New deal for Pierzynski
When teams underachieve the way the White Sox did this season, players tend to "disappear,'' as starting pitcher James Baldwin observed a decade ago.
The present-day Sox continued to buck that trend Saturday, signing catcher A.J. Pierzynski to a two-year, $12.5 million contract extension.
Pierzynski already was signed through next season, so the new deal effectively could keep the 30-year-old veteran on the South Side through 2010.
Pierzynski has a partial no-trade clause; he can't be dealt to six unnamed teams, and they are believed to all be on the West Coast.
"I consider this my home,'' Pierzynski said. "I've been here three years now and I can be here longer.
"It's a place I won a World Series, a place they welcomed me when there were some questions marks. So you want to reward them, and I wasn't out to break the bank. I just wanted a fair deal, and they gave that to me.''
Pierzynski said Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf initially brought up the extension in mid-August.
"We talked about it, and then they called my agent and got the ball rolling,'' Pierzynski said.
Like most other White Sox hitters, Pierzynski (.263, 14 home runs, 50 RBI) has had an off year with the bat.
"The scarcity of catching out there obviously played into part of the decision,'' said Sox general manager Kenny Williams. "I think more importantly he's a guy we won a championship with. He has proven to me he can handle a pitching staff in such a way he can get the most out of them.
"I believe A.J., to a large degree, still has some untapped talent. And I still believe he can be a .300 hitter like he was prior to him getting here. I also believe he can hit with power and drive in some big runs, and he's done that over the past few years.''
Take a break: Josh Fields was going to report to the Instructional League after the season ends today to continue learning to play left field, but instead the rookie will head for home for some much-needed rest.
"Josh needs a break,'' GM Kenny Williams said. "His legs are bothering him and he's a little tired with his lower half. This is the longest season he's ever played.''