General Manager Ron Schueler dipped into the White Sox treasury Monday and pulled out a $20.7 million plum for Robin Ventura, his All-Star third baseman, and said: “I’m extremely happy. I have said all along we want to build around Frank Thomas, Ozzie Guillen and Robin.”
Like first baseman Thomas and shortstop Guillen, Ventura agreed to a long-term deal-four years guaranteed with a club option for a fifth year. If the Sox pick up the option, Ventura’s average annual wage would be $5.3 million; otherwise, it would be $5.2 million.
“I’m happy,” Ventura said from his California home. “It took a while, but I can’t sit here and say they weren’t fair. There was no crazy stuff. Everything worked out.”
Why four years?
“That’s what they wanted. They decided about the length.”
Manager Gene Lamont, who was at Comiskey Park Monday for a late afternoon press conference kicking off the club’s annual winter caravan, also expressed delight.
“We now have three outstanding players for a long time, and that certainly speaks well for the present and the future.”
More Top Picks Oster Versa Pro
By signing, Ventura avoided a salary arbitration hassle. His arbitration request was $4.05 million against the club offer of $3.3 million. Had he gone to arbitration, he would have been locked in for only one year.
Pitcher Jack McDowell, winner of the 1993 American League Cy Young Award, is the club’s only remaining arbitration eligible. McDowell is asking for $6.5 million against the club offer of $5.3 million.
Ventura, 26, has won three consecutive Gold Glove awards for fielding excellence and is the first AL regular third baseman since Graig Nettles of the 1978 Yankees to drive in 90 or more runs for three successive seasons. Ventura was second to Thomas in the power department last year with 22 home runs and 94 runs batted in.
Lamont said he wasn’t sure where Ventura would bat in the lineup, but that he won’t continue to hit fourth behind Thomas. Thomas will remain in the third slot, but will be followed in the order by newcomer Julio Franco, the former Texas slugger, who was acquired as a free agent.
“Robin will bat either second or fifth,” Lamont said. Lamont indicated he would prefer hitting Ventura second.
“But I don’t know if we will have enough guys at the bottom of the lineup to drive in runs,” Lamont explained. “That’s the question we’ll have to answer in spring training.”
Lamont conceded he isn’t likely to have many other questions except for the selection of the fifth pitcher in the starting rotation, which is certainly not of major importance. The fact is, the Sox have four outstanding starters in McDowell, Alex Fernandez, Wilson Alvarez and Jason Bere. Roberto Hernandez, who had a big season in short relief last year, will continue in that role. Bere and Hernandez were among the players who appeared at the press conference. The others were Franco, Guillen, Joey Cora and Craig Grebeck. Along with Fernandez and Mike Huff, they are on the two Sox caravans, which for the next four days and nights will tour Illinois and Indiana.
The 30-minute press conference was dominated by questions about Michael Jordan, the professional basketball superstar who has been working out daily for several months in the hopes of earning a spot on the Sox’s 25-man roster.
“He’s awfully gifted,” Lamont said, referring to Jordan. “He’s made improvement since the last time I saw him. If Shoe (Schueler) thinks he can help us, fine.”
Lamont also said if Jordan is invited to spring training he would not be hitting against lollipop batting-practice pitchers.
“He’d have to face pitchers who probably throw a little harder than Shoe. It would be a regular spring-training situation. It could be very tough for him.”
Later, asked if he thought Jordan could make the team, Lamont replied: “If I have to say yes or no, I’d say no.”
Guillen emphasized he was in Jordan’s corner.
“If he makes the team we’d welcome him,” Guillen insisted. “It would be great for baseball if he makes it.”
Joey Cora is also gung-ho for Jordan.
“He’s a winner,” Cora said. “Just watching the way he works out and goes about his business is going to be a good influence on all of us.”