Konerko will test FA market

Chicago will have to wait to see if they can retain their first baseman.
KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox are playing a wait-and-see game of cat-and-mouse with free agent Paul Konerko that may not be resolved until after the annual winter meetings the first full week of December.
While general manager Ken Williams is eager to move on to other phases of restructuring his World Series champion White Sox, he is on hold until he knows whether he needs to find a new first baseman.
"[Konerko and agent Craig Landis] want to go through the [free agent] process and see what people say at the winter meetings," Williams said. "We're trying to walk the line of difficulty in balancing the respect due to him and protecting the club's interest and trying to prepare if he is not back."
As the winter meetings approach, time -- and timing -- become more important. Options to replace Konerko will be dwindling by the time the Dallas meetings end Dec. 8.
Thome mentioned
Among those who could replace Konerko would be Philadelphia's Jim Thome and Florida's Carlos Delgado. Neither is a free agent and would have to come via trade.
But Williams does not want to give up players in trade if he doesn't have to.
"There are some things we could engage in now if we wanted to," Williams said. "The difficulty is remaining patient and respectful, but not to put ourselves in a position to lose out on other situations.
"We will head to the winter meetings and be as aggressive as we've always been and hope that the timing works out."
The White Sox had hoped for an early answer from Konerko, but that apparently is not going to happen even though there appears to be minimal interest in him because of his massive salary.
The White Sox are believed not even to have made a formal offer to their slugger.
Angels interested
The only other team that has shown overt interest is the Los Angeles Angels and its reported offer may be for less than the five years, $60 million-plus Konerko and his agent wanted.
Sources have said at least one other team is in the early bidding, although others could join before the winter meetings begin Dec. 4.
"My understanding is that we will have the opportunity to retain him, all things being equal," Williams said.
In other words, the White Sox believe they will have the last say in matching or beating whatever offers Konerko receives. Landis did not return a phone call seeking comment.