General manager Ken Williams said on Sunday that the contract status of catcher A.J. Pierzynski is something that will be talked about in the very near future, and he stated that he wasn't sure how comfortable he would be in handing the reins of a veteran pitching staff to Tyler Flowers next season.
Would Pierzynski -- a free agent after 2010 -- be willing to do a short-term deal and help with the transition?
''We'll cross that bridge when we come to it,'' Pierzynski said. ''I haven't really thought about that, but we'll focus on it if it comes up.
''My mind is on 2010, but if they came to me with something that was fair for both sides, I would definitely take a look at it.''
Interesting. I'm sure this a story that will be monitored all year, but it will be fascinating to see how Pierzynski balances his desire to play in Chicago with the various opportunities he should get to start in 2011.