Yankees "closing in" on deal with AJ

[beasly213]

Buster Olney tweeted that he heard from an agent he trusts that AJ most likely will end up back with the White Sox..

[WhiteSox5187]

Originally Posted by beasly213

Buster Olney tweeted that he heard from an agent he trusts that AJ most likely will end up back with the White Sox..

Rosenthal tweeted last night that linked AJ to the Rangers (the article made it seem like that was mainly conjecture on the part of the author however). I am somewhat surprised that the market for AJ is so limited, I know he is 37 but he can still go out and hit .280 and in a hitter friendly ballpark like Yankee Stadium or the Ballpark in Arlington he might be capable of hitting 15+ home runs.

[Lip Man 1]

I hope this proves to be correct although I asked about this with a good source a few minutes ago. They said they simply can't see it happening because, "A.J. would be very, very, very, very miserable..." (direct quote)

They feel he's going to Texas.

I picked up hints from this individual in the past who knows A.J. well that he likes Chicago, the Sox organization and the fans but he really, really wants a monster payday for his final contract...that he doesn't just want a 'good' contract. If that's true, that's probably out of the Sox range...but we'll see.

Lip

[JB98]

Originally Posted by Lip Man 1

I hope this proves to be correct although I asked about this with a good source a few minutes ago. They said they simply can't see it happening because, "A.J. would be very, very, very, very miserable..." (direct quote)

They feel he's going to Texas.

I picked up hints from this individual in the past who knows A.J. well that he likes Chicago, the Sox organization and the fans but he really, really wants a monster payday for his final contract...that he doesn't just want a 'good' contract. If that's true, that's probably out of the Sox range...but we'll see.

Lip

I just don't know that anyone is going to give him that huge contract he seeks. We've talked a lot here on WSI about A.J. being a 35-year-old catcher, and we've talked a lot about how he's unlikely to duplicate his 2012 production. We all know giving him a monster deal would be a huge gamble for any club, and if we know it, baseball people surely know it, too.

I wouldn't be stunned if the market for A.J. is so slim that he ends up back in the Sox range. I also won't be stunned if one team (like Texas or New York) decides they are desperate enough and gives him the big contract he desires.

This really could go either way. I do know the Sox won't overpay, nor should they.

[TomBradley72]

Originally Posted by Lip Man 1

I hope this proves to be correct although I asked about this with a good source a few minutes ago. They said they simply can't see it happening because, "A.J. would be very, very, very, very miserable..." (direct quote)

They feel he's going to Texas.

I picked up hints from this individual in the past who knows A.J. well that he likes Chicago, the Sox organization and the fans but he really, really wants a monster payday for his final contract...that he doesn't just want a 'good' contract. If that's true, that's probably out of the Sox range...but we'll see.

Lip

That's a shame if it's true- if there was ever a player who should give a "hometown discount" to his team- it's AJ and the White Sox- he's a great fit and the fans love him- and will still support him even with the (likely) decline that will occur as he ages.

It's up to the Sox to give him a very solid offer- but my theory is that any team other than the White Sox will = San Francisco Giants for AJ.

[#1swisher]

Buster Olney
A very respected agent who is canvassing the catchers' market thinks that eventually, there will be a reunion of A.J. Pierzynski/CWS.

[TheVulture]

AJ to the Yankees?

[pythons007]

Originally Posted by TomBradley72

That's a shame if it's true- if there was ever a player who should give a "hometown discount" to his team- it's AJ and the White Sox- he's a great fit and the fans love him- and will still support him even with the (likely) decline that will occur as he ages.

It's up to the Sox to give him a very solid offer- but my theory is that any team other than the White Sox will = San Francisco Giants for AJ.

Why in the hell does AJ owe anything to the White Sox?

[TomBradley72]

Originally Posted by pythons007

Why in the hell does AJ owe anything to the White Sox?

He doesn't "owe" them anything- I agree- I just think this is the best fit for him overall- fans, culture, history with the team, etc.- I think he had a career year last year- he's going to decline on offense as well as defense- my theory is that the fans in Texas or NYY will not be nearly as forgiving as White Sox fans- where he has an 8 year history, etc.

[Noneck]

Originally Posted by pythons007

Why in the hell does AJ owe anything to the White Sox?

He owes no one but himself. The discount may be for his own benefit though. Look at what happened to his buddy Burls, he may not want to be shipped off to timbuktu in july for the last couple years of his career.

[DumpJerry]

Originally Posted by Noneck

He owes no one but himself. The discount may be for his own benefit though. Look at what happened to his buddy Burls, he may not want to be shipped off to timbuktu in july for the last couple years of his career.

The Yankees are not the Marlins. I heard that Burls said he was lied to by the Marlins organization when he signed (hey Mark, there's no place like home). I don't think we've ever heard a player complain that the Yankees lied to him.

[Noneck]

Originally Posted by DumpJerry

The Yankees are not the Marlins. I heard that Burls said he was lied to by the Marlins organization when he signed (hey Mark, there's no place like home). I don't think we've ever heard a player complain that the Yankees lied to him.

Might not lie to him, may just tell him, you are here till you are not here. That may be the deal.

[SOXSINCE'70]

I saw an MLB Network scroll last night that said the Rangers are back in the hunt.

[johnnyg83]

Originally Posted by SOXSINCE'70

I saw an MLB Network scroll last night that said the Rangers are back in the hunt.

MLB trade rumors also reporting this. Since they've lost out on Greinke, Hamilton, Napoli, maybe they're getting more desperate. Not desperate, just more than they were.

[Sockinchisox]

Looks like he's heading to Texas.

‏@Ken_Rosenthal
Sources: Pierzynski, #Rangers closing in on one-year contract. Deal will be pending a physical, not yet done.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/st...88421138534400