CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox want Bartolo Colon to come
back so badly they're offering him big money. And valet service.
General manager Kenny Williams said Monday he's offered the free
agent right-hander a three-year deal that would be the largest ever
for a White Sox pitcher. He didn't give details on the numbers, but
Colon made $8.25 million this season.
"Bartolo Colon is a key to this," Williams said. "We want him
back. We think he's the first step in getting our pitching staff
together and having a pretty darned good one."
Colon has said he would like to stay in Chicago, and pitching
coach Don Cooper said he plans to call Colon often to recruit him.
He joked that he'd even offer to carry Colon's bags if that would
seal the deal.
"I'll pick them up and bring them to his apartment downtown if
that will help," Cooper said. "He told me he wants to stay here.
But until it's signed on the dotted line, it's still a question
there."
The White Sox were favored to win the AL Central title after
adding Colon and closer Billy Koch in the offseason, and Roberto
Alomar and Carl Everett in July. Instead, they lost 10 of their
last 18 games to finish four behind the Minnesota Twins.
It's the third straight year the White Sox have missed the
playoffs.
Manager Jerry Manuel was fired Monday, and Williams said there
will be some changes on the field, too. One thing he doesn't want
to touch is his pitching staff. Mark Buehrle is still under
contract, and the White Sox are expected to exercise the $3.5
million option they have for Esteban Loaiza.
If the White Sox can resign Colon, Williams said he's optimistic
about the team's chances next year. Colon went 15-13 with a 3.87
ERA this season, setting a career high with nine complete games.
Colon has now reached double-digit victories in six straight
seasons. He won 20 games last year when he was with Cleveland and
Montreal.
"We feel as though we're going to be right there with all the
better teams if we keep this thing together as much as we can,"
Williams said.