White Sox Looking At Fukudome, Bay

According to Ken Rosenthal, the White Sox have cooled on Aaron Rowand as they do not want to give him a five-year contract.  Instead, they've set their sights on Kosuke Fukudome and Jason Bay.

This isn't the first time they've been linked to Fukudome; Dan Graziano noted back in August that the Sox had scouted him.  The White Sox could entertain using Fukudome in any of the three outfield positions.  He could easily handle left field if Joe Crede is traded and Josh Fields plays third.  He could probably get by in center.  And he's probably better than Jermaine Dye in right, so maybe it would be Dye switching to left.

New Pirates GM Neal Huntington perhaps hasn't made an impression on the team's fans yet.  A Bay trade this winter will be big for him in terms of PR.  It'd be a sell-low move, however.  I do think the White Sox could throw something together to make it work.

Meanwhile Mark Gonzales says the Sox still like Coco Crisp as a center field possibility.  The only problem is that Crisp could be headed to Minnesota in a Johan Santana deal.  That will have to unfold before Crisp becomes available to other teams - unless the other team makes a ridiculous offer.

Comments

[bravesbeast]

I would think that with all the young pitching that the pirates have, I do not know if the sox would be able to spin their starters int the mix for Bay. Also, I am pretty sure that if the Pirates and Sox were to talk, they pirates would want sweeney and fields, and the sox probably would not at all want to give up both of them.

[Andrew Cabiness]

What if the Sox agreed to take on the albatross of the Matt Morris contract? Would that allow them to get Bay without giving up as much talent?

[beauhoopman]

Acquiring Bay and Fukudome at a reasonable price (even if that does include taking on Morris' contract) would be such a better alternative than Rowand and Hunter, it might help alleviate the pain on the Linebrink signing.

[Glanzer]

How do you pronounce Fukodome? Americans might have some fun with taunting him.

[trober81]

I think williams is just kicking the tires aroudn about bay. The pirates and the sox arent an ideal match since the pirates have neil walker as a top 3B prospect, plus personally i think Fields isnt that far off from bay right now. With Pittsburghs recent draft day flops of starting pitchign, i can see a Gio or Broadway type deal with Sweeney thrown in, but I'm not so sure the pirates are really looking for OF help. Maybe in a Gio deal, the pirates could throw in one of their failed young SP's and Coop can turn one into a key bullpen member. Fukudome makes sense, but once again, he prefers to play in a warmer climate and on the West Coast. Not too sure if anything will come out of these rumors.

[trober81]

Also, Ken Rosenthal isnt always the greatest source for rumors, although he was very close last year when he was reporting the sox dealing Garland to the Rangers for Danks and Masset in November. He just needed to swith Garland with McCarthy.

[Cold Golden Falstaff]

Jason Bay would be a very good fit with the White Sox, but the Sox' biggest need is a leadoff hitter, regardless if that's someone in CF or LF.

Jerry Owens isn't the answer, but he could bat 9th an fill one of the 2 OF spots if a leadoff guy is acquired.

If the White Sox could land Crisp, then a deal for Bay may be possible. I could see the Sox dealing Sweeney, but Broadway had a really nice outing the last week of the season, so I doubt the Sox would give up on him. Probably a lesser pitching prospect or 2 would make up the difference, guys like Phillips.

As for Fukudome, I'd rather the Sox get a major leaguer than to vastly overpay for an unproven Japanese outfielder. I'd rather the Cubs do that. ;)

[striker]

I don't see Gio Gonzalez or Fields going to Pittsburgh for Bay. So those two names shouldn't even be mentioned.

Bay is coming off a bad year so I could see Pittsburgh getting one of or two of Anderson, Sweeney, Haeger or Broadway. And if we got Crisp in another deal then Owens could be dealt.

[trober81]

"Bay is coming off a bad year so "
thats why i dont see them dealing him, they wont get proper value.

[beauhoopman]

Bay may be coming off a bad year, but White Sox fans (like myself) need to constantly remind themselves that Anderson, Sweeney, Haeger, and Broadway will yield almost nothing via trade, and certainly not Jason Bay.

[BIGHURT35]

If the Sox are taking on all of Bay's salary, then anything is possible.

[trober81]

bay only made 3.5 mil last year.... so its not gonna be a salary dump by the pirates at all.

[worldcupfever]

Has anybody seen any sort of timeline for Fukudome to make a decision on whether to stay in Japan or come to MLB? I thought he was supposed to come meet up with his US-based agent at the end of last week but I haven't heard anything more about that.

[BIGHURT35]

Bay will make 5.75 mil in 2008 and 7.5 mil + incentives in 2009. Could very well be a salary dump.

[scribbletone]

It wouldn't be a salary dump. An age 32 Torii Hunter just got 5/90, so Bay at that price is a steal. If I were the Sox, no way I give up Gio in a deal for Bay. But I could see something like Lance Broadway and Ryan Sweeney. I mean neither one of those guys will blow you away, but they both good end up being pretty damn good players, and Bay played pretty bad last year.

[themfightnwords]

"How do you pronounce Fukodome?" Maybe fuk-o-dome. Na i think its fook-ah-doe-may

[BIGHURT35]

Remember, we are talking about the Pirates here, not the Yankees. For the Pirates, 5-7 mil is a salary dump. But I could definitely see a Broadway/Sweeney trade for Bay. I like Broadway, but Sweeney continues to disappoint.

[trober81]

broadway does seem to have the stuff to be a solid number 3, so it would kind of suck to see him go. but then again, the sox dont have much in the minors to give up for a player of bays caliber.

[scribbletone]

trober, thats why if they want Bay they're gonna have to give up a guy like Broadway.

And even though Sweeney used to have good value, he really is seeming more and more like a bust. I'm sure some team wouldn't mind having him because he's young and still could pan out, but with each day it seems less likely thats he'll be anything more than a 4th outfielder. Only the White Sox could have two good to great outfield prospects (Brian Anderson and Ryan Sweeney) and then have both of them suck and contribute nothing.