Crede signs with Sox, but is he sticking around?

Posted January 17, 2008 10:00 pm

The White Sox signed third baseman Joe Crede to a one-year, $5.1 million contract on Thursday.

Whether or not Crede plays out the full season with the Sox is the more important question.

Heading into spring training, the White Sox are heavily leaning toward Josh Fields at third base. After Crede had season-ending back surgery last June, Fields came up from Class AAA Charlotte and batted .244 with 23 home runs and 67 RBI in 100 games.

An immensely popular player and one of the White Sox' top performers in the 2005 World Series, Crede batted .216 with 4 home runs and 22 RBI last season before having surgery.

Crede, 29, can earn an additional $300,000 in performance bonuses. He is eligible for free agency at the end of the 2008 season and Crede is not expected to return to the Sox since he is represented by agent Scott Boras.

-- Scot Gregor