CHICAGO -- Adam Dunn wasted no time going to bat for his new team after he finalized his deal with the Chicago White Sox. Brandon Dubinsky Jersey . He made it clear he hopes Paul Konerko stays put. "I just know how much he means to the White Sox organization and to the clubhouse and to the city and everything else," Dunn said. "I know hes a great person, a great guy. I think he can do just as much on the field as off the field. Hopefully, things will work out. The White Sox and Paul are going to do whats best for them, but I would love to have him back." Bringing in Dunn probably doesnt hurt their cause. Dunn and the White Sox finalized his US$56 million, four-year contract Friday. Dunn, who batted .260 with 38 homers with 103 RBIs for Washington last season, will earn $12 million next season, $14 million in 2012 and $15 million each in 2013 and 2014. Besides landing Dunn, the White Sox also announced that free-agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski is staying put after agreeing to a $8 million, two-year deal that will pay $2 million next season and $6 million the following year. Pierzynski had even told his mom he was going to another team. Instead, he and Dunn wound up deferring money toward the back end of their contracts so Chicago could make a stronger pitch for Konerko, if not another big bat. "Hes done a lot of tremendous things not only for the team but in the community, on and off the field," Pierzynski said on a conference call. "It would just be unbelievable for me to look up and take the field as a White Sox and not have Paul Konerko on the field with me. It would be something that I cant even describe because weve been together for six years and hes become a really good friend of mine." General manager Ken Williams plans to meet with Konerkos representatives at the winter meetings on Monday, but he also has to strike a balance. Does he pass on another potential target while waiting on Konerko? "The difficult part of that is youre having dialogue with other people," he said. "At the same time, youre hopeful that the guy that you want -- and have stated publicly now that you want -- matches up time-wise with their process before the player thats next on your list gets scooped up by someone else or puts pressure on you to make a decision on a given day. Thats where its hairy." The White Sox have clearly decided to go for it rather than trim payroll after winning 88 games but finishing six behind Minnesota in the AL Central. "There will be very few people that spend as much as I have for Christmas," Williams said. He said theyre "stretching" the budget and "going a little bit on faith" that the team will perform the way they envision and contend next season. "Youre either all-in or youre not," Williams said. "If youre not, then send that message to your fans. Be straight and say, I dont think were going to do very much and heres the plan going forward. But if you are in it, stand up and show you are." If the White Sox bring back Konerko, Dunn would likely serve as the full-time designated hitter. If not, he could wind up at first base. Either way, hell be a key, left-handed presence in their lineup. "Im joining a team thats already been very successful," Dunn said. "Its a great opportunity to not just win, but win a World Series." The 31-year-old Dunn has a career batting average of .250, with 354 homers and 880 RBIs in 10 seasons with the Reds, Diamondbacks and Nationals. He is also prolific with strikeouts and had 199 last season, but would potentially put up big offensive numbers in homer-friendly U.S. Cellular Field. "Adam contributed much to the Nationals and to the Washington, D.C. community," general manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement. "He will be missed, but will remain an important figure in the early history of this franchise and will always be a part of the Nationals baseball family." The Nationals listened to trade offers for Dunn at the July deadline -- with the White Sox interested -- but decided not to make a deal. He gives Chicago the left-handed power hitter its been missing since Jim Thome was shipped to the Dodgers at the end of the 2009 season. And when the White Sox decided not to reacquire Thome in 2010, he signed with the AL Central rival Twins. Dunn, Alex Rios, Carlos Quentin and Konerko figure to form a powerful combination in the middle of the White Soxs order -- assuming Konerko re-signs. Konerko is coming off one of his best seasons, when he batted .312 with 39 homers and 111 RBIs and finished fifth in the AL MVP balloting. "If it doesnt work out with Paulie, well be OK," Williams said. 2012 Indianapolis Colts Nike Jersey ." It was widely reported for several days that Wilson verbally agreed to terms on a four-year contract over the weekend after contemplating the teams offer for a few days. Wayne Gretzky Kings Jersey Anze Kopitar Jersey . 