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White Sox Free Agents May Walk

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Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that Mark Buehrle, Jermaine Dye, and Tadahito Iguchi can all become free agents after 2008.  He knows that Buehrle, at least, has not negotiated with the Sox about an extension.  It seems unlikely Dye or Iguchi have either.  Juan Uribe could be cut loose as well; the team has a $5MM option on him.

The interesting thing about the 2008 Sox is that they can’t go completely young.  Jim Thome will make $14MM.  Konerko will make $12MM.  Vazquez, $11.5MM.  Garland, $12MM.  Contreras, $10MM.  Pierzynski, $5.5MM.  Crede, at least $6MM and probably more.  That’s a good $70-75MM locked up with seven players.  I don’t anticipate a fire sale.

Unless Kenny Williams makes another brilliant signing reminiscent of Dye, he’ll have three below average offensive outfielders.  Perhaps he would make a big splash with Adam Dunn, Barry Bonds, Torii Hunter, or even Ichiro. 

I’m actually not concerned for their rotation.  I think they’ve got solid depth for ’08.

UPDATE: Reader Mark S. writes in with a couple of good points I missed:

Remember, half of Thome’s salary is still being paid by Philadelphia, so while he may be owed $14 million, I believe the White Sox are only paying $8 million of it.

Interesting how you didn’t mention any possibility of setting themselves up for signing ARod, next season, which has been mentioned by Scott Miller of cbssportsline.

 

Carlos Zambrano a Met In ’08?

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Ah, Big Z, always good for a quote.  SI.com’s John Donovan got Carlos Zambrano talking yesterday and has an interesting column up.

Donovan describes a fan yelling "See you next year with the Yankees" to Zambrano, to which he pointed and smiled.  Later asked about the Yankees, Zambrano said he didn’t see it because they have "too many rules."  He seems to want to remain in the NL because of his love for hitting, and mentioned the Mets.  Of course, for the right price, I’m sure the Yankees could lure him to the AL.  Maybe they’d let him pinch-hit once in a while.  Also, Paul Sullivan’s source said Zambrano wouldn’t mind playing for Ozzie Guillen and the White Sox after this year. 

Zambrano’s next pact could approach a $16MM AAV.  Donovan seems to believe he’d exceed seven years on the open market, though the Cubs and Zambrano are set at five seasons.  It’s unclear whether those five seasons would include 2007. 

Donovan writes that the Cubs and Zambrano are making progress on a deal for five years worth around $75-78MM.  And last Sunday, BP’s John Perrotto said to look for Z to sign a deal in the $80-90MM range this week.

I think the Cubs will retain their ace; they’ve got about six days left to hammer it out.  Jay Mariotti feels that a lack of a Zambrano contract would be a counterproductive distraction, yet that Zambrano would win a Cy Young.  I see.

Lieber, Kim Rumors

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Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has some trade rumor tidbits from around baseball this morning.  To summarize:

  • Renck does not think the Phils truly want to use Jon Lieber as a reliever, and mentions two scenarios floating around.  Lieber could be paired with Aaron Rowand and sent to the White Sox, which I would think would require at least Mike MacDougal.  Would be interesting to see Liebs back in Chicago if old pals KW and "Stand Pat" Gillick can work it out.  Or, he could go to Milwaukee for Kevin Mench.  Such a trade would have to push Claudio Vargas to the bullpen.
  • Renck says the Rockies like Mark Hendrickson despite his mediocrity and their stable of starters.  The Dodgers would like to include Hendrickson as part of a bigger deal for a slugger.
  • Byung-Hyun Kim to Florida is a long shot unless the Rox eat most of his $2.5MM salary.  The Rocky Mountain News reiterates that the interested parties are Florida, Oakland, and Texas.  You can add the Pirates to that list as well.  The Bucs could also trade for Armando Benitez.
  • John Thomson seems likely to be released.  The A’s have been rumored.

Brewers Interested In Mackowiak

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According to the Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales, the Brewers have an interest in White Sox utility man Rob Mackowiak.  The White Sox don’t have a lot of room in the outfield for the 30 year-old Oak Lawn native.

Gonzales writes that the Brew Crew would use Mackowiak mainly as a backup at second and third, and may be offering Brady Clark.  Clark doesn’t constitute an upgrade for the Sox, so the clubs would have to keep working to find a fit.  GMs Doug Melvin and Kenny Williams pulled off a major deal in December of 2004 in the Carlos Lee/Scott Podsednik swap.

The Brewers have a fantastic long-term solution at third base in Ryan Braun, if he can only learn to play credible defense.   

Gammons Rumors: Qualls, Garland

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In today’s blog post at ESPN.com, Peter Gammons slips in a couple of trade tidbits.

While discussing the Boston bullpen, Gammons remarks:

"They’ll keep looking at relievers on other teams — like Houston’s Chad Qualls — and figure they’ll get a mess of innings out of the starting rotation."

Gammons may be speaking in the hypothetical, but he may be implying that the Red Sox are looking into Qualls’ availability.  The 28 year-old righty has been tough to hit the last two seasons, but a K/9 below 6 isn’t closer material.

