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A Possible 2008 White Sox Roster

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Nathaniel Whalen of the Daily Southtown speculates on a possible 2008 White Sox roster.  His scenario sends Jon Garland and Brian Anderson to San Diego for Khalil Greene, Heath Bell, and a pitching prospect.  Not sure who the Padres would use at shortstop, then.

Whalen’s scenario also has the White Sox signing Aaron Rowand.  Most folks around Chicago expect Kenny Williams to make a run at him, especially if it’s for Eric Byrnes bucks.  But that leaves Ryan Sweeney and Jerry Owens as the corner outfielders.  Neither fits the profile of a corner outfielder, and I’m not sure the Sox can sacrifice the offense as Thome, Konerko, and Pierzynski all get a year older.  Whalen’s picture also includes Darin Erstad on the roster, which could quickly lead to Erstad as a regular again.  Yikes.

Baseball Prospectus’s Nate Silver also came up with a plan for the ’08 Sox back on June 14th.  His lineup involves free agent signings of Luis Castillo and Kosuke Fukudome, with Ryan Sweeney handling center and Josh Fields in left.  He proposed the Sox swap Mark Buehrle for shorstop Brent Lillibridge of the Braves, but that was prior to Buehrle’s extension.  He also thought Kenny Williams could swap Jermaine Dye for someone as useful as Chad Billingsley, which was wishful thinking even in June. 

What do you think?  Williams could go in many different directions, but one way or another he needs to come up with a shortstop and at least one decent veteran outfielder.

Jose Contreras Clears Waivers

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The trusty Players Who Have Cleared Waivers post has been updated again.  The latest edition: Jose Contreras.

SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Contreras’s last two scoreless outings may put him in a positive light in the eyes of some teams.  Heyman specifically names the Dodgers as a team that might get involved.

Still, it was only two appearances, and Contreras is signed through 2009.  He makes $10MM in each of the ’08 and ’09 seasons.  I imagine the White Sox would have to eat half the contract, or take on a bloated salary in return.  How about Nomar?  Garciaparra’s $8.5MM salary in ’08 could balance out some of Contreras’s.  Nomar could play some third base; Josh Fields could try left field.  Just thinking aloud.  The Dodgers could also consider trying to pass Rafael Furcal through waivers; he makes $13MM in ’08 and currently sports a .707 OPS.

The ugliest contract on the Mariners belongs to Richie Sexson, but the White Sox would have nowhere to play him.  The Braves could try to send Mike Hampton over; would that make sense?  Hampton hasn’t pitched in the bigs since ’05 but expects to be ready for the 2008 season.

Graziano’s Latest: Andruw, Dunn, Fukudome

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Dan Graziano has a new article up regarding the free agent outfielder crop.  He spoke to two anonymous GMs.  Let’s take a look at some highlights.

  • Andruw Jones has an awful .216/.312/.418 line this year.  He’s been outdone by Shawn Green, Sammy Sosa, Jose Vidro, and Shannon Stewart in terms of OPS.  Nonetheless, Jones isn’t expected to come at a discount.  Scott Boras will just play up the defense, the RBIs, the career totals, whatever. 
  • Graziano says "it’s hard to see" the Reds picking up Adam Dunn’s $13MM option.  This would just be plain dumb on Wayne Krivsky’s part.  Given the $0.5MM buyout, it’s basically like signing Dunn to a one-year, $12.5MM deal.  How many teams would pass on a huge power bat on a no-risk one-year commitment?  If the Reds don’t exercise the option, it will be change for change’s sake.  And a bad decision.
  • Kosuke Fukudome is the dark horse, a possible impact right fielder from Japan.  He will not require a posting fee.  Graziano says the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, and White Sox are among the teams scouting him.  More on Fukudome in a separate post.

Cubs Deals For Podsednik, Stewart Dead

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Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs will not be acquiring Scott Podsednik, and in fact chances were slim from the beginning.  I saw a recent poll where the majority of Cubs fans thought the Cubs should trade for an outfielder.  I disagree – I can’t see a waiver acquisition improving upon the in-house options.  The one possible exception I can think of is Matt Stairs.  Regardless of my opinion, the Cubs will apparently go with what they’ve got.

