What About Other White Sox Pitchers?

A couple of Chicago newspapers raised a logical possibility today: what if the impending White Sox fire sale extends beyond those who will become free agents?  Specifically, the Sox have three veteran starting pitchers under contract and any of them could be traded. 

Take Javier Vazquez.  He's a fine addition to any team looking for a complementary, solid, healthy pitcher.  Vazquez is signed through 2010 at $11.5MM annually, about the market rate.  He'll turn 31 soon, and has no health issues.  His strikeout rate is strong, his walk rate low.  Granted he's HR prone and his ERA never quite seems to match his other stats, but he's plenty valuable.

There's Jon Garland, who's only 27 and has quietly posted a 3.51 ERA.  I'm quite skeptical, because his strikeout rate is at a career low but his hit rate is too.  That's not sustainable.  Nonetheless, he can really eat up innings and has been healthy for years aside from minor concerns this spring.  Garland makes $10MM this year and $12MM in '08.   

Jose Contreras is the riskiest White Sox pitcher.  Contreras earns $9MM this year, $10MM in '08, and $10MM in '09.  His control this year has been his worst since '04, and his strikeout rate is a career worst.  He's 35 and looks like he's 40.  He is compensating for his declining skills by getting more groundballs. 

Any of these three could be available in the coming weeks.  Williams might find that he can get much better prospects in return for pitchers who will not walk after 2007.  Imagine what he could get if he were to package two of them.  That would be almost unprecedented.

Comments

[DonCoburleone]

g

[bravesbeast]

I would love to go after garland, but I just do not know if the braves would want to pay that salary. Maybe Garland will eventually pitch up to it, but I am just not sure. I understand the back to back 18 win seasons, and I am sure he would do better in the NL than the AL, so maybe those are reasons for the contract. If we could get any of the salary eaten and use our depth of our middle infield prospects to get him, I could see it happening, and would not mind it at all.

[beauhoopman]

Wow. 10 and 12 million dollars is too much for a guy with back to back 18 win seasons, multiple all star game appearances, a ring, no injury history, and who will likely put up an ERA under 4.20 in the NL? In today's market, it sounds pretty good.

[beauhoopman]

I'm predicting that the Brewers offer Prince Fielder, Gallardo, Sheets, JJ Hardy and Bill Hall for Jose Contreras.

[bravesbeast]

When I say that the braves would not want to pay that salary, I am speaking in terms of the fact tht the braves have started they do not want to trade for players who have big salaries beyond this season. Garland is definitely worth that on the market to teams that have far more financial flexbility than the braves. Thats the reason why I am saying the braves may not want Garland's salary. However, we probably would pay more to burhele on an annual basis beyond this year, so it probably would make sense.

[darkstar1661]

Judy Garland? Man I cant stand that overrated piece of…err, NM the rant…

[Teetz]

I'm surprised people don't talk about Contreras more. He is the most obvious choice to be dealt this year.

[Kramerica Industries]

Teetz you make an interesting statement but I think the fact that his numbers this year are not good, his contract is rather large and the fact that we are not sure what his exact age is must stear people away. Another thing that would make me look at another pitcher is that he crumbled in high pressure situation in New York

[RotoAuthority]

Contreras's contract isn't that bad, in a world where Marquis is worth $7 mil.

[astralpanda]

lmao Kramerica, yeah like he fell apart when they when they basically went undefeated in the playoffs and World Series in 05...oh wait, he didn't.

I don't like Contreras cause he can't hold runners on, other then that, he's a great addition to any team whatever his age is.

[tonyb]

Kramerica you must live in NY, because no one anywhere else could possibly be that NY-centric. Contreras was unbeatable in '05, in the playoffs and WS, a place that the NYY haven't been this century.

[palehose35]

not only was contreras dominant under extreme pressure in 2005, he was dominant under the pressures of being the go-to pitcher for the cuban national team, in which he was directly accountable to fidel castro. i think that's a little more pressure than a bunch of NY tabloids and obnoxious fans can provide.

[ArodSucksAtLife]

"Contreras was unbeatable in '05, in the playoffs and WS, a place that the NYY haven't been this century."

Ummmmm.

[TTH]

Any GM who trades for Javier "Mr.Peripherals" Vazquez without getting some money to pay his ridiculous contract as well, should be fired on the spot. When the chips are down, either in the season or simply a game, he collapses.
For those of you who don't know,peripherals is sabr-dork speak for "seldom gets the job done"

[beauhoopman]

No question that Vazquez lacks cohones. But you could do a lot worse if you are looking to acquire a #3 or #4.

[ramaboy28]

"in the playoffs and WS, a place that the NYY haven't been this century."

Wow Ok tonyb. You are absolutely right.