Buerhle, Peavy, Danks, Floyd...

Let me first say that I view the Peavy trade as primarily a move for the future. At first, I was a little frustrated to be dealing away so many good prospects. But after some reflection, I think this was a FANTASTIC move for Kenny Williams, and I'm starting to think our rebuilding effort is about over, even before it really kicked into high gear.

Buerhle, Peavy, Danks, Floyd, _____.

Almost doesn't matter who fills in the blank. We can re-sign Jose, presumably for a lower salary. Freddy might be ready and cheap. Carlos Torres might be ready for a shot. And there are always tons of back-end starters available during the offseason. I'll just throw out a name. Jon Garland. Someone along those lines. Kenny does seem to like building reunions, but Garland is just one of many.

I was reading through a thread at South Side Sox, and several people were discussing an acquistion of Rick Ankiel this offseason. I could see him as a very good fit, capable of fitting into center field or a corner. A fairly good bat, left-handed hitter..

The other acquisition which Kenny has wanted for a long time might finally happen this offseason. And I see this one as the biggest key. Chone Figgins. Free agent Chone Figgins might be a bit more expensive than we'd like him to be, but he would absolutely fit the White Sox's needs perfectly.

We have money coming off the books, and there are some very good ways to spend it.

You see, here's what I think we should do for next year:

C: Pierzynski
1B: Konerko
2B: Getz/Nix platoon, or one of them might claim the job from the other
SS: Beckham
3B: ______ (Figgins!)
LF: Quentin
CF: Ramirez
RF : _____ (Ankiel, or Dye)
DH: Thome (or Dye)

Bench: Castro, Getz/Nix, Podsednik, and whoever (Wise?!?)

Now the question of whether Quentin should play LF or RF is interesting, and it can go either way. I'm placing him in LF tentatively, with the expectation that Podsednik will share time with him and Quentin might share time with Thome.

Now check out this lineup:

3B Figgins
SS Beckham
LF Quentin
DH Thome
1B Konerko
RF Ankiel
C Pierzynski
CF Ramirez
2B Getz/Nix

Quentin and Konerko could switch, depending on the level of the Q factor. Plenty of sliding around possible. This lineup gives you a little less punch without Dye, but it should be a solid lineup with good hitters and plenty of speed. Ozzie would love it. The biggest benefit would be the defense. See the upgrades at SS, 3B, RF, and possibly CF. Here's a version with Dye instead of Ankiel:

3B Figgins
SS Beckham
RF Dye
DH Thome
1B Konerko
LF Quentin
C Pierzynski
CF Ramirez
2B Getz/Nix

Plus, Figgins could slide into the outfield if Ramirez fails at CF.

3B: Beckham
SS: Ramirez
LF: Figgins (Quentin)
CF: Ankiel (Figgins)
RF: Quentin (Dye)

Podsednik would be available as a pinch runner/pinch hitter/defensive replacement who won't kill your post-substitution lineup, and he'll be a capable regular if one of our frail outfielders (Quentin, Ankiel, maybe Dye) goes down. He's frail himself, so I'm wary of counting on him everyday, but Podsednik/Ramirez/Quentin wouldn't be a terrible outfield, assuming we found some pop for 3B.

Perhaps Dye instead of Thome, although I'm starting to feel that Thome will be around next year.

3B Figgins
SS Beckham
DH Dye
1B Konerko
RF Ankiel
LF Quentin
C Pierzynski
CF Ramirez
2B Getz/Nix

Buerhle, Peavy, Danks, Floyd, _____.

We can become true contenders and the AL Central favorites with offseason targets of:
1) Chone Figgins. If we overpay, it would probably be worth it. He's the guy.
2) Bring back Thome and/or Dye.
3) Ankiel or another solid corner outfielder, preferably capable in CF.
4) A back-end starter.

Hopefully Flowers, Jordan Danks, et al will provide us with good depth in the minors, ready to contribute as needed. Our bullpen may or may not need much tweaking.

CP: Jenks
SU: Dotel, Thornton
MR: Pena, Carrasco
LOOGY: Williams?
LR: Torres? Egbert? Nunez?

