CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox re-signed catcher A.J. Pierzynski. The deal was officially announced Friday.
Pierzynski, who has spent the past six seasons with the White Sox, agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract. He'll earn $2 million in 2011 and $6 million in 2012. The contract was backloaded so the White Sox could make a stronger pitch for free agent Paul Konerko, if not another bat.
"[Konerko has] 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 Friday. "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 can't even describe because we've been together for six years and he's become a really good friend of mine."
Pierzynski, 33, is coming off a three-year, $18.35 million deal with the White Sox. He batted .270 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs last season.
His signing marked the end of a busy 24 hours for the White Sox, who non-tendered closer Bobby Jenks and signed free-agent slugger Adam Dunn to a four-year, $56 million contract.
Doug Padilla covers the White Sox for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.