Paul Konerko plans to stay with White Sox

After free-agent starting pitcher Mark Buehrle left the White Sox on Wednesday — signing a four-year, $58-million contract with the upstart Miami Marlins — emailer Bob Belke from Huntley was on the attack.

“Maybe (general manager) Kenny (Williams) knew what he was doing with (closer Sergio) Santos,” Belke said. “How often will they have a late lead anyways?”

Zing.

Belke, a longtime Sox fan, was not at all happy with Tuesday’s trade that sent Santos to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor-league starter Nestor Molina.

And he was even more perturbed over Buehrle’s exit.

There are a lot of unhappy White Sox fans these days, which is to be expected.

After moving Santos at the winter meetings in Dallas, Williams admitted the Sox are rebuilding.

Even more payroll needs to be shed, and you have to wonder who is next to go.

John Danks, Carlos Quentin and Gavin Floyd are popular candidates, but what about Paul Konerko?

Trading the Sox’ most productive player would create a massive uproar, but who ever thought Buehrle would leave the White Sox?

In an interview with the Daily Herald on Thursday, Konerko said he plans to stay put.

“I have not been approached about not staying, and I am fine with staying,” Konerko said via email.

Are the White Sox going to eventually approach Konerko about leaving?

Williams has given no indication a Konerko move is forthcoming, but he’s always conducted business under the radar.

Last season, word leaked that the Sox placed Konerko on waivers and the Arizona Diamondbacks placed a claim.

A deal could not be worked out, and Konerko was pulled back.

Konerko is signed for two more years, and compared to the whopping contract Albert Pujols got from the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, he is a bargain at a total cost of $25.5 million.

You might think Konerko would gladly waive his no-trade clause and welcome a trade to a team in better financial straits than the White Sox, but that is not the case.

“When I signed back, I went over all the scenarios then about what could happen with the team,” Konerko told the Daily Herald. “Obviously, I would have liked to win last year to avoid major changes, but I will be prepared mentally and physically to do whatever they want me to do come spring training.

“Moves they make have nothing to do with how I get ready to play before the season or how I play during season.”

The White Sox have been actively trying to trade Danks, Quentin and Floyd, but there is one big problem.

All three players are eligible for free agency after the 2012 season, so interested teams are hesitant to make attractive trade offers.

Before leaving the winter meetings Thursday, Williams told reporters he is willing to stand pat for the time being.

“We will all have answers to that in the upcoming weeks and months,” Williams said. “It’s still a work in progress, but I wouldn’t anticipate anything major unless the opportunity presents itself to add impact, young-type players. But if that doesn’t manifest itself, this just isn’t the time to make wholesale changes.”

Ÿ The White Sox lost starting pitcher Terry Doyle to the Twins in Thursday’s Rule 5 draft.

Doyle was impressive in the Arizona Fall League, going 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 8 starts with the Mesa Solar Sox.

The right-hander spent last season with Class A Winston-Salem and AA Birmingham, going 8-10 with a 3.07 ERA.

Minnesota paid a $50,000 claim fee for Doyle. If he does not break spring training on the Twins’ 25-man roster, Doyle has to be offered back to the White Sox for $25,000.

Outfielder Jordan Danks was not selected in the Rule 5 draft.

sgregor@dailyherald.com