Paul Konerko Hopes Angels Are Watching His Performance

CHICAGO--Paul Konerko is having a superb postseason for the Chicago White Sox. Since he’s a free agent at the end of the year, he is hoping that the Anaheim Angels are watching and are impressed with his thrilling performance.

“Angels, I hope you’re watching this, because this one’s for you,” Konerko said after Sunday’s dramatic victory in which he hit a grand slam. “I’m a free agent at the end of the season, so if you’re interested, let’s talk. We’re going to have to wait until after the series is over, though, because right now I’m just too focused on getting my team a victory to think of anything else. That’s the kind of loyalty and commitment you get when you sign a Paul Konerko.”

Since the White Sox didn’t make any effort to sign him during the season, Konerko has revoked the so-called “hometown discount,” and now the Sox are going to have to enter a bidding war with the rest of the team. For Konerko, it’s like winning the lottery.

“I am going to get stinking rich this offseason,” he said, “one way or another. The White Sox could have had me at a discount at the beginning of the season, but they blew it. Now I’m leaning toward the Angels. Why? Because of the school system, that's why. Just kidding. It’s for the money.”

If Konerko does leave Chicago, the one thing he’ll miss the most is the fans.

“I can’t tell you how great the fans have been this year,” he said. “They’ve been so supportive. They’ve really embraced me as one of their own. You should see all the letters I get from little kids begging me to stay. They’re so cute! But I’m sure the kids in Anaheim are just as cute.”

Konerko’s blatant courtship with the Angels isn’t sitting well with some of his teammates, who would prefer that he remain loyal to the White Sox at least until the season ends.

“I’ll be honest with you, it does get a little irritating,” said catcher AJ Pierzynski. “We’re trying to win a World Series here, and all he’s talking about is where he’s going to play next year. Hopefully he’ll be able to stay focused until this is all over. I know that he’s given his heart and soul to the city of Chicago and that he remains deeply loyal to this team, as long as some other team doesn’t come along and offer him a tiny bit more cash.”

The Angels have yet to admit publicly they have an interest in Konerko. However, a source within the organization said they were “extremely interested” in signing him to a long term deal in the offseason.

“I can tell you that the Angels are watching this series very closely. We’ve taken a keen interest in Konerko,” said the source. “We’re basically just waiting for the series to end so we can sign him to some absurd contract that he will never be able to live up to. We’ve seen all this before. It's the same old story. Eventually he’ll be an old, overpaid veteran, chronically injured, who can’t do much of anything, and we’ll pay some team to take him off our hands…and the circle of life will continue.”

White Sox GM Kenny Williams is aware that Konerko is going to be high demand this offseason. As he’s said all along, the team will make every effort to sign him, but will not go into financial ruin for one player.

“We all know what a great player Paul is, and we’re definitely going to try and sign him,” said Williams. “I think one advantage that we have is that we are the home team and he has a lot of affection for this area. There is a very special relationship between the people of Chicago and these White Sox, and you can’t put a price tag on that kind of thing. Plus, he’s already told us point blank that he wants to stay here. What more do you need? A baseball player’s word is as good as gold.”