Another Gammons bullet point regarding the Red Sox:

"The Red Sox were told that Jon Garland is not available. Period."

That suggests they called on him, though I’m not sure at what point.  There’s something to be said for a 210 inning, 4.50 ERA guy to add some stability to the rotation.  The Astros seemed inches from acquiring Garland in December, but got Jason Jennings instead.

Would White Sox Acquire Lieber?

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Phil Rogers throws out the possibility in today’s column, suggesting the White Sox trade for Aaron Rowand and Jon Lieber.  Mike MacDougal would probably be involved in such a deal.

After trading away several starters, one would not expect the White Sox to be in the market for starting pitching.  Kenny Williams is unpredictable though.  And it is true that the Sox scouted Carl Pavano’s last start.  It would be interesting to see Liebs return to Chicago, but for the Sox to send their starter surplus to Philly only to get it back seems unlikely.

Rogers thinks the Mets, Cards, Astros, Braves, and Giants would all be nice fits for Lieber.  Not sure whether the Phils would want to help the Mets or Braves improve their pitching staffs, however.

More On Rowand Rumors

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Just a few tidbits regarding yesterday’s Sun-Times story that the White Sox may reacquire Aaron Rowand.

The Philadelphia Inquirer says that the White Sox have been scouting recent Phillies games, though Rowand did not play yesterday.  Additionally, the Delco Times speculates that the availability of Rowand is directly related to the fine play of Greg Dobbs this spring.  The waiver pickup could platoon with Jayson Werth in right field, with Shane Victorino moving to center.

In a related topic, Buster Olney said today that any Lieber/Rios talks are dead but that the Rangers might make sense for Lieber.

White Sox May Reacquire Rowand

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Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Sox GM Kenny Williams has been in talks with Pat Gillick regarding Aaron Rowand.  This is not the first time such a possibility has surfaced.  Southpaw Boone Logan may be among the relievers going to Philadelphia.

Even after the Freddy Garcia trade, a Philadelphia Inquirer article mentioned that Rowand remained a favorite of White Sox management.  If they can’t trade for him, there’s a chance they sign him as a free agent after the season.  Center field and left field are definitely holes for Chicago this season, but I don’t expect the Sox to rely on Erstad/Sweeney/Anderson/Podsednik all year long.

Given that a Rowand for Scott Linebrink trade was seriously under consideration, I wonder if the Sox would have to surrender a closing-worthy reliever like Mike MacDougal to seal the deal.

Fallout From Vazquez Extension

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From Jermaine Dye’s point of view, it may have been odd to see the White Sox negotiate a contract extension with Javier Vazquez on Tuesday.  After talking to the club earlier, Dye’s agent told the outfielder that the Sox would not talk contract extension with any player before the end of the season.  The Daily Herald says he might accept less than Carlos Lee’s 6/100 package.  I think the Sox might consider 4/60 but he’s a long shot to re-sign.

And then there’s Mark Buehrle, whose situation is more directly related to Vazquez since both are starters.  It’s pretty clear that Buehrle wants at least four years, and the Sox have their unofficial policy to limit pitcher contracts to three.  Both sides are saying their doors are open.  It’s kind of like being on a job interview when the company asks your salary expectations.  Neither side wants to blink first. 

I know there is going to be some level of outrage/disappointment in Chicago when Buehrle hops over to the Cardinals or some other club after the season, especially if he bounces back to post an ERA around 4.  He was a huge part of the World Series team.  But sentiment should not get in the way of reality.  I think the team’s three-year policy is excellent.  I’m sure they’d bend on it if the right pitcher came along at the right price, but Buehrle isn’t it.

The Sox have Buehrle’s best seasons in the bank, and the price was reasonable.  Locking him up for his age 29-32 seasons as a reward for that isn’t good business.  It’s nothing personal.  Kenny Williams’s limit was probably the 3/30 offer he made last summer.  He was right to draw the line there.

You can question whether the Garcia/McCarthy deals made sense – the Sox are trying to have their cake and eat it too by winning and rebuilding simultaneously.  You have to admire them for trying and for Williams’s foresight.  Re-signing Buehrle or Dye at anything near the market rate just doesn’t make sense.

White Sox Extend Javier Vazquez

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In a surprise move, the White Sox signed 30 year-old right-handed starter Javier Vazquez to a three-year, $34.5MM extension today.  The deal starts in 2008, as Vazquez is due $12.5MM this year.

I love the move.  If the Sox had to choose one of their guys to extend, Vazquez was the right one.  Plus, they get him at a slight discount after a 4.84 ERA that did not represent his skills.  How many American League pitchers strike out 8 batters per nine and walk fewer than 2.5?  Not many.  Vazquez’s command, as measured by K/BB, is among the best in the AL. Only Schilling, Santana, Haren, and Halladay pitched 200 innings with better command.  And Vazquez is a virtual lock for 32+ starts.

PECOTA says the White Sox overpaid by $7MM, but given the current market, I think it’s more than fair.  If Ted Lilly requires 4/40 and Gil Meche 5/55, Vazquez’s deal is a steal.  One of these years, maybe 2007, Don Cooper is going to solve the enigma of his disproportionately high ERAs.

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