White Sox Acquire Sisco For Gload
Baseball Digest Daily reports that the White Sox have acquired reliever Andy Sisco for first baseman/outfielder Ross Gload.
Seems like a big win for the Sox. Sisco, a big lefty, turns 24 in January. Since jumping from A ball to the Majors in ’05 as a Rule 5 pick from the Cubs, Sisco has been in over his head. The White Sox could fix him up as a lights out reliever like they did with Matt Thornton, or else switch him back to starting.
How does Gload help the Royals? He’ll turn 31 next season and the club has absolutely no room for another 1B/OF. Shouldn’t Dayton Moore be stockpiling young arms instead of guys like Gload?
Relief Is On The Way
Couple of reliever signings occurred today.
The Cards inked righty Russ Springer to a one-year deal for $1.75MM. Can’t complain about that one in a world where Mike Stanton got two years. The Devil Rays may have to focus on David Riske now.
Meanwhile, the White Sox locked down Mike MacDougal for three years and $6.45MM with a club option for 2010. The idea here is to buy out his arbitration years and perhaps first year of free agency. If healthy, he provides a viable alternative should Bobby Jenks be unable to pitch the ninth inning.
Astros’ Options Remain Wide Open
One way or another, Tim Purpura is going to acquire a decent starting pitcher.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Purpura is still in touch with the White Sox, but has a host of other active scenarios as well. In the article, Purpura goes to great lengths to confirm that starter Taylor Buchholz is healthy without actually confirming that he could be involved in a trade. It remains possible that the Astros trade for Jon Garland.
They won’t, however, acquire both Garland and Andy Pettitte. The Astros still have a one-year, $12MM offer out there. The Yankees have already blown that away, even offering to add a second year. It seems clear that Pettitte will only stay in Houston for geographical reasons. Richard Justice
Check out Jose de Jesus Ortiz’s take on the whole Garland thing yesterday. He initially reported the deal was close, based on info from Astros President Tal Smith.
Troy Renck of the Denver Post suggests that the Astros could take another run at Jason Jennings, perhaps offering Jason Hirsh, Willy Taveras, and Dan Wheeler. As I said earlier, that far outweighs Freddy Garcia‘s price and they are comparable pitchers.
Astros/White Sox Jon Garland Confusion
UPDATES AT BOTTOM.
Now this is a shocker. The Houston Chronicle reports that the Astros are set to announce a trade for Jon Garland. The righty turned 27 in September. He makes $10MM in ’07 and $12MM in ’08.
Jose De Jesus Ortiz mentions that the buzz is that Willy Taveras and Taylor Buchholz may be involved.
Can you believe it? In two days Kenny Williams has sent away 40% of his rotation. While I find the Garcia bounty reasonable, it doesn’t seem to be the best possible return. Same here, if it’s really Buchholz/Taveras.
There will be all sorts of competition in spring as the Sox try to get younger in the rotation with Gavin Floyd, Brandon McCarthy, Taylor Buchholz, and Charlie Haeger.
UPDATES: Ken Rosenthal reports that Jason Hirsh is in the deal too. Ahhhh, MUCH better. Kenny Williams says no deal is close, however.
Ken Davidoff of Newsday reports that the teams are leaving Orlando without a deal in place yet.
Jayson Stark notes that a Taveras/Buchholz package wouldn’t cut it.
Jon Heyman at SI.com says the deal has fallen through because Buchholz failed his physical.
Buchholz himself says he did not fail a physical, though. He didn’t even take one. Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle says the talks have stalled or even died nonetheless.
Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline reports that the deal appears "more dead than alive." Kenny Williams is disturbed by the way the media has handled this. Williams tells MLB.com, "we’ve got nothing going on."
Phillies Trade For Freddy Garcia
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Phillies have acquired starter Freddy Garcia for pitchers Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez. Apparently the Sox wanted Gio back.
Now Pat Gillick has the surplus of starters, with Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer, Jon Lieber, Adam Eaton, and Garcia all under contract. Speculation is that Liebs will be dealt for an outfielder.
MLB.com reported today that the Phils are looking at various deals with the Brewers, possibly involving outfielders or bullpen help.
White Sox Starter Trade Possibilities
Here’s the action regarding those oh-so-available White Sox starters.
While the Sox have some interest in Rocco Baldelli, it doesn’t seem that their veteran starters would interest Tampa Bay. In addition to the Baldelli rumor, the Tribune said today that the Astros could be after Freddy Garcia or Javier Vazquez. What could the Astros offer up? Hunter Pence and then some, perhaps?
MLB.com has both New York teams as possible suitors for Mark Buehrle. If the Sox want young pitching in return, maybe Mike Pelfrey, Phillip Humber, or Humberto Sanchez would be involved.
White Sox To Reacquire Rowand?
The White Sox surely don’t regret using Aaron Rowand to help them obtain Jim Thome last winter. But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t like to have their scrappy CF back in the fold.
According to Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald:
"According to multiple reports out of Philadelphia, Phillies GM Pat Gillick would be willing to deal Rowand and a pitcher – either reliever Ryan Madson or starter Gavin Floyd – to the White Sox in exchange for starting pitcher Freddy Garcia."
Ultimately I think the White Sox would win such a deal. The Phils would then have the surplus of starters instead of Chicago.
Buehrle For Milledge?
Here’s a new one, courtesy of Scott Merkin of MLB.com.
The White Sox could send Mark Buehrle to the Mets for Lastings Milledge. An interesting idea, kind of the opposite of Kenny Williams’s Chris Young for Javier Vazquez deal last winter.
However, Merkin quotes Williams as desiring young pitching as the return for one of his veteran starters. Would the Mets entertain Mike Pelfrey for Buehrle? Just throwing it out there.
Kenny Williams has made a couple of deals with Omar Minaya in the past. In January of 2003, the Sox sent Rocky Biddle, Orlando Hernandez, Jeff Liefer, and cash to Montreal for Bartolo Colon and Jorge Nunoz. And in July of 2004, Williams acquired Carl Everett for Jon Rauch and Gary Majewski.
White Sox Discuss Vernon Wells
Vernon Wells, the possible $20 Million Man, could be a target for the White Sox.
This kind of acquisition is just the kind of splash we’ve come to expect from Kenny Williams. The Jays are said to want a starter and a center field prospect in return. It doesn’t seem that the White Sox would have the best package to offer, but you never know.
As far as I can tell, Kenny Williams has never made a trade with J.P. Ricciardi. His most frequent trading partner has been Jim Bowden.
MLB.com on Rowand, LaRoche
Rumors weren’t flying around the White Sox today. The best we have is a mild indication that the Sox could have interest in Aaron Rowand. It’s a stretch.
On the Braves side, even if an Adam LaRoche/Mike Gonzalez agreement can’t be met, the Pirates could send over second baseman Jose Castillo to replace Marcus Giles. There’s also some Andruw Jones speculation here, but it sounds like a long shot.
Oh, and Jason Jennings is not "hot and bothered" by trade rumors. Ummm yeah.