White Sox Waive Uribe

FRIDAY, 8:50am: Heard from ESPN's Keith Law on the two pieces of info below.  He says they don't jive - if a guy is on outright waivers, he can't be pulled back.  Sounds like Cowley had it right - Mark Gonzales says the Sox can keep Uribe if no one claims him and Uribe is not being released.

THURSDAY, 6:32pm: Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times has the latest.  First of all, second base candidate Danny Richar is out for a month.  Cowley adds that a team claimed Uribe and the White Sox pulled him back to make a deal.  Cowley's not sure if that deal will get done though.

WEDNESDAY, 3:00pm: According to George Ofman WSCR 670 The Score out of Chicago, the White Sox are expected to place infielder Juan Uribe on outright waivers.  Ofman cautioned that this rumor is unconfirmed by the White Sox, but Mark Gonzales heard the same rumor from a big league scout.  I believe this would give any team a chance to claim Uribe by taking on his $4.5MM salary.  Uribe and his agent haven't heard anything from the Sox. 

The one team I've seen linked to Uribe is the Orioles, who currently have a need at shortstop and may have one at second if they trade Brian Roberts.

For more discuss of the Uribe situation, check out South Side Sox.

Comments

[milehigh78]

Interesting. As an O's fan, I'd be interested to know if Uribe has the potential to play short or 2B. That would really give us that much more leverage in the Roberts deal and maybe even alter it to our benefit- we wouldn't have to waste value on Cedeno/Patterson and could focus on the pitching McPhail loves and funnel value toward a better position prospect like Colvin. Just a thought.

[XD23]

He did also hit pretty well for power (20 HRs) but his OPS was under .700. So nothing great. But I think the O's would/will claim him.

[pmc765]

If the O's want Uribe and no one else does, they shouldn't take him.

Tim is right...if a team claims Uribe off waivers it assumes his contract. If he clears waivers, the White Sox must either put him on the 25 man roster (he's out of options) or release him.

If they release him, he's a free agent. The O's sign him for the major league minimum of roughly $400K, and the White Sox owe the difference.

The O's theoretically risk some other team Uribe likes better making him the same offer, that's all.

[tschram]

If I were the O's I would take him. Great defense, and at times a pretty good bat. Needs some more discipline at the plate.

[maximumpotential]

Cincinnati make sense with A-Gon hurt?

[cincy_11]

Tim, do you not expect the reds to possibly be looking at Uribe?

I definitely think GABP would be good for his numbers

[cincy_11]

Ahh..another person w/ the same thought as me, posted at the same time as me

[cincy_11]

Sorry for the multiple posts, but this just came to mind....didnt the Sox just sign Uribe to a 1-Year contract this year in like November?

[H0RAT!0SANZSERIF]

Given the way the Sox have talked up Uribe this spring -- and considering that he has been solid offensively, coupled with his above-average defense at 2B and SS -- I'm guessing this is a shrewd way for the Sox to gauge interest in him. Really, they have nothing to lose in this. But they could get a better feel for how to package him.

Maybe the Giants would have interest?

[ChiBears08']

Yea the Sox just played out his option year this offseason before they got Cabrera in a trade....they signed him the last day or they would have had no shortstop in a extremely thin free agent market.

[Jon B.]

I'm not 100% sure how the waiver process works, but I think if he passes waivers (ie, nobody claims him) that the Sox are not obligated to put him on the MLB roster; I think the term is that Uribe would be "outrighted to the minors" as opposed to "optioned to."

As a player with some service time under his belt and no option years left, however, I think he also has the right to refuse a minor-league assignment. At that point he is a free-agent, and I don't think the Sox are obligated for his salary regardless of what happens with him afterward.

[miltie]

"Needs some more discipline at the plate."

This is the understatement of the century.

[cubbyrick]

Great Defence? You must be kidding.

[erbacaine]

Cincy11-
Uribe's Offense will be about the same in Cincy as in Chicago...because the Cell is a good hitters park as well...

Great American is 7th best hitters park

The Cell is 9th best..

So not much of a difference

[SOXFAN11]

"Great Defence? You must be kidding"

Wow...you are ridiculously dumb...please do us all a favor...Go and learn some baseball...until then please dont reply on anything sports related.

[ashrok03]

His defense may not be great, but it's above average for shortstops. His .975 fielding percentage is the same as Jeter's, and many people consider him a great defensive shortstop, which I don't agree with. Uribe has decent range and one of the strongest arms for a shortstop. He just needs a better head on his shoulders.

