June 2012 - Chicago White Sox Wiretap

Paul Konerko says the White Sox were "just giving away games" last season because of tension between the front office and then-manager Ozzie Guillen. Chicago finished 79-83 last season and in third place in the American League Central. Guillen was granted a release from the White Sox with two games left in the season and took over as Marlins manager two days later. "There were probably games and days given away because of people worrying about things that were not related to the game of baseball," Konerko said. "Especially toward the end last year we were just giving away games, and you know big-league players should be mentally tougher than to have that stuff bother you ... but then it all came to a head, and I guess that's how things go. If it didn't go that way then no one would see the need to make a change."

The Cubs remain the front-runners to sign Jorge Soler, but the White Sox might be open to spending more to land the Cuban outfielder. The White Sox are in position to spend having traded Carlos Quentin and Jason Frasor while allowing Mark Buehrle and Juan Pierre to leave via free agency.

The White Sox have signed left-handed hitter Kosuke Fukudome to a low-risk contract. Fukudome will make only $1 million guaranteed, half of that coming this season. If he proves himself productive, he could make $3.5 million for 2013. He is coming off a four-year, $48 million deal with the Cubs.

Ozzie Guillen, then manager of White Sox, knew Adam Dunn was headed for a rough 2011 season last spring. Sitting in his Arizona office on the first day of spring training last year, Guillen was approached by then-hitting coach Greg Walker, who had just watched a batting practice session with Dunn, Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin and A.J. Pierzynski. "He says 'We have a problem,'" Guillen said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "I say 'What? Spring training is only a couple of days [old].' He says 'You've got to come out and see Adam Dunn's swing.' I said 'Don't worry about it. We've got a month and a half to get ready, go through spring training. Don't worry about it.'" That early batting practice session turned out to be a precursor for one of the worst major league seasons of all time. Signed to a four-year, $56 million deal in the offseason, Dunn batted .159 with 177 strikeouts in 415 at-bats. "People in Chicago, believe me, he tried everything in his power to get better," Guillen said. "He just had a bad year. Hopefully he will bounce back."

The White Sox are closing in on a Minor League contract with former Arkansas and Southern California quarterback Mitch Mustain, according to a source. Mustain had planned to play in the Arena Football League this year, but put that on hold. A right-handed pitcher, Mustain hasn't played baseball since he was at Springdale (Ark.) High School.

Jake Peavy says he is as close to 100 percent as he is going to get as the 2012 season approaches. "I'm as 100 percent as I can be. I don't know if I'm 100 percent as to what I was four years ago," the right-hander said. "I know I'm as 100 percent as 100 percent is going to get after what I had done (surgically). I guess that's the best way to say it." He has only appeared in 36 games for Chicago in the last two seasons. "I would be terribly disappointed," Peavy said of not making his expected 33 starts. "It's something I want to do and I've done before. I just haven't been healthy since I got traded over here." He had experimental surgery on his latissimus dorsi muscle a little over a year ago. "I want to be a starter, I want to throw 200 innings, I want to make 30 starts. Anything less would be disappointing," Peavy said.

Yoenis Cespedes could begin visiting Major League teams next week and the Marlins continue to show strong interest. Miami president David Samson says he isn't sure if Cespedes will visit Southern Florida. "If it can be arranged, and he wants to come to Miami and see our ballpark, it would be great," Samson said. "From our standpoint, we are aggressively negotiating a contract, but there is no way of knowing if we will be a high bidder." The Cuban outfielder obtained temporary residency in the Dominican Republic and was cleared by Major League Baseball to negotiate with teams last week. The White Sox, Cubs, Marlins, Orioles and Tigers reportedly have been linked to him.

Paul Konerko says retirement may be nearing as he enters the 2012 season with two years left on his contract. "No doubt it could be," Konerko said in an interview with Comcast SportsNet. "Yeah, in all reality I would see it ending after next year or maybe another year. I mean, at some point you got to go home and be around your kids and have other things to do." Konerko, who will turn 36 in March, has 396 career home runs and is coming off the two best offensive seasons of his career. It could be the tough plight of the White Sox that may be pushing the slugger into retirement. "Truth be told, there was that little glimmer at the end of '08 where we got hot, the Twins got kind of cold and ... we found ourselves in the playoffs. But the honest truth is since '05, we've kind of slowly but surely just kind of given back everything we earned steadily. We're kind of at this spot now where it's like, 'Here we are, back at square one again

The White Sox have signed Dan Johnson to a Minor League deal. Johnson was a hero for the Rays last fall, hitting a home run in the season finale to help send a must-win game to extra innings.