Jerry_Manuel
02-24-2002, 11:17 AM
By Joe Cowley
White Sox general manager Ken Williams tried not to sound like he was crying broke.
"We can't afford the team we currently have," Williams said Saturday when asked about the Sox's projected payroll for 2002. "It's a little worse this year."
Williams was painting a realistic picture of the financial problems facing many baseball teams — including the Sox — these days.
The Sox will likely open the season with a payroll near $57 million. In 2001, the Sox's payroll was almost $64 million.
"We won't spend a dollar if we have just 50 cents," Williams said in 2001.
That's changed, though.
"We can't spend a dollar because now we only have 25 cents," he said Saturday.
"Who knows? Maybe if we get off to a good start, people will become interested in the club. Then not only will we be able to afford the club we have, but add a couple of additions."
In a related matter, Williams seemed confident that slugger Frank Thomas won't have to worry about the club exercising the "revised payment right," an issue that's been hanging over Thomas' head since last year.
When Thomas signed his six-year contract extension Sept. 30, 1997, he also agreed on the "RPR." Beginning last season, if Thomas wasn't a Silver Slugger Award winner, on the All-Star team or in the top 10 of the MVP voting, board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf had the option to pay him just $250,000, plus $10.1 million deferred.
Thomas, in turn, could then terminate the contract and elect to become a free agent.
After falling to a season-ending right triceps injury just 20 games into the '01 season, Reinsdorf promised Thomas the "RPR" would not be exercised.
Nothing was said about 2002 or beyond.
"When you sit at the negotiating table, you try to make a fair deal for both sides," Williams said. "Neither side signs it unless it's a fair deal. Over time, there's been a disheartening feel by Frank.
"That was Jerry and Frank at the table, and right now he's under contract."
Williams doesn't see the contract being a problem for Thomas as it was last season, when Thomas walked out of camp for six days.
"His main concern at this stage is getting back to the player that he knows and proving that he can be a force in this league," Williams said. "It's nice to see him joking and laughing with guys. He seems more relaxed."
White Sox general manager Ken Williams tried not to sound like he was crying broke.
"We can't afford the team we currently have," Williams said Saturday when asked about the Sox's projected payroll for 2002. "It's a little worse this year."
Williams was painting a realistic picture of the financial problems facing many baseball teams — including the Sox — these days.
The Sox will likely open the season with a payroll near $57 million. In 2001, the Sox's payroll was almost $64 million.
"We won't spend a dollar if we have just 50 cents," Williams said in 2001.
That's changed, though.
"We can't spend a dollar because now we only have 25 cents," he said Saturday.
"Who knows? Maybe if we get off to a good start, people will become interested in the club. Then not only will we be able to afford the club we have, but add a couple of additions."
In a related matter, Williams seemed confident that slugger Frank Thomas won't have to worry about the club exercising the "revised payment right," an issue that's been hanging over Thomas' head since last year.
When Thomas signed his six-year contract extension Sept. 30, 1997, he also agreed on the "RPR." Beginning last season, if Thomas wasn't a Silver Slugger Award winner, on the All-Star team or in the top 10 of the MVP voting, board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf had the option to pay him just $250,000, plus $10.1 million deferred.
Thomas, in turn, could then terminate the contract and elect to become a free agent.
After falling to a season-ending right triceps injury just 20 games into the '01 season, Reinsdorf promised Thomas the "RPR" would not be exercised.
Nothing was said about 2002 or beyond.
"When you sit at the negotiating table, you try to make a fair deal for both sides," Williams said. "Neither side signs it unless it's a fair deal. Over time, there's been a disheartening feel by Frank.
"That was Jerry and Frank at the table, and right now he's under contract."
Williams doesn't see the contract being a problem for Thomas as it was last season, when Thomas walked out of camp for six days.
"His main concern at this stage is getting back to the player that he knows and proving that he can be a force in this league," Williams said. "It's nice to see him joking and laughing with guys. He seems more relaxed."