[MikeMeyer]

Jon B.,

If he isn't claimed and he becomes a free agent, the Sox still have to eat the contract. MLB contracts are guaranteed, so as long as the player doesn't violate any of the terms of his contract, he's going to get all of it. If the team with whom he signed decides to release him, they still have to pay him the balance of the contract, no matter what.

[Grizzlyfox]

If the Reds can't use Freel to add a catcher they could send him for Uribe, the salaraies match up, they'd probly try to get a reliever in the deal.

[whitesoxfan424]

does cincy want toby hall? cause i want donnie lucy to back up aj

[Jenks45Monster]

Heard a recent rumor a co-worker of my father told him. Uribe and Crede to San Fran, Prospects to Baltimore, and Roberts to Chicago. The co-worker who told my dad said he heard it on ESPN, don't know if it was on TV or on the radio. It's probably bogus though. The Giants would be way too dumb to do that. Crede + Uribe + 9.6 mil. due for this year. Anyone able to confirm or deny this rumor? And...I guess it would be dead if the Sox waived Uribe.

[Aduncaroo]

I can deny it because the prospects that the Giants would have to give up to get Roberts compared to the absolute pile of sh*t they would be getting back would be atrocious. Sabian is bad...but NO ONE is that bad.

[CubFan81]

Even if that Giants-Orioles-White Sox trade was legitimate it's a moot point now. Fields got hit by a pitch on his hand and that'll all but guarantee Crede starts the season at 3B while Fields heals up.

[jrreid]

cinci, they did sign him to a 1 year contract, with the intent to package him, I believe they are gauging interest, they have no plan to start him at 2nd, would rather go with youth if they cannot get Roberts or others..

[Jimmywins1]

HE GONE!
Finally!

Uribe plays good defense, and can be a 1-2 year solution for waiting on a prospect, but I've seen him WAY too long on the south side.

Enter the Alexei Ramirez era!

[Giant Deric]

Come on Giants I mean seriously, are we trying to lose 150 games we need an ok player or 2 on this band of misfits an future aces.

[delaware_bird]

PMC765,
How do you propose the Orioles determine if other teams want Uribe?

Pass out a slip of paper to each GM stating "Will you make a claim on Uribe? Yes___ No___"

If he is put on waivers it is a no brainer for the Orioles and eliminates Cedeno from any Roberts trade (whew!!).

[bruno1445]

I understand that if Uribe is not claimed, the Sox will be on the hook for his entire contract of 4.5MM. However, if he then signs as a free agent with another team, will the Sox be able to offset that amount from what they owe him?

[4appling]

Richar was scratched today with a sore back and looks headed for AAA anyway. ARam has a big upside but has never played in the majors - even Kenny Williams isn't crazy enough to rely on this as the sole plan. I agree with HORATIO above that this is a standard ploy used by all teams to gauge interest. If he's placed on regular waivers the Sox can pull him back within 24 hrs of a claim.

[The Juice]

Can he still play SS? I'm sure a team like the Giants would prefer him over the :godly awful" Brian Bocock

[crunchy1]

An unmotivated, lazy, overpaid, overweight, past his prime, .230 hitting, .284 OBP, 100+ strikeout middle infielder, with declining range who was released by a second division team with no second baseman?

All for just $5 million?

Yeah, what a great acquistion that's going to be for some team.

[The Juice]

"An unmotivated, lazy, overpaid, overweight, past his prime, .230 hitting, .284 OBP, 100+ strikeout middle infielder, with declining range who was released by a second division team with no second baseman?"

This is the type of player the Giant's front office drools over! Can't wait to see Juan in the Bay!

[cincy_11]

Ahh..gothca, thanks a lot...Im a big time Reds Fan...but I don't begin t o claim that I know everything about every team, player or ballpark.....or id be the one with this website

[CUBBIES2008]

O's pick him up and get this Roberts deal done already. Huh just think a possible Ronny Cedeno Juan Uribe combo what you guys think?

[ChiSox33]

I agree with the Freel deal. Uribe and Masset/MacDougal, or Uribe and Hall for Freel. Either of those. I've been dying to see Freel in a Sox uniform for 2 years.

[AA]

Can Uribe play third? If so, the Dodgers may well be interested now that Nomar has a broken hand.

[tsizzle]

Freel can't stay healthy, and we have enough versatile types.

