The Chicago White Sox made a major move today, locking up free agent slugger Adam Dunn to a 4-year $56 million deal.
This provides the ChiSox with a huge power bat in the middle of their lineup who can possibly DH, backing up first basemen Paul Konerko if the White Sox captain re-signs with his long-time club.
Add to this lineup the possible re-signing of catcher A. J. Pierzynski, and the South-Siders could have a formidable lineup to back up one of baseball’s better rotations.
A possible lineup could look as follows:
1. LF Juan Pierre
2. SS Alexei Ramirez
3. CF Alex Rios
4. 1B Paul Konerko
5. DH Adam Dunn
6. RF Carlos Quentin
7. C A. J. Pierzynski
8. 3B Mark Teahen
9. 2B Gordon Beckham
The rotation would look like this once Jake Peavy returns from his injury, with rookie Chris Sale likely filling in until then:
1. RHP Jake Peavy
2. LHP Mark Buehrle
3. RHP Edwin Jackson
4. LHP John Danks
5. RHP Gavin Floyd
This team could make the AL Central THE division to watch in 2011.
With the Detroit Tigers improving by acquiring All-Star catcher Victor Martinez, and the 2010 Division Champion Minnesota Twins only having to re-sign Carl Pavano to keep their team intact, this could be a tight race all the way through next season.
The White Sox need to re-sign Paul Konerko and A. J. Pierzynski, or else this move will almost surely wind up being a bust.
Having to watch Adam Dunn man first base all year would be a painful sight to say the least, and replacing the high average and power of Paul Konerko with a low-average power hitter like Dunn would be a step down, not up.
This signing has the potential to be a home run, but unless White Sox GM Ken Williams can retain his old, reliable players, it could be a swing and a miss—something Adam Dunn does a lot of.
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