Paul Konerko Re-signs With White Sox: South Side Hit Men Set To Slug in 2011

Three years, $37.5 million.

A $500,000 per year raise. Though not exactly a yearly raise.  About $7 million is deferred.

Not too shabby for having one of the greatest years of your career in a contract season.

The table is set on the south side. With Adam Dunn now definitely playing DH, and A.J Pierzynski returning to his catching duties, the White Sox are "all-in" as Kenny Williams put it.

We shouldn't be surprised that a poker metaphor is being used, as this is the same man who only a few months ago was letting it be known that the White Sox did not have the money to spend and that fans should prepare for a potential rebuilding process.

So what happened?  Where did the money come from?

The money was always there, but they looked at their starting rotation (with or without Jake Peavy) and realized it would be a damn shame to let it go to waste.

Now comes the final steps in solidifying a team which on paper has a very legitimate shot to win the American League Central and compete for the pennant: the bullpen.

Bobby Jenks is gone.

Chris Sale might be placed in the starting rotation.

J.J Putz is gone.

Sergio Santo is in unfamiliar ground and could face the sophomore slump.

Threets is gone.

Whatever money Kenny Williams and Jerry Reinsdorf have left, it needs to go to that bullpen.  Believe it or not, the White Sox offense wasn't horrible last year.  At times it was, especially early on.  However, in August they had the best offensive in the American League—and that's when their season fell apart because their bullpen couldn't close out games.

If they can't manage to sure up the bullpen, they're going to lose a lot of games with scores like 10-8, 9-7, etc...

At least it'll be entertaining.