He was acquired by the White Sox from Cincinnati in a 1998 trade for Mike Cameron. In seven seasons with the White Sox, Konerko has averaged .283 with 29 homers and 95 RBIs.

“This is where he wanted to play. He just couldn’t pull the trigger elsewhere and envision himself in another uniform,” Landis said. “He would be content spending his entire career in Chicago.”

Konerko was pleased that Thome, swapped for center fielder Aaron Rowand, will be in the Chicago lineup.

“This was the greatest move the White Sox could make to bring me back,” Konerko said. “I don’t have many heroes, but he’s one of them. He’s one of the guys I’ve looked up to since I’ve been in the big leagues.”

Now the White Sox project to have a strong middle of the order, with the right-handed Konerko batting cleanup ahead of the left-handed-swinging Thome. Also a first baseman, Thome is coming off an injury-filled shortened season with the Phillies and figures to be the designated hitter.

Konerko said he was looking ahead when he made his decision, not behind.

“It the end it was not because we won the World Series last year, but because we can win one this year,” Konerko said.

He also said it was not a negotiating ploy when he presented team owner Jerry Reinsdorf with the ball from the final out of the World Series clincher.

“I expected nothing that would help me or hurt me. It doesn’t work that way in business,” he said. “You get what you earn on the field.”

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