In an interview with Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio today, A.J. Pierzynski said that the White Sox have not made him an offer to return to the club in 2011. (Twitter link) Pierzynski doesn't specify if the club has made any contact with him at all, and it's worth noting that Chicago still has three days left of exclusive negotiating time for pending free agents. Given that Pierzynski said he would like to keep playing in Chicago "but they are going to have to want him first," however, it seems unlikely that the Sox have opened negotiations.
Pierzynski went into detail about his criteria for a new team (another Twitter link): in order, his new club must be a contender, be willing to give him a starting job, be located close to his home in Florida and along those same lines must also have their spring training camp in Florida and be a "quick flight home." He says the Marlins, Padres, Rangers, Rays and Red Sox "would all be good fits." All of these teams except the Rays were mentioned by MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith in his look at potential suitors for Pierzynski. All make some sense on Pierzynski's checklist, though the Rangers and Padres are in Arizona for spring training and San Diego is a cross-country flight away from his home.
I usually don’t pay attention to a catcher’s defensive abilities outside of watching everybody walk to second against Victor Martinez and people online saying a catcher is good or bad defensively. So is Pierzynski good or bad defensively?
He’s not bad, but he does a great job calling a game as well.
I’d be shocked if the Sox didn’t sign A.J., unless they signed V-Mart.
But he is like face 2.0 of the White Sox and does a great job at his position for the Sox. Unlike some catchers, he can hit and catch.
By the way, thanks for what you said yesterday, but theres one problem, I don’t know what witty means!
“I’d be shocked if the Sox didn’t sign A.J., unless they signed V-Mart. “Which color? White or Red?If he’s good defensively then I see 3 guys potentially taking the Red Sox starting job next year: Napoli, Buck, or Pierzynski with Salty as primary back up. I think Martinez and Tek are history.
White.
I’d like to see the Red Sox sign Buck. As you said, I think Salty is finished in Boston.
I didn’t say that. I think no matter what Salty is a back up next year with Theo gambling that Salty might be able to fulfill the potential he had before he left Atlanta. Considering the Red Sox gave up lottery tickets for Salty I’d say the gamble is a decent one.
But I do agree about Buck… I think he could potentially be a great buy low for the Red Sox. He proved he could handle AL East pitching in Toronto.
Well the thing about Salty, like Alex Gordon, is if they do show that potential somewhere, whether its college or the. Minors, even the Majors, you just have to ride them until they are truly done. I think Salty is done in Boston, not in the Majors, just in Boston.
This is a little off-topic, but I am a huge Drake Britton fan. Really happy to see him on BA’s top 10 but can’t believe Reddick made it over Tejeda.
Salty has yet to have enough time in Boston for me to say he’s busted. I’ll stick with the idea he’s a lottery ticket.
I saw Britton’s clips a few times last year and I agree he could be something and that’s all I’ll say to not sound biased. But honestly I think his placement on the BA’s prospect list is inflated due to his sudden rise this year. The only thing I can say about him is his status as a trade chip has gone up.
Donald greinke?
Wha? I don’t see Greinke joining the Red Sox pitching staff next year.
Because of Baird he might waive the clause.
I don’t see the Sox moving on any pitcher in the off season, especially one who’d cost them an arm and a leg in prospects.
Maybe I am being biased but honestly, Buck looks like the best one from that group. Napoli has some good power but is a pretty bad defensive catcher while Buck has a pretty crap OBP but good power and pretty decent defensively.
I don’t see how AJ can make these demands coming off a season with a .300 OBP and unable to throw anyone out. That said, I say he returns to the Sox. He’s their best option.
1.8 WAR, lead MLB Catchers in innings caught. only 6 passed balls. FP% .995. and 9/46 coming from a catcher even with a .300 OBP is better than most C’s in the league.
Pierzynski having criteria is pretty high on the lol scale, near Jeff Francoeur demanding to be traded. Then again the latter got his wish, so why not…
The Rays won’t get Pierzynski. They already have no money to spend on players. They will just play the safe route and use their top prospects. however, the Rays can get him. We need a catcher to replace shoppach.
I would go with Jaso next year as starter. He had a fairly decent rookie year at 26 YO, is alot cheaper than Pierzynski and had a better year than Shoppach and younger than either. Shoppach I would trade/DFA/release.
I know Flowers did bad,but I really want him to get the starting nod.
The Padres don’t meet any of his criterion…is he just a big fish taco fan?
Catcher is a premium position with very few players who excel at all aspects of it. A team weighs a player’s strengths vs weaknesses and determines what weaknesses with which it can live. In AJ’s case, good game-calling/blocking pitches in the dirt vs. a mediocre arm/hitting.
Earlier this year, Texas supposedly had interest in him. With Molina expected to retire, maybe this is a fit. His status as s a Type A free agent with a resulting loss of a draft pick (1st or 2nd) will have to be factored into the equation.
A.J. was a very consistent hitter throughout his career, except for this year when it seems is impending FA got to him, as it does to some players. He made up for an awful first three months with a very hot August and September. So the total numbers for 2010 lie a bit.Defensively, he threw out more runners than any time this year, but metric wise, he’s always going to take a hit since Sox pitchers are among the league-worst at holding runners.His true defensive value is measured by how how he handles pitchers, which as far as I know isn’t measured in defensive statistics. I’m hoping he comes back to the White Sox, but if he wants the same salary or a big raise off his $6.25M, the White Sox may have to look elsewhere.
Pierzynski is high on the intangible scales. Hard to quantify what he truly brings. I watch the Sox on CSN and he always seems to be in the middle of a rally….or deking a defensive player into a bad throwing decision.
I’ve watched nearly every ChiSox game for the last 6 years.
AJ is probably the most baseball-smart player in the game, according to a number of people — (“experts”…not fans). Its amazing how often he makes the right play, when no other players know what is going on or what the rules are.
He CAN hit for .290, but stunk it up the first half of 2010. Every at bat seemed like a weak grounder to second.
He has occasionally pop to right field.
He can’t throw out a tortoise. His throws seem decent, but for some reason they always get there late.
He is outstanding at calling a game. He makes a staff better. (This is his real value).
And he does the little things to annoy the other team. You hate him…unless he wears your uniform. He’s definitely not a “mean jerk” type. He’s really a good, polite, outgoing guy. But he’s an instigator, and will try to get under the other team’s skin to gain an advantage.