of free-agent package, but that fell apart when Dye signed an extension to stay with the Sox.
Williams said in September that the Sox would have room to add at least one free agent to the payroll and that money anywhere under the Alex Rodriguez stratosphere wasn't an issue ''as long as it makes sense.''
Hunter would seem to make sense at $15 million a year if the sides can work out the number of years. He already reportedly turned down a three-year, $45 million offer from the Twins because he wanted a five-year deal.
With the Sox hoping to refocus on defense and pitching, they could try to lock up the perennial Gold Glover for four years.
Williams also is expected to meet with Rowand soon, but considering the familiarity between the sides, most of what needs to be discussed likely has taken place.
Also on the Sox' immediate radar is shortstop and leadoff hitter David Eckstein. In fact, getting a feeler from Eckstein might be the reason the Sox have not made an announcement about picking up their $5 million option on shortstop Juan Uribe.
A source indicated that the Sox likely will pick up Uribe's option either way and that he might be a possibility at second base or even third base if the Sox decide to part ways with Joe Crede before he becomes a free agent after the 2008 season.
The Sox did make two predictable decisions Wednesday, declining options on infielder/ outfielder Darin Erstad and left-handed reliever Mike Myers.
Erstad, 33, was injured for almost two months last season and hit .248 with four homers. Myers, 38, was 1-0 with an 11.20 ERA after signing with the Sox in August.