I'm thinking they find a way to get Wise on the field more often. Swisher did have a pretty bad year AVG.-wise, but he put up numbers I was expecting. I think they keep him, and get rid of Jr. I'd also keep Konerko and Uribe, but would seriously consider dumping Slim Jim and Javy.

How about OC? I thought his contract was only 1 year? Are they bringing him back?

Truthfully, I had no expectations of them making it to the WS, let alone the playoffs, so meh.

I'm still settled on the Red Sox taking it all this year, but with having to play in Tampa--where they got destroyed this season--I might reconsider that.

Oh well.

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How could I forget OC?  Back the truck up....beep, beep, beep.  Isn't SS Ramirez's natural position anyway?  Will Crede be back?

Swisher walked a lot, which was the problem because he was looking to walk rather than swing the bat.

Konerko signed a 5 year deal after the WS so I don't think they can upload him.  He does play good D, but I see him coming up to bat and I think GIDP or SO. 

I see Quentin is in left, Wise/BA in center, Dye in right.

Contreras is gone I'd say. The rehab is supposed to last until July for pete's sake.  Pick up another starting pitcher and let Javy try middle relief..

 

I see where you're going there with the Ramirez statement...and Crede? I think they still keep him in the organization. He's still somewhat of a hot commodity (everyone knows his D is tops) and he comes through in the clutch. I'd like to see him try and fight his way back here.

As far as Swish, that was the "knock" on him during his tenure with the A's--his OBP was solid but only because of the walks. He would end up getting scared--frozen as we've seen so many times this year--hoping the ump would call Ball 4 instead of Strike 3.

Your OF is what I see except it'll be Wise/Swish and Swish will also fill in for Big Paulie.

And I say just find a way to get rid of Javy--get a new pitching machine, a bag of balls, something. For some reason I think the Sox have high  hopes for Clayton Ricahrd being a potential starter.

Geez, I never realized how many potential holes there could be after this season...

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Good article in the Sun-Times today.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/1208241,CST-SPT-sox08.article

Someday Ken Williams will heed his owner's advice.

Tuesday wasn't it.

Today won't be, either. Or tomorrow.

As a matter of fact, start crossing days off on the calendar, one after another, and it won't change. There will be Williams filling out his ''big board,'' either physically or in his head, obsessed with it like Will Hunting solving a math formula.

''I know what I want to do,'' Williams said when asked about what tricks he has up his sleeve this winter. ''I've known what I've wanted to do for three months.''

It will start with speed. And if manager Ozzie Guillen has his way, it will also end with speed.

''We need speed, but they have to have talent,'' Guillen said over the weekend. ''I know I would like to see some more speed. But when you talk about speed, you can't talk about nine rabbits. You can't.''

Not at The Cell. The ballpark calls for thumpers in the middle of the lineup, so what Guillen has in mind are some changes at the top and the bottom.

Williams will now spend the next four-plus months trying to get that.

And as for that advice from board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in which he insisted, ''Kenny has to learn to lighten up a little bit, take a couple days off.''

Not happening.

Not with a to-do list like this:

There will be some departures this offseason, starting with free agents Orlando Cabrera and Joe Crede. That means the left side of the infield from Opening Day will be gone. Cabrera's absence won't be felt in the least, as Alexei Ramirez will move from second to his natural position at short, and will be a nightly ''web gem'' waiting to happen with his defense. Crede's loss could be a bit trickier.

With Juan Uribe also a free agent, that option also could be departing. That leaves Josh Fields, who is in dire need of a commitment to defense this winter. Then there's the trade route, which starts with calling the Angels and making a play for Chone Figgins.

Like the Sox, Los Angeles is a team in transition thanks to failed postseason runs year after year. The Sox could hold something the Angels need if Mark Teixeira signs a free-agent deal elsewhere, but that would mean Williams would have to talk Paul Konerko into waiving his no-trade clause.

With Ramirez sliding over, that leaves a hole at second base. Many in the organization feel that Chris Getz is ready, so they could stay in-house. If not, they will go after free agent Orlando Hudson.

There are a few tough decisions Williams needs to make with his reserves, starting with Uribe. The versatile infielder is not an every-day starter at this point, but provides great value as a backup. The problem is Uribe is a free agent and has hinted that while he loves playing for the Sox, he wants to be an every-day player. A team like Cincinnati could promise him that.

Then there's reserve catcher Toby Hall, whom the Sox have the $2.25 million option on. Considering how well Hall and A.J. Pierzynski have done in bringing youngsters John Danks and Gavin Floyd along, it's not a steep price to pay.

