PointInTime

'That's actually all I wanted was that,' said the picture editor, who resides in Pittsburgh's north side. 'I certainly asked yourself about -- because it's really already been a prized possession. Yet Paul Konerko is such a cool gentleman. And he's respectable and also he's played here Sixteen years. And when they brought that idea to me, I thought, 'This is a great idea, this is cool, this is fun, I want to do it.' '

This softball resided in Claeys' safety first deposit until Grant DePorter from Harry Caray's contacted Claeys about putting it on screen at the downtown Pittsburgh cafe. It was on display for the past seven years before the White Sox contacted Claeys to be part of the ceremony, having him deliver the hockey as being a surprise.

'I said, 'Paul, this has also been my prized possession intended for nine years and tonight it is yours. Thank you for 16 a lot of great memories,' Inch said Claeys, who got a embrace from Konerko after the exchange. 'He might've been surprised when [White Sox chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] mentioned -- the Sox and I agreed to come up with it a surprise and I think maybe it worked. I don't know for certain, but I tried to keep it for the down low and I think these people did, too. His was only super friendly, chatted in brief, took a bunch of pictures.'

Pittsburgh -- Justin Smoak will have an opportunity for the fresh start His was looking for after five rather disappointing conditions in a Mariners uniform.

The Orange Jays claimed the switch-hitting first baseman down waivers from Seattle on Tuesday mid-day. Pittsburgh's plans for Smoak remain cloudy, but with the status of designated hitter Adam Lind up in mid-air, it's possible a starting occupation will be up for grabs.

That would be pleasant news for Smoak, who was the centerpiece of the 2010 cope that sent left-hander Cliff Lee to Texas but shed his regular job at first starting midway through the '14 season to be able to Logan Morrison.

'There were some good times inside Seattle and some bad periods, but you learn from it,In . said Smoak, who is a career .224 player with 74 home runs and 234 RBIs. 'It'll be good to be in the hitter's ballpark. I'll be positive about that will just excited to get this thing started.'

Smoak has a $3.65 million workforce option on his get next season, but the 27-year-old admitted during a Wednesday conference call with correspondents that early indications are it won't be picked up. If the alternative gets declined, Smoak would be eligible for arbitration after making $2.63 million in 2013.

Outside on the option likely getting rejected, Smoak doesn't know what to expect with his new team. His talked with assistant general manager Tim Tinnish on Tuesday, and with the offseason on the horizon, the group didn't want to make a firm motivation.

'Straight forward with what His had to convey,' Smoak said of the conversation with Tinnish. 'Still early in the actual offseason, and they're still trying to figure out what they want to do, but at the same time, it's a good opportunity for me. It's fairly exciting for me and my loved ones, and it'll be nice to get back on the East Coast, as an East Coast guy.'

Smoak possesses energy, and the hope is that a move to hitter-friendly Rogers Centre will help him or her take advantage of that. His struck at least 15 home operates from 2011-13 before his statistics dipped in 2014. The native connected with South Carolina hit seven homers with 248 at-bats and received sporadic playing time in the second half.

The all Smoak's offensive game remains a piece in progress. He's never strike above .239 at the big little league level and has a career .689 Operations in 566 games. Whether the probable upside will be enough to justify a full-time position is something that won't be answered until after this offseason.

'I've always been the guy that may be able to hit the ball in the air,' Smoak said. 'Hit this ball in the air in Dallas and not too often does it go out of the ballpark. ... It's something which will be a change, but I think it's more of a assurance thing, too. You be in the AL East, all of those usually are pretty much hitter's ballparks, and I think it's just the confidence standpoint that you go to the plate and expect good things that occur.'

The addition of Smoak does raise several questions about Lind, who has a $7.5 mil club option on his or her contract for 2015. It has been assumed the Blue Jays will exercise that option, but it's possible the membership could then look to deal Lind to reduce salary and fill another position of need.

Lind has been employed almost exclusively against right-handed begging in recent years and is coming away a season in which His hit .321 with an .860 OPS. Must be used in some sort of some sort of platoon, but His remains a good elite-level hitter against righties, and his leaving would create another gap in the Blue Jays' lineup.