Buerhle, Peavy, Danks, Floyd, _____.

I smell October.

Pena for Allen

Time to evaluate the most recent trade.

At first, I was rather upset to see this deal happen. Brandon Allen has been doing well for the White Sox in the minors, and I saw him as being a contributor as soon as next year. I honestly liked the thought of Konerko staying at 1B for the most part, meaning that Fields and Allen would share time at DH. The Allen move might mean that Thome or Dye will be brought back to DH next year, or it could be a sign that Quentin or Flowers will be in a DH/1B role for the Sox soon. Anyway, with Viciedo failing at 3B and Flowers lacking at C, we still have some slugging 1B/DH depth.

Tony Pena is a good pitcher, but in my eyes Brandon Allen was worth more. Of course, Pena is a proven major league talent, cheap and under control for the next several years, and the Sox might see something in him that Cooper can fix. It is quite possible that Pena provides more value for Chicago than Allen does for Arizona.

I'm now viewing this the way I view most of Kenny Williams's trades: it looks like it could be a good deal, so I'll just have to wait and see how he knew better than I.

Arizona likes to trade for White Sox 1B prospects. Last year they acquired Chris Carter in the Carlos Quentin trade. Carter is now in the Oakland system due to the Dan Haren trade.

I'm not sure what Pena's purpose is at this point. I see two possibilities. 1) He is the heir apparent to Octavio Dotel, whether he leaves this offseason or at the trade deadline. Or 2) Scott Linebrink is reduced to lower-leverage situations, Dotel is promoted to the 8th inning with Thornton, and Pena fits in alongside/over Linebrink and Carrasco.

I have to assume that Gobble will be the corresponding roster move. With Poreda performing well, we don't really need the third lefty in the 'pen. A possible use for Gobble: the Cubs might be looking for a lefty reliever so that Sean Marshall can start, now that Ryan Dempster is injured. Not sure what we'd get in a swap, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Gobble go the way of Cotts, to the North side.

Speaking of lefties, I'm wondering whether Randy Williams will get his chance. He impressed during spring training, but I haven't heard anything about him since. I checked at one point, and he was on Charlotte's roster, meaning we kept him after spring training. I'll look into it later, but I wonder how he's playing.

That's all for now.

My MLB All-Star Roster

While I'm at it, let's set up an all-MLB All-Star team.

Starters
SS Hanley Ramirez, FLA
2B Chase Utley, PHI
1B Albert Pujols, STL
LF Raul Ibanez, PHI
C Joe Mauer, MIN
3B Brandon Inge, DET
RF Justin Upton, ARI
CF Adam Jones, BAL
P Zack Greinke, KC

Bench
C/1B Victor Martinez, CLE
C Brian McCann, ATL
1B Adrian Gonzalez, SD
1B Kevin Youkilis, BOS
2B Adam Kennedy, OAK
2B Ian Kinsler, TEX
SS Jason Bartlett, TB
3B Evan Longoria, TB
IF/OF Ben Zobrist, TB
OF Ryan Braun, MIL
OF Carl Crawford, TB
OF Matt Kemp, LAD

Bullpen
SP Tim Lincecum, SF
SP Roy Halladay, TOR
SP Dan Haren, ARI
SP Justin Verlander, DET
SP Josh Johnson, FLA
SP Javier Vazquez, ATL
SP Felix Hernandez, SEA
RP Jonathan Broxton, LAD
RP Frank Francisco, TEX
RP Joe Nathan, MIN
RP Scott Downs, TOR
RP Heath Bell, SD

My NL All-Star Roster

Starters
SS Hanley Ramirez, FLA
2B Chase Utley, PHI
1B Albert Pujols, STL
LF Raul Ibanez, PHI
RF Justin Upton, ARI
3B David Wright, NYM
CF Matt Kemp, LAD
C Brian McCann, ATL
P Tim Lincecum, SF

