First-round draft pick Beckham OKs contract
With Friday night's deadline to sign looming, Gordon Beckham could have made the White Sox sweat a little while trying to squeeze out a few more dollars.
"That's not my personality," Beckham said. "I didn't want to make the White Sox think I was just holding out for more money. It was one of those things where, personally, I would feel a lot better taking what I did and kind of building a good relationship with them."
Beckham and the Sox seemed like a perfect match Wednesday after the 21-year-old shortstop agreed to terms on a minor-league contract while also receiving a $2.6 million signing bonus.
As a comparison, Tim Beckham (no relation) got a $6.15 million signing bonus from the Tampa Bay Rays after being drafted No. 1 overall.
An All-American at the University of Georgia, Gordon Beckham was the White Sox' first-round draft pick (No. 8 overall). He batted .411 with 28 home runs and 77 RBI while leading the Bulldogs to the championship round of the College World Series.
After taking batting practice with the Sox on Wednesday, the 6-foot, 185-pounder is scheduled to join Class A Kannapolis today.
When the White Sox drafted Beckham, manager Ozzie Guillen compared him to Texas Rangers all-star Michael Young.
"I hope I'm Michael Young," Beckham said. "I hope I get to that level. I think I can. That's obviously a great compliment from a guy who has been around a long time.
"I think everybody is different, everybody plays the game a different way. I play it my way. I would like to lead the White Sox one day the way Derek Jeter leads the Yankees. That would be the kind of leadership role I would like to take."
Broadway gets start: After weighing the pros and cons for three days, the Sox decided on Lance Broadway as their starting pitcher for today's game against the Royals.
D.J. Carrasco was the early favorite to take Jose Contreras' spot in the rotation, but manager Ozzie Guillen wants to keep him in the bullpen.
"If Carrasco starts (today), then we lose him for four or five days," Guillen said. "Especially with (Scott) Linebrink not here, I think it's important that the seventh and eighth innings, before we get to Bobby (Jenks), to have those guys ready."
Broadway was 10-7 with a 4.68 ERA in 23 games (22 starts) with Class AAA Charlotte this season.
"I feel good," Broadway said. "Nothing has changed for me personally. I feel good, whether it would have been in relief tomorrow or starting."