O's, just take him. You need a SS, and can afford to take on that contract for a year. Please just take the f*cker.

[tsizzle]

Uribe can play 3B, SS, and 2B. He hasn't played much 3B or 2B over the past couple of years, though. He has a cannon for an arm, and when he feels like giving effort, he can be the best defensive SS in the game. Problem is, the guy is a lazy bastard.

[INOK]

4appling, only one ARam and he doesn't play on the south side. No offence.

[Sesshomaru]

Perhaps if the O's got Uribe, that would shift the focus from Cedeno to Patterson in the Roberts deal. That sure would be nice.

[milehigh78]

Why's everyone jumping on my idea? Read the first post. I will be contacting my copyright lawyer. Until further notice, if you wish to repeat my idea, send $5 to P.O. Box 3421 Baltimore, Maryland. Also, a citation at the end of your post would be nice. :)

Seriously, though, Cubbies2008 doesn't seem to get it. If the O's got Uribe they wouldn't NEED Cedeno. Sort of the point. Focus the value he represents on Colvin or Ceda (and please don't misconstrue that as meaning Cedeno has the same value as Colvin or Ceda, because that is not at ALL what I'm saying).

[milehigh78]

I do think we should wait until Uribe clears waivers...if indeed it's Chicago's decision to let him go. As...somebody...said, it could all be a ploy to gauge interest. It'd be a pretty expensive move to just release him outright and whoever is right...everyone does it. If I'm not mistaken, I think the O's tried to clear Tejada at one point last year.

[maximumpotential]

milehigh78:

Maybe the reason your 1st post was ignored is because you asked:
"I'd be interested to know if Uribe has the potential to play short or 2B."

[crunchy1]

Tony Thomas played 2nd for the Cubs today. Showcase? He's a better prospect than Patterson.

[crunchy1]

Actually, he DH'd. My bad. I know a lot of O's fans like that guy.

[4appling]

INOK - forgot about the cockfighter on the north side. Mea culpa.

[crunchy1]

Not sure you want Uribe on a young team like the O's. The guy has no work ethic. He's the polar opposite of Brian Roberts.

[Jimmywins1]

"The guy has no work ethic."

Quit saying this, Juan Uribe is a bad hitter, and he's fat, but he works very hard at whatever position he works at, and he is a great clubhouse guy.

[bonzosa]

As a Sox fan, I am wondering if the Sox are just waiting to see if anyone would try to claim him off waivers, then try to move him.
All this talk of Alexi Ramirez at 2B doesn't quite add up.. he has been playing in CF regularly.
I can't help but wonder if a Konerko move (Angels) is in the works, moving Swish to 1B, where he would be much better suited.
Before the Sox signed Alexi, they had to sign Uribe as an insurance plan, as Alexi had never seen MLB pitching and wasn't rated as highly as some past Cuban players. Now that the Sox have seen him in ST, they know Uribe is expendable and becomes an expensive player to sit on the bench.
Why not try to get something for Uribe before you actually put him on waivers. The O's might trade something for him just for more leverage in a Roberts deal, as mentioned...
Who knows?

[bonzosa]

Okay, so I screwed up the end of that post. After the Sox got Cabrera, Uribe became expendable...

[darkstar1661]

Ok, seems some people are not too clear on the whole waivers situation ~ but for good reason and completely understandable; they are confusing! Anyway, there are actually a few things which could be going on:

a) Outright Waivers ~ This is the way to remove someone from your 25/40-Man roster and be able to send someone to the minors who is out of options. If someone claims him, the waiving team is stuck for the contract amount and the claiming team gets him for something around LgMin + small fee. These are irrevocable though, so if someone claims him ~ he’s gone. If the O’s claimed in him from this type of waivers, the ChiSox would be paying him his 5M and the O’s get him for about LgAvg without having to even worry about giving anything up for him.

Now, this *is* the type of waiver specifically mentioned in the article! And it really does make sense; it is about 10days before teams will need to have their 25-man set, and this will take 10 days to clear... This says “we are done with him, we want someone else on the 25-Man roster and anyone can have him while we pay the bill”; while it still allows them to possibly have him pass through waivers so they can put him in the minors. If no one takes their burden, they can keep him in the minors or just tell him to go find a beer-league somewhere if he wants a job…

b) Unconditional Release Waivers ~ As it sounds. Wanna release him, you do this. Claiming team is on the hook for his contract, but the player can refuse the claim and become a FA if he prefers… Waiving team has no control over the situation, he is claimed and gone or he clears and is a FA…

c) Major League Waivers ~ Want to send someone to the minors who has an option left but more than 3 years service time? This is what ya gotta do. These are revocable, last like 48 hours and give you all kinds of options if he is claimed ~ 1) Let the claiming team have him at his current contract 2) work a trade with the claiming team 3) pull him back.