Bench
C Yadier Molina, STL
C John Baker, FLA
1B Adrian Gonzalez, SD
1B Prince Fielder, MIL
2B Freddy Sanchez, PIT
2B Brandon Phillips, CIN
SS Miguel Tejada, HOU
3B Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
OF Ryan Braun, MIL
OF Andre Ethier, LAD
OF Carlos Beltran, NYM
OF Mike Cameron, MIL

Bullpen
SP Dan Haren, ARI
SP Josh Johnson, FLA
SP Javier Vazquez, ATL
SP Ubaldo Jimenez, COL
SP Joel Pineiro, STL
SP Chad Billingsley, LAD
SP Ted Lilly, CHC
RP Jonathan Broxton, LAD
RP Heath Bell, SD
RP Rafael Soriano, ATL
RP Mike Gonzalez, ATL
RP Ryan Franklin, STL

My AL All-Star Roster

Starters
LF Carl Crawford, TB
2B Adam Kennedy, OAK
C Joe Mauer, MIN
1B Kevin Youkilis, BOS
RF Jason Bay, BOS
3B Brandon Inge, DET
CF Adam Jones, BAL
SS Jason Bartlett, TB
P Zack Greinke, KC

Bench
DH/OF Adam Lind, TOR
C/1B Victor Martinez, CLE
C Mike Napoli, LAA
1B Justin Morneau, MIN
2B Ian Kinsler, TEX
SS Marco Scutaro, TOR
3B Evan Longoria, TB
3B Alex Rodriguez, NYY
IF/OF Ben Zobrist, TB
OF Shin-Soo Choo, CLE
OF Torii Hunter, LAA
OF Matt Holliday, OAK

Bullpen
SP Roy Halladay, TOR
SP Justin Verlander, DET
SP Felix Hernandez, SEA
SP Cliff Lee, CLE
SP A. J. Burnett, NYY
SP Mark Buerhle, CHW
SP Josh Beckett, BOS
RP Frank Francisco, TEX
RP Joe Nathan, MIN
RP Mariano Rivera, NYY
RP Scott Downs, TOR
RP Joakim Soria, KC

National League later..

Is this a playoff team?

No one's exactly sure what's going to happen when Quentin gets back, but one would assume Podsednik becomes more or less the everyday center fielder. One should also expect that all three outfielders will need their off days. Podsednik has been healthy so far, but with his history, I'm thinking Ozzie will still sit him sometimes once Quentin is back. So...

CF Podsednik
SS Ramirez
RF Dye
DH Thome
1B Konerko
LF Quentin
C Pierzynski
3B Beckham
2B Getz

That might be our most regular lineup, depending of course on how strong Quentin is. If Quentin is 2008 MVP TCQ, then he'll find his way up the order.

An all-right-handed lineup we might see from time to time:

2B Nix
SS Ramirez
RF Dye
DH Konerko
LF Quentin
3B Beckham
C Castro
1B Fields
CF Anderson

And if we have to rest both Quentin and Dye:

LF Podsednik
SS Ramirez
1B Konerko
DH Thome
3B Beckham
C Pierzynski
RF Nix
2B Getz
CF Anderson

The exact order is hard to predict, so I set up a Lefty/Righty alternation.

Those lineups don't scare me as much as some would*, but is this a playoff lineup?

*4/18
2B Lillibridge
3B Fields
LF Quentin
RF Dye
DH Konerko
1B Betemit
SS Ramirez
CF Anderson
C Miller
4/25
2B Lillibridge
3B Fields
LF Quentin
DH Dye
1B Konerko
C Miller
RF Anderson
SS Ramirez
CF Owens
or any lineup with Lillibridge, Betemit playing 3rd, and Miller

My main worry has been, who will bat leadoff if Podsednik is out for a couple weeks, since this offense seems to work only if the leadoff hitter hits. Getz is capable of stepping in decently, and now Nix looked comfortable in that role for a day. That might not say much, but it does mean we have some options.

If Quentin struggles when he comes up, does he share time with Brian Anderson? Podsednik-Anderson-Dye is a much stronger defensive outfield than Quentin-Podsednik-Dye.

