Sox' Williams catches up with speedy Pierre at last

Finally.

After years of trying, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams finally pried outfielder Juan Pierre away from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Three years ago we started talking about it and it came together a couple of days ago - I'm not kidding," Williams said with a laugh. "We've asked about Juan over the years, so much so that I've probably irritated (Dodgers GM) Ned (Colletti) more than once or twice."

But his persistence paid off Tuesday when he landed the speedy left fielder who is already penciled in at the leadoff spot, with either Alexei Ramirez or Gordon Beckham expected to hit behind him.

The Sox also received cash considerations from the Dodgers in the deal in exchange for a pair of minor league pitchers to be named later. According to reports, the Sox will pay $3 million of Pierre's salary next season followed by $5 million in 2011 with the Dodgers picking up the rest of his $18.5 million deal.

"Kenny's a miracle worker," manager Ozzie Guillen said.

How excited was the Sox skipper about the Pierre acquisition?

So much so that he broke in on Pierre's conference call with reporters to welcome his new leadoff man aboard.

"He's a special kid; he brings a lot to the table on and off the field," said Guillen, who coached Pierre with the world champion Florida Marlins in 2003. "He goes about his business the right way."

For the 32-year-old Pierre, who hit .308 with 30 stolen bases and a .365 on-base percentage last season, the chance to reunite with Guillen and play on a full-time basis is quite the freeing experience.

"I've been in the witness protection program the last few years," Pierre joked. "If I'm healthy, I want to be out there. I've had two years of storage."

It was tough for the Dodgers to let him go.

"Juan always put the Dodgers first, even when it wasn't in his personal best interest," Colletti told mlb.com. "In this day, that is a rare attribute."

The arrival of Pierre signals the departure - again - of outfielder Scott Podsednik, who is a free agent seeking a longer-term deal.

"I'm not going to criticize a guy who helped us win a championship and certainly last year, did everything he could to try and keep us going," Williams said. "I don't know that we were ever really close to signing Scott."

The acquisition of Pierre continues Williams' extreme makeover of the Sox.

Of the projected everyday starters, only Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin, Alexei Ramirez and A.J. Pierzynski were with the team at the start the 2009 season.

"Ozzie likes the flexibity we have right now," Williams said. "This is a very critical last thing on our list."

And though there's been a hue and cry in some corners for Williams to pick up a big bopper, Guillen said he's ready to go with the players he has now.

"Absolutely. Absolutely," the Sox skipper said. "I don't want to hear about home runs.

"I'm excited about what we have."