The story is a bit different for Ken Griffey Jr., who has a $16.5 million option for '09, and a $4 million buyout. If Griffey does truly want to stay on the South Side, he would have to do a Frank Thomas, ripping up his current deal and inking a one-year contract that would fit the Sox budget. Very unlikely.

Guillen said last week that he wanted the entire staff back, which means talks about contract extensions could begin by the spring. But it's possible not all of them will be back.

The Seattle Mariners have Sox bench coach Joey Cora atop their managerial list. Cora is a huge figure in the Northwest, and now that the Sox are done for the year, the interview process will begin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU5GCGmd9ck

This is fantastic!  Moronatti and Co. put their foots firmly in their mouths.

-I like the idea of Getz going to 2nd. He looked to have some decent speed, and showed good bat instincts at the plate. Definately wouldn't mind seeing him get a shot. That said, Orlando Hudson? Uh, yes please...However, I like breeding players from within the farm system. Going out and just grabbing other teams' stars...sounds like the Yanks.

-Griffey, I hope he's gone.

-Hall, you gotta bring back. I used to be one of his biggest critics--especially his game-calling ability and the way he handles pitchers, but this year, he proved otherwise to me in that department.

-Figgins will probably fetch something really nice. I might put all my eggs in one basket and just let Fields ride 3rd for the year.

-I'd like to keep Paulie. Just keep switching off between Swish and PK at 1st.

-Whoa, Cora's in line to get an interview for a manager's position? What the?

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'Nuff said....

 

 

 

anyone see that article on whitesox.com about maybe getting rid of JD paulie or thome to get a more balanced lineup? we have the best middle lineup ever and i wanna keep it that way. no way can we get rid of them. lets see whats getz can offer

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THE BEARS WILL BE GREAT IN 08
THE SOX ROX!!
GO BEARS!!!!
GO WHITESOX!!!!

HOLY CRAP ANYONE SEE THAT US IDIOTS TRADED SWISH! WERE SO STUPID!

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THE BEARS WILL BE GREAT IN 08
THE SOX ROX!!
GO BEARS!!!!
GO WHITESOX!!!!

Yeah, I can't really say I'm stunned with them trading Swish, but the guys the got, I really know nothing about them...hmm. We'll see.

What do you think the Sox are gonna do at 3rd? I said earlier, I might give Josh the OK to go at it for a full year, but if I were KW, I might explore the option of picking up Casey Blake. The man's just all-around solid, and did put up some nice numbers after being traded to the Dodgers.

And at 2nd, I really doubt Hudson can be acquired (please prove me wrong, KW!), so I think Getz is the guy with Ramirez moving over to SS.

1st will be Paulie, meh, I don't mind.

The OF is a little interesting. I'd still love to see Baldelli, or maybe try and pry Willits from the Angels. Just gotta wait and see.

On another note, I hope Vazquez gets dealt. For anything--a JUGGS pitching machine, some new bats, a club sandwich, I don't care as long as I don't see him here anymore.

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If Swisher had played first base all year it might have been a different story.  Instead we had to watch that lump of clay, Konerko, strike out and hit into double plays much of the season. Swisher took up space in center field and hit .219.  Big deal.  He did walk a lot, but he went up there looking to walk. I'm not going to miss him too much.  It may be Kenny just wanting to unload him and, hopefully, seeing something in the pitchers we picked up.  

 

hesterfreak23:

anyone see that article on whitesox.com about maybe getting rid of JD paulie or thome to get a more balanced lineup? we have the best middle lineup ever and i wanna keep it that way. no way can we get rid of them. lets see whats getz can offer

i think i know what article your talking about, but the one i saw also had swisher in that group of guys that we were looking to trade.  we traded swisher for Jeff Marquez, infielder Wilson Betemit and minor league pitcher Jhonny Nunez (which, IMO, was a terrible trade).  yes swisher had a very poor year (.219 AVG), but he did have 24 HR.  we get the guy that was the backup to Giambi and 2 no name pitchers.  maybe we were just trying to free up cap space.  swisher made about $3.6mil and in total these 3 guys make around $2mil. 

Betemit is a 1st baseman so i wouldnt be surprised if we were looking to trade Konerko.  if we are going to keep Betemit, i think we would try and trade konerko.  the only problem i see with that is (dont quote me) that konerko can turn down a trade deal no matter what until he becomes a FA. 

we have no need for konerko, thome, AND betemit.  betemit would be 1st baseman with thome at DH still if we were able to trade konerko.  hopefully if we did go into that direction, we could get a center fielder because as of now, we have brian anderson and jerry owens at CF.  both are great fielders but just terrible hitters.  maybe we could also get a 2nd baseman.  ramirez is being moved to short and then we would have uribe at 2nd, who also cant hit.  we have chris getz but he is hurt and we still dont know if he is going to be good or not.  crede is filing for FA, so we will probably end up having josh fields at 3rd, who also cant hit.  so hopefully if we do trade konerko, we could either get a CF, 2nd baseman, or 3rd baseman.

