White Sox Looking For Speed

The problem with Kenny getting these guys now is that they're all in their 30's and will soon be slowing down if they haven't already.

That's the problem with poor drafting and player development. The Twins and Rays are full of these players in their early-mid 20's. They're very fast and will be for years.

The only viable name on that list is Brian Roberts and they'd have to give up a lot to get him.

They do need to trade Koenrko and maybe another vet to get some young guys in.

Any interest in Gregor Blanco or Brian Anderson?

what about a konerko/cano trade? just a thought. it's been rumored the yanks are looking to move cano and they need a 1B.

scribbletone,

Konerko could net alot more than Erick Aybar or Maicer Izturis. He played hurt alot of this year and missed time. He finished awesome, including in the playoffs. He's still a 30/100 guy.

I could see a Figgins + Matthews + Cash for Konerko + Fields. Angels get two power bats and dump Matthews. Sox add the leadoff hitter they covet and improve CF defense.

I also like the idea of Ramirez in CF and signing Frucal.

I would definitely like things shaken up alot more. I'm tired of old men that strikeout all the time.

I wouldn't mind if Ichiro is traded for the right price, but I doubt it happens, especially to the White Sox...

palehose, the Yankees aren't looking to move Cano. They're simply reconsidering the untouchable tag on him, and would consider trading him in a deal for a good CF or SP. They're not trading him for an old, falling apart 1B.

yanksfan,
fair enough. i suppose i thought he was more available than he really is. aren't the yankees interested in orlando hudson though?

and it's a stretch to say konerko's falling apart. he had some nagging-type injuries for the first half of this year (oblique/hand). nothing major, just the types of things that take a while to go away and really limit your ability to hit. he went on the DL for the first time in his entire career, and that was after trying to play through things. he healed and ended very strong (1.074 OPS in august/ .971 OPS in sept). it's unfair to say he's falling apart.

Melonis, thanks for correcting. Josh Anderson was who I was thinking of, and of course thinking in relation to the White Sox I put down Brian Anderson. I need sleep.

"I've been thinking long and hard about this lately, for whatever reason. What about trading Jermaine Dye? He's a great hitter (.292/.344/.541 in 645 PA) who can hit for power (34 HR/96 RBI/41 2B). Dye is signed through 2009, however there is a mutual option for 2010. Essentially, he could be a 2 year/$23.5M power hitting RF who plays very good defense (1 Error in 272 Chances.) If the White Sox pay some of that money, I know the perfect place: Tampa Bay."

This scenario was discussed in a thread the other day. The Sox would hate to trade Dye, but he is by far the most attractive trading chip. Dye should atleast net one of Jackson or Sonnanstine, which would fill the 5th starter role. If anyone goes, I think its gonna be Dye. That said, picture that Rays team with Dye in their lineup, yikes!!

Konerko may have 30HR power but it comes with a sub 800 OPS. Oh yeah - also with a $12m price tag.

Personally, I would rather hold on to Figgins, pay a few mill more and sign Dunn. Teach the guy to play 1B and be done with it.

BTW - I agree that Dye would be a very valuable trade chip. You'll get a heck of a lot more for Dye than you will for Konerko.

Those folks suggesting Alexei in center probably didn't watch him play there last season. He gets pretty terrible reads on the ball. He's an above average middle infielder so they might as well keep him in one of those spots.

One of the Konerko/Dye/Thome trio will get moved. Konerko and Thome really won't snag the Sox much of anything so Dye is probably the most likely to be moved with Quentin moving over to right, Swish in left (ugh) and hopefully they'll try and bring someone with some wheels in center. I'm just praying it isn't Juan Pierre. We already have Juan, but his name is Jerry Owens.

"BTW - I agree that Dye would be a very valuable trade chip. You'll get a heck of a lot more for Dye than you will for Konerko."

With Konerko you'll be lucky to land one quality young player. He's got a lot of money left on his contract, and his numbers are trending downwards. He looked good at the end of the year though, and seems capable of posting a low .800s OPS, which is worth something.

I was thinking about the Angels as one team that might look at Konerko. We know that they've liked him before, and obviously he's not the player he was then, but he's still an interesting power bat. If they can't resign Teixeira, and don't want to commit to Kendry Morales as their full time first baseman, then Konerko could be an option for them. The White Sox would definately have interest in a young, quick shortstop like Erick Aybar, and they could dump Gary Matthews on the Sox as well, to even out the salaries.

