A quick look at the payroll commitments for the Chicago White Sox for 2013 -- and the club options that hang in the balance -- presents two possible conclusions. Either the Sox say goodbye to some pretty good core players, or their payroll takes a significant spike well beyond $100 million after starting 2012 with a payroll around $98 million.
The club is already committed to nearly $80 million for next season for just nine players, and that doesn't count options for right-handers Jake Peavy and Gavin Floyd and third baseman Kevin Youkilis that would push the total to the $120 million range.
If the ownership wants to stick with that, the decisions are pretty easy, with the possible exception of Floyd's $9.5 million option. Floyd hasn't exactly been good, and buying him out for $1 million cuts that $120 million mark down closer to $110 million.
The club also has arbitration eligible players in second baseman Gordon Beckham, right-hander Philip Humber and outfielder Alejandro De Aza, plus a new contract -- and likely a raise from the $2.5 he's earning this season -- for slugger Dayan Viciedo.
All this before even discussing the club's catching situation, where A.J. Pierzynski, who is having a strong season at the plate, will be a free agent and the club doesn't appear to have a clear replacement in their organization.
To create payroll space -- if ownership prefers to stay away from the $120-plus million area -- GM Ken Williams could try and trade designated hitter Adam Dunn or outfielder Alex Rios, but needless to say, the White Sox will have to come up with solutions to some tough equations this winter.
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