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ChiSox GM is up to something ... but what?

just dealt Nick Swisher in a move that has Ken Rosenthal thinking something big is coming in Chi-Town."-->

The Nick Swisher trade surely is the prelude to something else, something bigger — what, I don't know.

I don't buy for a second that the 2009 White Sox will go young at three positions — second base, third and center field.

Trading Swisher saves money. So does the exchange of Juan Uribe, a free agent, for Wilson Betemit. So will the trades of right-hander Javier Vazquez and perhaps first baseman Paul Konerko or even right fielder Jermaine Dye.

In the meantime, I wouldn't be surprised to see Williams, the White Sox's general manager, pursue one or more upgrades over Josh Fields at third, Chris Getz and Jayson Nix at second and Brian Anderson and Jerry Owens in center.

Angels third baseman Chone Figgin, a longtime favorite of the White Sox, could become available if the Angels trade for the Rockies' Garrett Atkins.

Dodgers center fielder Juan Pierre could be another option if the Dodgers pay a sizable percentage of the $28.5 million he is owed over the next three seasons.

Free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson also would make sense; the White Sox plan to move Rookie of the Year runner-up Alexei Ramirez to shortstop.

No question, the sagging economy will force some teams to scale back. The White Sox could fall into that category. But after winning the AL Central title, they are not going to turn into the South Side Marlins.

Remember in Dec. 2004 when Williams traded Carlos Lee to the Brewers for Scott Podsednik, Luis Vizcaino and a minor leaguer?

That trade, like the Swisher deal, made little sense at first glance.

But Williams turned his $8 million savings on Lee into Tadahito Iguchi, A.J. Pierzynski and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez — and the White Sox won the 2005 World Series.

Swisher, coming off a season in which he batted .219 and played part-time in the final two months, yielded only Betemit and two minor-league pitchers. But to isolate this move would be foolhardy when it almost certainly is part of a larger plan.

Swisher is owed $22.05 million over the next three seasons, Vazquez $23 million over the next two. White Sox officials initially believed that Hudson would be too expensive for them on the open market. But if they pare enough salary, maybe not.

Kenny is up to something. Stay tuned.

SWISHER: A NEEDED CHANGE

Some with the Yankees believe that White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was one of Swisher's problems; big personalities both, perhaps they were destined to clash.

Some with the White Sox, however, say that Swisher was a less-than- ideal teammate, at times acting selfishly, particularly when he was not hitting.

"We still love the guy and the energy he brings," Williams said. "We certainly believe he's going to have a bounce-back season next year. But we felt the fit just wasn't good enough to continue on down this road."

The question is, will Swisher be a better fit with the Yankees?

Williams said that Swisher hit into poor luck last season. Swisher's .249 batting average on balls in play supports that point. The American League average was .301.

On the other hand, if Swisher's brashness was an issue under Guillen, it might be even more of an issue under Joe Girardi, the Yankees' stern manager.

It also might not sit well in a clubhouse dominated by three of the game's great professionals — Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera.

The guess here is that Swisher will tone down his act, humbled by his experience with the White Sox. He has been traded twice in 11 months, and he turns 28 on Nov. 25. His career is at a crossroads.

pd1dish:

hesterfreak23:

anyone see that article on whitesox.com about maybe getting rid of JD paulie or thome to get a more balanced lineup? we have the best middle lineup ever and i wanna keep it that way. no way can we get rid of them. lets see whats getz can offer

i think i know what article your talking about, but the one i saw also had swisher in that group of guys that we were looking to trade.  we traded swisher for Jeff Marquez, infielder Wilson Betemit and minor league pitcher Jhonny Nunez (which, IMO, was a terrible trade).  yes swisher had a very poor year (.219 AVG), but he did have 24 HR.  we get the guy that was the backup to Giambi and 2 no name pitchers.  maybe we were just trying to free up cap space.  swisher made about $3.6mil and in total these 3 guys make around $2mil. 

Betemit is a 1st baseman so i wouldnt be surprised if we were looking to trade Konerko.  if we are going to keep Betemit, i think we would try and trade konerko.  the only problem i see with that is (dont quote me) that konerko can turn down a trade deal no matter what until he becomes a FA. 

we have no need for konerko, thome, AND betemit.  betemit would be 1st baseman with thome at DH still if we were able to trade konerko.  hopefully if we did go into that direction, we could get a center fielder because as of now, we have brian anderson and jerry owens at CF.  both are great fielders but just terrible hitters.  maybe we could also get a 2nd baseman.  ramirez is being moved to short and then we would have uribe at 2nd, who also cant hit.  we have chris getz but he is hurt and we still dont know if he is going to be good or not.  crede is filing for FA, so we will probably end up having josh fields at 3rd, who also cant hit.  so hopefully if we do trade konerko, we could either get a CF, 2nd baseman, or 3rd baseman.