So I'm gonna throw this one out here:

Paul Konerko, and Josh Fields for Chone Figgins, Maicer Izturis and Gary Matthews Jr.

The Angels get a potentially quality power bat in Konerko to put into the middle of their order with Guerrero and Hunter, another potential power bat at third in Fields (he could also play left), and they get to dump Matthews' contract. Aybar takes over full time at short, Fields and Brandon Wood get time at third, and left field could get filled with some of the money saved by losing Matthews and Figgins.

The White Sox get Figgins to take over full time at third and bat leadoff. Izturis would take over at second or short, depending on where the Sox prefer to put Ramirez. And Matthews could get some time in center. The Sox would have to take on Matthews' 3 years and $33M, but the Angels would still have Konerko at 2/24, a shorter term but more per year.

The Sox would trot out a lineup of:

3B Figgins
1B Swisher
LF Quentin
RF Dye
DH Thome
2B Ramirez
C Pierzynski
SS Izturis
CF Matthews/Anderson

If Ramirez can manage to somehow learn to take walks, then he could move into the two spot with Swisher moving down. Hopefully Swish will learn how to hit again.

i hate typekey..

I'd be all for bringing Atkins in. Finding a deal that would entice the Rockies is the real question here though.

Taveras? Why don't we just play Jerry Owens if Willy's an option. Same player. No pop, low obp, fast.

Agreed on Fields. I think he's more likely to end up being our DH/1B then 3B in a couple years.

I have noticed that nobody has said anything about who the Sox will get for Crede?
I hate to see him go, but we desperately need starting pitching.
What would be a good scenario for a Crede deal,any thoughts?

Here's what I would like to see for the 2009 White Sox. Sign free agent Rafael Furcal.
Trade for Willy Taveras. Trade Jim Thome who has one year left at 8 million. According to Sun Times writer Joe Cowley(not the former White Sox pitcher) the White Sox get the additional 5 million from the Phillies for Thome's option year. One year at 8 million makes him attractive for some clubs. He does have to waive his no trade clause though.
I am against trading Vazquez. We are already one starter short and I don't see how they could acquire two solid starting pitchers. That's a lot easier said than done. He may have his ups and downs, but he was still 4th in the AL in strikeouts last season. It's not easy to find starting pitchers that will be good for 30+ starts and 200+ innings every year.
There doesn't seem to be a good match for the White Sox with free agent starters, so Kenny will have to go the trade route for the number 5.
After watching Clayton Richard coming out of the pen, I would like to see him as the second left hander/long reliever.
Another veteran arm in the bullpen would be nice too. If not, I would prefer to see Adam Russell get the chance. He did get roughed up a little bit, but he is aggessive and challenges hitters.
Pick up the option on back up catcher Toby Hall's contract.
Bring back Juan Uribe as the utility infielder.
That also leaves the question of having Getz or another infielder on the roster or Ozzie going with a 7 man bullpen.
Third base is an interesting position. Josh Fields was supposedly ready at the end of spring training. Didn't see that when he returned, but he did have a knoee injury. If he isn't the answer, what about going after Adrian Beltre? Kenny does not have a good relationship with Scott Boras and I wouldn't expect the Sox to re-sign him. But there's something to be said about Boras guys in heading into free agency. They always seem to have career years. Let him have one on the South Side and then let him walk.
Let Wise and Owens battle it out for the left handed backup outfielder.
This would leave Williams with Thome, possibly Fields, Wise or Owens, Logan, Carrasco, Wassermann, Broadway, and H.Ramirez as trade bait. Money to spend with the contracts of Crede and Cabrera being gone.

How's this line up look?
1. SS Furcal
2. CF Taveras
3. LF Quentin
4. RF Dye
5. DH Konerko
6. C Pierzynski
7. 2B Ramirez
8. 1B Swisher
9. 3B Fields/Beltre? Trade?

Bench
10. C Hall
11. IF Uribe
12. IF Getz/7th reliever?
13. OF Anderson
14. OF Wise or Owens

Starting rotation
15. LHP Buehrle
16. RHP Floyd
17. LHP Danks
18. RHP Vazquez
19. Whoever Kenny can acquire

Bullpen
20. RHP Jenks
21. RHP Linebrink
22. RHP Dotel
23. LHP Thornton
24. LHP Richard
25. RHP Russell and/or veteran