If He Returns, Konerko Will Retire After 2014 Season

[RealGM Wiretap]

If he decides to continue playing baseball, Paul Konerko says he will retire after the 2014 season.

Konerko's contract is set to expire after this season and he still isn't sure if he'll continue playing.

"The one thing I can give you of any substance today probably would be that if I do play next year, that will probably be it," Konerko said. "So that's really what it boils down to."

Options for Konerko in 2014 include signing with another club, retiring or returning to the Chicago White Sox.

Via Doug Padilla/ESPN

[mawbsta]

Oh come-come now, how could you possibly retire now just short of the hall of fame? At first glance, Konerko does not stand out, but talk about the ring and the fact Konerko has never been tied to PHD's and his numbers are not that far off.

He is two seasons short of the following milestones;
2500 hits (203)
1500 rbi (110)
1000 bb (99)
500 HR (66)

Even two pedestrian season like he had this year (114hits 12hr 54rbi 45bb) and he would reach 3 of those 4 milestones. At 37, It would most likely take a third to reach 500 hr, which alone is enough for any non-steroid era player.

At this point maybe Konerko has done enough to warrant consideration (we like to get hung up on elusive milestones) but it reads here that should he retire and fall short on ALL of the above milestones, the ring is not enough to get him in.