1 center Marc Savard likely will make his return from a broken foot Monday at St. Louis. He has missed the last 15 games. Patrik Elias Jersey . Simmons started three games after being signed on November 24 to replace rookie Eric Wood, who broke his leg and was placed in IR. Simmons suffered a shoulder injury in the teams win over Kansas City last week. Marc Staal Jersey . MARIE, Ont.UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. -- Peter Uihlein put his hands out with an almost apologetic look on his face after dropping a five-foot putt to win his quarter-final match at the U.S. Amateur on Friday. Beating his college teammate, and one-time roommate, wasnt very enjoyable for the top-ranked American amateur. "Its bittersweet. I just took out one of my best friends. Its hard because seeing him after, he wasnt happy," Uihlein said of his 1-up win over Oklahoma State teammate Morgan Hoffmann. "Its hard for me to be excited when I just played him." Uihleins victory over Hoffmann was one of four highly competitive matches in the quarter-finals of the 110th Amateur at Chambers Bay. A day after only a few of the 24 matches even reached the 17th or 18th holes, all the quarter-finals made it to at least No. 18, with Patrick Cantlay needing 20 holes to win his match. Uihlein and Cantlay will meet in one semifinal on Saturday morning. The other will be a Cal-Stanford matchup, with defending champion Byeong-Hun An facing Stanfords David Chung. In another matchup of college teammates An beat Max Homa 1 up, while Chung dropped an eight-foot putt on the 18th to take out reigning NCAA champ Scott Langley. Its a power trio with Uihlein, Chung and An, joined by a relative unknown in Cantlay, who finished tied for second during stroke play and has quietly advanced to the semifinals. Cantlay needed 20 holes in the quarters, taking advantage of Jed Dirksens three-putt on the 18th green when Dirksen held a 1-up lead. An is the first defending champion to reach the semifinals since Tiger Woods in 1996. Hes also trying to become the first back-to-back champion since Woods won three straight titles between 1994 and 1996. "I definitely passed my goal," An said. "Im really happy Im here right now. I guess Ill be more happy if I get to the finals and win." Uihlein and Hoffmann were the top two players on an Oklahoma State squad that lost in the NCAA team finals to Augusta State. They might be the top two players in the field, but fell into the same bracket after the first two days of stroke play. Their match was as competitive as expected with neither holding more than a 1-up lead. Uihlein went in front for good with a birdie on the par-44 16th as a train roared by on the nearby tracks. Phillip Taylor Jersey. . They halved the final two holes, with Hoffmann missing his birdie attempt that could have sent the match to extra holes. "I wasnt as on as I have been. Thats the way it goes," Hoffmann said. "Were both Cowboys and hopefully he goes on and wins it for the team." After two days of routs in his first three matches, An was finally forced to see Nos. 17 and 18. He hadnt played beyond No. 16 in reaching the quarter-finals, but was forced to the final two holes by Homas backside rally. Homa won the 17th to cut Ans lead to 1 up, but his third shot on the par-5 18th came up short and Homa wasnt able to make the birdie that would have extended the match. Cal coach Steve Desimone stood to the side of the 18th green, meeting both of his players as the match ended. "We played great golf today," An said. "Thats why I was very tired. We didnt make that many mistakes." Chung might be the hottest amateur in the United States entering the Amateur having won the Western Amateur and Porter Cup leading up to the event. The Stanford junior finally pulled ahead of Langley with wins at the 14th and 15th holes, and had a chance to finish the match but missed his birdie attempt on 17. Langley forced one more hole by making a 25-foot birdie putt at No. 17 and reached the 18th in two, stinging a 3-wood from 260 yards to about 50 feet. Langleys eagle putt raced past and Chungs birdie ended Langleys hopes. "I think you cant not think about the prize," Chung said, noting that finalists receive an invitation to the Masters. "... But I think you have to stay grounded. Its nice to think about how great Sunday could be if you get there, but just stay grounded and stay in the moment -- try to at least." Dirksen was a favourite of many fans, going without a caddie and carrying his own bag during the tournament. He was 1 up headed to the 18th, but left his third shot at the bottom of a ridge and three-putted to give Cantlay another chance. They parred the first extra hole, before Cantlay won with a par at the second. "There are a lot of things going through your head just standing there and waiting for whatever happens to happen," Cantlay said. ' ' '