Now, if Uribe has no options left then this would be of no use at all. All it does is give 48 hours for another team to possibly say “I’ll take him (and pay him) if you don’t want him” ~ but its unlikely anyone would ever make a claim like that because they could get stuck with a miserable 5M contract for a questionable player that is obviously unwanted. Looking at Uribe’s, career it actually looks as though he *could* possibly have an option year left though; so they could be waiving him in this way to get him down to the minors (the Indians did the same thing with Cliff Lee last year). If he doesn’t have that option, then Outright Waivers would be the only way to ever begin to send him down, and the only logical waivers he would be put on at this point…

[sweetswingingbw]

Stop saying that. Nobody works harder than Uribe, at the buffet table!

[milehigh78]

Maximumpotential- read the whole post. And I was joking, d*#$.

Interesting about Thomas... I might hold off on the excitement a bit (one game) but 2B prospects of any real value are fairly tough to find. Most are middling guys with good defense but iffy bats. Thomas sounds like he could be a nice one. Want to throw him into the Roberts deal?! Just kidding. There is no Roberts deal.

[crunchy1]

I’m beginning to think the same thing about a deal, milehigh. As for Thomas, I thought it was interesting because he had to be plucked from minor league camp to play. But it probably means nothing since the teams don’t seem to be talking much. By the way, a friend of mine convinced me to join a fantasy baseball league and I picked Brian Roberts in the 4th round. So even if the Cubs don’t have him, I do.

[rowdyoctopus]

Looks like he was not on "outright" waivers. I wonder who the team that wanted him was. I hope they can deal him. With Richar hurt, the team really was going with Ramirez at 2B.

To the person who said he has been in CF regularly, that is not true. He played in the OF twice, and one of those was Right Field but neither of them were starts. He played at 2B four times with 3 starts. SS he started 5 games and has played 7 total. So no, he has not been playing CF regularly at all.

Richar is headed to the DL, Ozuna will not start, and they don't want Uribe. Ramirez is starting the season at 2B.

[rowdyoctopus]

Exactly what I said. My guess is he wasn't...

[cubbyrick]

"Great Defence? You must be kidding"

Wow...you are ridiculously dumb...please do us all a favor...Go and learn some baseball...until then please dont reply on anything sports related.

Not just my opinion moron. This year, try watching him play, if he's still in the majors. Range is horrible, arm is strong but irratic, and he chokes in "game" situations.

[MikeMeyer]

Nobody who's been on Major League rosters for as long as Uribe has can possibly have options left.

[SOXFAN11]

"Great Defence? You must be kidding"

Wow...you are ridiculously dumb...please do us all a favor...Go and learn some baseball...until then please dont reply on anything sports related.

Not just my opinion moron. This year, try watching him play, if he's still in the majors. Range is horrible, arm is strong but irratic, and he chokes in "game" situations.

Wow...you truly have no knowledge in baseball...I have watched Uribe for years...seeing as Im a sox fan ts sort of hard to miss him play!...He has great range and a great arm...the only reason the sox removed him from a for sure starting spot was because of his bating!!!...lol...not his defense..his defense is outstanding...i have never seen a dumber comment before...like I said..do us all a favor and learn some baseball.

[SOXFAN11]

Looks like he was not on "outright" waivers. I wonder who the team that wanted him was. I hope they can deal him. With Richar hurt, the team really was going with Ramirez at 2B.

To the person who said he has been in CF regularly, that is not true. He played in the OF twice, and one of those was Right Field but neither of them were starts. He played at 2B four times with 3 starts. SS he started 5 games and has played 7 total. So no, he has not been playing CF regularly at all.

Richar is headed to the DL, Ozuna will not start, and they don't want Uribe. Ramirez is starting the season at 2B.

Actually Pablo Ozuna is starting teh first game...he isnt the regular starter..but for teh first game against teh Indians he is getting teh start because of how well he its CC Sabathia...and if you dont believe me go to whitesox.com...this was from Ozzie himself.