Similarly, the idea of acquiring Shannon Stewart should be dismissed.  According to the Contra Costa Times, Stewart’s continued presence in an A’s uniform means the deadline has passed for a trade.  Joe Stiglich notes that Stewart could net the A’s a high draft pick if he leaves via free agency.

Random Rumors And Signings

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We have a bunch of rumor-related tidbits today, and for now I’ll put them into one post.

  • There’s a mini-controversy afoot regarding Cubs lefty Will Ohman.  Ohman has indicated that the Cubs have been letting him pitch while hurt, and the Cubs contend that he never visited the trainer.  No matter who you side with, Ohman’s days in the organization are numbered.
  • The Cubs indeed won the Scott Podsednik claim, but the White Sox want a legitimate prospect in return.  I’ve heard Sean Gallagher mentioned.  There’s not much time for posturing here as the teams probably have until today or tomorrow to make a trade.  The White Sox were considered nontendering Pods last offseason, and he didn’t do anything this year that should’ve changed their mind.  Ozzie Guillen even called him "unreliable" publicly.  Kenny Williams should take what he can get and give the playing time to someone else.
  • Casey Fossum’s been released by the Devil Rays; he’ll hook on somewhere.  The little lefty used to throw in the mid-90s with Boston.  Not so much anymore, but he does boast one of the slowest curveballs you’ll find (slower than 50 mph).  Back in ’03, the Red Sox offered him to Toronto for Kelvim Escobar, unwilling to give up Trot Nixon.  He eventually went to Arizona in the Curt Schilling deal and later was traded to the Devil Rays for Jose Cruz Jr.  Fossum’s battled shoulder woes for most of his career, having labrum surgery in ’06.  He’s still only 29.
  • The Rockies signed Elmer Dessens to a minor-league deal.  They might have to throw the 34 year-old into the rotation for lack of better options. 
  • Carlos Silva wants to stay in Minnesota, and would sign at a discount before hitting the open market if the Twins are interested.  Unfortunately, a discount for a Silva-type these days might be three years, $18MM.  Jason Marquis’s contract was something of a benchmark.  If Silva backs it up to two years, $10MM, I can see the Twins going for it. 
  • Victor Zambrano now finds himself toiling for the Pirates’ Triple A affiliate.

Cubs Claim Scott Podsednik?

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UPDATE: Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune seems to indicate that the Cubs won the claim.

Several people have emailed me this morning about an ESPN Radio 1000 report.  Apparently the Cubs have claimed Scott Podsednik.  As with the Shannon Stewart situation, I’m currently unclear on whether the Cubs simply put in the claim on Pods or if they’ve been awarded it.

How Podsednik would help the Cubs is beyond me, but that’s why Jim Hendry gets paid the big bucks.  Podsednik makes another $860K or so this year, and might be a nontender candidate this winter.  By the way, this is where I believe the original rumor began.

Random Rumors: Erstad, Gagne, Podsednik

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Here’s a smattering of random rumors.

  • The Twins have tried and failed to acquire Mike Piazza, Jermaine Dye, and Kevin Mench.  Instead of Dye, the White Sox offered up 33 year-old outfielder Darin Erstad, he of the .671 OPS. The Twins passed.
  • Eric Gagne will apparently earn Type A status as a free agent, despite pitching only two innings in 2006.  Rob Bradford has the details.  This was apparently a big factor for the Red Sox in making the deal.
  • The Chicago Sun-Times debunks a rumor that the Cubs are trying to trade for Scott Podsednik.  How come I wasn’t told about this rumor previously?  Who started it?  I feel left out. 
  • The Pirates and Tigers are still talking about Jack Wilson.  Apparently the deadline version of the deal died when the Bucs asked for Craig Monroe.  Really?  The deal died over that guy?
  • Gordon Edes has a Major League source indicating that the Orioles are "the kind of team that might have interest" in Wily Mo Pena.  That’s not the same as saying that they do have interest, however.

Olney: Tejada, Piazza Put On Waivers

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ESPN’s Buster Olney has some waiver activity for us this evening.  Keep in mind that many, many players are put on waivers; there’s no risk for a team in doing so.

Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada was placed on waivers, and the White Sox made a claim.  Olney simply says that the two sides "did not work out a deal," but doesn’t say whether they negotiated.  The Sox have had their eye on Tejada for a while; they had talks with the Orioles about him back in December of 2005.  Olney says the Orioles will now keep Tejada for at least the rest of the season.  There’s no real rush for the Orioles; they can get more teams involved during the winter meetings.

Tejada makes another $3.85MM this year plus $13MM in each of the 2008 and 2009 seasons.  He’s also owed $4MM in signing bonus money spread over those last two seasons.  So, $33.85MM for 2.32 seasons.  That’s an average annual value of about $14.6MM.  He’d certainly create some much-needed excitement on the south side of Chicago.

Olney also adds that Mike Piazza passed through waivers without being claimed.  Any team in baseball could’ve had Piazza if willing to pay the remaining $2.6MM on his contract.  Instead, the A’s will try to work out a trade and would most likely have to assume some of Piazza’s salary.  The Twins, Angels, and Mariners seem to be the main possibilities.    

Failed Trades

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Let’s take a look at some deals that almost happened yesterday.

Kyle Farnsworth for Bob Wickman.  This would’ve been fun, reunions with former teams for both players.  However, the Braves wanted the Yankees to pick up all of Farnsworth’s salary, apparently.  Brian Cashman didn’t want to make him go away that badly, and Wickman would probably be a nonfactor back in the AL.

Mariners acquire Mark Loretta.  Eh.  Let’s not overstate the abilities of Loretta.  It sounds like Tim Purpura wanted some kind of legitimate prospect for him.

Rockies send Jeff Baker and others to Tampa Bay for Dan Wheeler.  We can’t really evaluate this one without knowing who else would’ve been involved.  And the Rays don’t really have a place to play Baker; they’re already squeezed finding playing time for Jonny Gomes.  If Rocco Baldelli ever gets healthy they’ll really have a pickle.  I mentioned in a recent interview at D-Rays Bay – Wheeler would probably be one of the ten best relievers available if he was a free agent after the season.  The Rays can pump up his value and get a promising young pitcher next year, as the Royals did with Octavio Dotel.    

Brewers send Tony Gwynn Jr., Zach Jackson, and another minor league for Eric Gagne.  This could’ve been the difference-maker that Scott Linebrink ain’t in a tight NL Central race.  But it doesn’t seem like Doug Melvin got a chance to counter the Red Sox offer, so you can’t really fault him.

Red Sox send Wily Mo Pena and Craig Hansen to White Sox for Jermaine Dye.  Well, there has to be some statistical way to evaluate whether this pair beats two draft picks.  You’d have to know the attrition rates of first/second rounders, and get some scouts on Pena and Hansen to see if they can ever reach their potential.  If I was the Kenny Williams I probably would’ve made the deal.  I think Pena gets docked in value from where he was two years ago, but still has pretty much the same upside if you manage him right.  Who knows, maybe Williams will go after Pena again this winter.

White Sox Talking Extension With Dye

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It sounds like the White Sox will truly entertain a contract extension for right fielder Jermaine Dye, but only if they get him at a discount price once again.  They’ve paid just $16.75MM for Dye to hit .280/.344/.542 for them over 381 games so far since 2005.  Among right fielders, only Vladimir Guerrero has slugged higher from 2005 to present.

Dye says "Something can probably get done."  Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times believes Dye wants three years, but the White Sox are hesistant to even do two.  I get the impression the Sox want to do one year with a reasonable option for 2009, but might guarantee the second year if the price is right.  A decent comparable might be Jim Edmonds’ two-year, $19MM extension.  However, Dye wouldn’t get the no-trade protection Edmonds did.  And the Edmonds contract might actually serve as a cautionary tale for Kenny Williams.

The White Sox will have some offseason alternatives for right field – Kosuke Fukudome, Bobby Abreu, Milton Bradley, Geoff Jenkins, Trot Nixon, and Shawn Green.  They’ll have to weigh those players against Dye.  Teams often pass on the in-house option just to get some fresh blood, even if it’s not logical.  We’ll have to wait and see what the White Sox decide.

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