I'd still take PK over Wilson only because, while Paulie was awful at the plate sometimes, he did start picking it up later on in the season--we all know he's a slow starter. Throw in the fact that he's a superb--yeah, I said superb--fielder (his speed isn't much of factor for me at first).

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Also, get rid of Vazquez.

I just felt that needed to be said again.

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JUST READ THIS ON CBSSPORTS.COM THE BRAVES AQUIRED VAZQUEZ IM HAPPY HE WAS RUINING OUR ROTATION NOW IF THERE WAS A WAY  TO GET SABATHIA WITHOUT LOSING ANYONE BIG ESPECIALLY JD

---

THE BEARS WILL BE GREAT IN 08
THE SOX ROX!!
GO BEARS!!!!
GO WHITESOX!!!!

hesterfreak23:

JUST READ THIS ON CBSSPORTS.COM THE BRAVES AQUIRED VAZQUEZ IM HAPPY HE WAS RUINING OUR ROTATION NOW IF THERE WAS A WAY  TO GET SABATHIA WITHOUT LOSING ANYONE BIG ESPECIALLY JD

Would love it but there is absolutely no way we get CC, Javy thanks for never making it through the lineup a 3rd time.............and sucking anytime we needed a quality start from you.

---

boxer8903:

hesterfreak23:

JUST READ THIS ON CBSSPORTS.COM THE BRAVES AQUIRED VAZQUEZ IM HAPPY HE WAS RUINING OUR ROTATION NOW IF THERE WAS A WAY  TO GET SABATHIA WITHOUT LOSING ANYONE BIG ESPECIALLY JD

Would love it but there is absolutely no way we get CC, Javy thanks for never making it through the lineup a 3rd time.............and sucking anytime we needed a quality start from you.

Well Zquez did have one good year here (last year), albeit it was in a non-playoff race. It's like he'll play when it's not really needed, then stink it up when something significant is on the line.

And CC is a pipe dream, I think.

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hesterfreak23:

JUST READ THIS ON CBSSPORTS.COM THE BRAVES AQUIRED VAZQUEZ IM HAPPY HE WAS RUINING OUR ROTATION NOW IF THERE WAS A WAY  TO GET SABATHIA WITHOUT LOSING ANYONE BIG ESPECIALLY JD

just a couple of days ago, i heard JD was back into trade discussions even after the swisher trade, so maybe we are going for big name pitchers.  there is no way we even think about going for sabathia...we would never be able to afford him especially since teams like the yankees are looking to get him.  they will offer him a fortune.

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heres some more info on the dye situation...

In a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff lists three teams who are willing to deal a veteran player, such as the White Sox, who are looking to trade OF Jermaine Dye.

…if the Mets need to acquire a corner outfielder with power, who has leadership skills, successful post-season experience, and a short-term contract, dye should be of interest to them…

…from what i can gather, the Sox will likely want a pitcher back in a deal for dye, who they are eager to move, in an effort to get younger and free up some cash…

Dye hit .292 with 34 HR, 96 RBI and a .344 OBP in 154 games for the White Sox this season.

He has hit at least 20 home runs during each of the last four seasons, while playing mostly right field.

Dye will earn $11.5 million in 2009, after which he has a mutual option in 2010 for $12 million, or a $1 million buyout that could make him a free agent.

-- http://www.metsblog.com/2008/11/10/outfielder-sox-looking-to-trade-jermaine-dye/

According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, White Sox GM and other front office members are evaluating talent at the Arizona Fall League for a possible Jermaine Dye trade.  Dye can block trades to six teams, but Williams has a short list of suitors for him.  He is set to earn $11.5MM in '09 and has a $12MM mutual option for '10 with a $1MM buyout.

Dye, 35 in January, hit .292/.344/.541 in 645 plate appearances.  He plays a below-average right field, according to the plus/minus system.  The Rays, Angels, Braves, Mets, Phillies, and Reds could be in the market for a corner outfielder.  Gonzales says Williams hopes to build a younger and quicker team for the future.

Gonzales adds that White Sox officials watched Mets prospects Bobby Parnell and Eddie Kunz pitch.  The Mets could match up on Dye, Javier Vazquez, or Bobby Jenks.

-- http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/11/white-sox-consi.html

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