[rowdyoctopus]

Juan Uribe has a good arm. After that he is not that great. He ranked 19th of starting short stops last year in RZR (RZR is a percentage of balls hit into a players zone that he converts for an out) with 79.6% of balls hit into his zone turned into an out. He had 49 OOZ plays (OOZ stands for out of zone), which ranked 15th overall last year.

I will admit, 2005 and 2006 Uribe was in the top 10 of RZR.

He might have a cannon, but last year he was a below average fielder. Not to mention his atrocious bat.

Ozuna will not be the regular starter. He will hti against tough lefties, like he always does. Just because he is in the lineup opening day does not mean he will play the position consistently. When I said Ramirez is starting the season at 2B, I meant he will be the regular starter, which he will. Ozuna is a bench player.

[cubbyrick]

sucksfan11,
Hope you are reading all of the other posts. This year, try watching the game instead of going to that lousy park to watch the fireworks.

[rowdyoctopus]

Sorry, but U.S. Cellular field is a way better park than Wrigley Field. Wrigley might be nostalgic, but it is literally falling apart. That's why they are talking about renovating THIS season and having the Cubs play in U.S. Cellular. Wrigley needs it badly.

[Cold Golden Falstaff]

Not sure if we want to make this into a ballpark thread, but I do agree.

Only short-sighted fans who've never set foot inside U.S. Cellular Field (or Comiskey/Sox Park as us Sox fans still call it) would think it's a "lousy park".

While I like to attend a game or two at Wrigley each season, since it's like stepping into a time warp, and it's fun to watch a game in such a great long-past atmosphere, it's not a great park for the fans. Most of the seats face away from the action (some views in the corners or back of the grandstand are simply awful), the food isn't that great and the bathrooms an embarrassment.

The Cell is a modern ballpark with a great view of the action from every seat, clean modern facilities and the best food of any sports stadium I've ever been to, including European soccer stadiums.

At first it may have been cold, sterile and impersonal, the "Ballmall" as some liked to have said, but the Sox have made dramatic improvements. It should be on every fans's must-visit list.

[SOXFAN11]

rowdyoctopus ....lol!!!!

You need to read what I say...I didnt say anything about Ozuna being the starter..in fact I said he wont be the regular starter...I said he will start opening day..Ozzie has already said he will ebcause of his bat against CC...no shithe is a bench player..I didnt just start watching baseball this year..wow...I have never been on a site with so many people who have no idea what they are talking about..I feel like Im talking to a bunch of 7 year olds...This will be my last post on this site..I am no longer talking to you guys...It just makes me feel dumb...and by you guys I mean rowdyoctupus and cubbyrick(although I understand you are just being a cubs fan and backing your team...so its cool with you)..but this rowdy guy...man...what a awaste of my time arguing with you..peace!

[darkstar1661]

“Heard from ESPN's Keith Law on the two pieces of info below. He says they don't jive”

Tim, Doubt you’ll read a post this deep into a thread, but we knew that man :)

“Nobody who's been on Major League rosters for as long as Uribe has can possibly have options left.”

Uhhh yes; yes they can. And Uribe seems to have had options used in 2001 & 2003, but that would leave him with one more avail. The only thing that changes is the fact that his 3+ years service time means he would have to clear the 48-HR ML Waivers to be sent down on his remaining option (like Cliff Lee cleared them last year and was sent down).

Everything in the threads body/updates seems a bit sketchy though, and we really still don’t know if he was even waived, and if he was if he was done so on ML-Waivers or Outright Waivers (I mean, we are not really sure someone claimed him either, right?) I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they waived him (ML-W) trying to get him to the minors on his option thinking they could go with Ramirez and have Uribe as a back-up. When(if) someone claimed him though, well it ruined that plan. If they pulled him back then they cant try the process again though, and they wouldn’t no longer be able to let him go while he other team eats the cash either if he was pulled. Now they would either have to trade him to that one team or keep him on the 25-man ~ seems they would have been better just letting him walk…

[rowdyoctopus]

Soxfan apparently isn't going to read this, but for the record he was spouting off false information, and then proceeded to argue with me after I corrected him. If it is such a waste, why did you start the argument in the first place?

I agree with you darkstar, but I think it all depends on what they were really trying to do with Uribe to begin with. Were the trying to gauge interest? Were they trying to send him down? Do they really want Ramirez to start? If they can get rid of him, it makes things so much easier to sort out. But it looks like that is not the case.