Instead of projecting how the Sox will do this season, i94 Sports takes a look at each position and asks: Is this the best the Sox could do?

Top Available First Basemen

• Nick Johnson: Signed with New York Yankees; 1 year, $5.75 milion
• Adam LaRoche: Signed with Arizona; 1 year, $4.5 million
• Carlos Delgado: Unsigned, considering retirement
• Aubrey Huff: Signed with San Francisco; 1 year, $3 million
• Ryan Garko: Signed with Seattle; 1 year, $550,000

The end is near. Signs point to this being Paul Konerko’s last season with the White Sox, and it won’t take a trade with the Angels to make it happen. But as for this season, is Konerko the best the White Sox could do for a starting first baseman?

No. But is it worth the trouble to fix the position?

Trading Konerko isn’t a prerequisite to another move; there’s still the designated hitter issue they have to deal with. If they wanted to move him, it would be difficult because Paulie’s 10-and-5 rights allow him to veto any trade. The Sox first baseman also, recently, told Scott Merkin that he’d like to stay in Chicago beyond this season. Still, waving his rights for anything less than an ideal situation isn’t high on Konerko’s to-do list.

Even with Konerko on the roster, the Sox have had discussions about a possible replacement. Recently, rumors insisted that the White Sox have (or did have) interest in Adrian Gonazalez. Having interest in Gonzalez isn’t news because I’m sure the rest of MLB has interest in him, too. It passes as news because Jake Peavy used to play with Gonzalez, and Peavy doesn’t have a bad word to say about the guy.

An extensive search on the World Wide Web resulted in no substantial rumors – just that Gordon Beckham would, likely, have to be the center of a deal. And on Sunday, Joe Cowley reported, “A Sox source said last month that the feeling around 35th and Shields was it would take a package that included Gordon Beckham to get Gonzalez, and that's not really an option.”

With no deal in mind, it’s hard to say, with absolute certainty, if a Beckham/Gonzalez deal would benefit the Sox. Who else would be involved? But, at least, if you are as high on Beckham as I am, you understand the Sox’s position: Despite having a chance to upgrade at first base, I’m not interested in including Beckham for Gonzalez.

I understand the Sox’s desire to end the discussion as soon as Beckham is mentioned. Even if Konerko struggles to make up for the loss of Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye, specifically in the power department; even if a power outage limits the Sox chance at the postseason in 2010; even if Gonzalez has a monster season.

But if you insist on having a position to complain about, a position the Sox could have greatly improved, first base is full of potential.

I understand wanting to keep Beckham, but I don’t get the Sox’s plan for a backup first baseman. Backup first basemen and designated hitters aren’t synonymous, though they are related enough. And until the Sox have a real DH, this is where I’ll focus my complaints.

Ozzie Guillen wants to do things his way this season: less power, more speed, more versatility, worse players, etc. Maybe he didn’t specifically ask for worse players, but at this position, he may as well have.

Versatility and athleticism are fine, but at first base? What about backup first base? Mark Kotsay gives the Sox an option in the outfield, as well as a first baseman/designated hitter; however, he also gives the Sox someone who’s not very good.

Kotsay is a National League-like reserve, if he’s anything at all. He's a lefty who gives a team someone who can play a bunch of different positions, but because the Sox lack punch on the bench, he’s forced into the DH role. It doesn’t matter that Kotsay is a below replacement-level player, or an aging reserve with no power, he’s getting the at-bats as a designated hitter against right-handers.

Guillen wants to play a NL-style of ball: speed, bunting, hitting and running, etc. Why can’t the Sox just leave the DH out of his master plan? The list of available first basemen (and probable DH) is not pretty; however, almost anyone would be better than who the Sox are going to use. This includes the guy who filled the role last season. Jim Thome will make the same amount of money as Mark Kotsay ($1.5 million for one year); he’ll just do a much better job.

Erick is a contributor to i94 Sports. You can find his daily thoughts at his site Outside the Clubhouse.