Getz, Beckham, and Nix have all been hitting pretty well lately, and Anderson and Fields have also been pretty good. Will this mish-mash be strong enough down the stretch? I'm thinking it just might.

2010 White Sox and other tidbits

Some opening tidbits.

-I've started about 20 entries and never finished them since my last. I need to just go with the flow and forget about polish for now. I'll just publish what's on my mind and then put together special posts when I get around to it.

-The 2009 Sox turned around in my head about 2 weeks ago. At that point, I realized that for the first time I considered the Sox to have a very serious shot at this division. I mean, I considered them to be in the race before that, but I also thought 2009 needed to be a rebuilding year. Especially during the offseason. The rebirth of Scott Podsednik has been an amazing boost, and I definitely did not expect Beckham to be capable of this yet. He's starting to really hit, and he might just enter the ROY race. Inconceivable!

--------------------

The 2010 White Sox. I feel like I've gone over the possibilities a million times in my head, so here goes for right now.

The current stimulus is a post on MLBTradeRumors that the Blue Jays would like to trade Vernon Wells and/or Alex Rios to save money for re-signing Halladay. And I realized how much I would love to see Rios in a White Sox uniform. I'm sure we won't acquire him (at least not soon), but it's a fun thought. Imagine this lineup:

CF Podsednik
RF Rios
LF Quentin
1B Konerko
SS Ramirez
C Pierzynski
3B Beckham
DH Fields/Allen
2B Getz

Not too shabby for another should-be-rebuilding year. With our pitching, such a team would compete. If Pods and Quentin are healthy. And if Ramirez is good. But even so, there are so many variations.

The Thome Question.
Everyone has assumed that Thome wouldn't be coming back to the White Sox in 2010. The problem with that is that he is still a very productive hitter (.245/.399/.500, .392 wOBA). Fangraphs has him at +1.2 wins so far this year. As an aging DH that needs days off and will probably need more over time, and considering his slow starts the last few years have caused scares, I can easily see Thome being an overlooked free agent this offseason. Which could mean a 1-year, $4 million contract or so. For that price, he'd be a nice pickup. I could see the Rays considering the opportunity, and maybe the Blue Jays or the Orioles (if they're ready to go for it). Most everyone else will have only limited interest unless things shift.

However, the biggest reason not to bring back Thome has nothing to do with his production. The White Sox have Brandon Allen coming up, with several other hitters behind him (Flowers, Viciedo), not to mention the fact that they might want to give Fields some playing time at 1B/DH and Konerko will still be under contract. In addition to all of this, if Quentin continues to get hurt, he may become a permanent DH. So having that DH spot open can be quite valuable to a young, developing White Sox squad.

Dye.
Similar picture. Dye is slowly becoming a DH himself, and the White Sox desperately need to find a good, young outfield. I'm not sure how long it will be until Jordan Danks and John Shelby reach the majors, but holding on to Dye will make things tricky. If we hold on to both Quentin and Podsednik, that's a lot of injury risk in the outfield. That could mean a season of watching Wise, Anderson, and Norris Hopper manning the grass. Ugh.

Konerko.
Paulie seems to be doing a great job this year, and his defense at 1B is really terrific. Alexei Ramirez has made sure to give us ample time to appreciate the captain's glove. With the questionable defense of Allen, Fields, Viciedo, maybe Flowers, etc., plus Quentin's DH potential, I think it makes sense to keep Paulie on the field at first. He has trade protection, but he could also be a valuable trade piece. Maybe the Rangers want him next year if Davis continues to disappoint. The Giants probably will still be looking for a bat as well.

Contreras.
Especially if he has a stellar second half, will he have a place on next year's team? I figure they want to move Poreda into the rotation, and Richard's spot is probably secure. What will the market for Jose look like? I imagine we'd at least offer him a low-salary bullpen role, but it's tough to say where he ends up.

The Missile.
Can he solidify his SS defense? Can he hit with consistency? He might be Ozzie's SS, but is he Kenny's? Considering that Beckham probably belongs in the middle infield and that Getz is not embarassing himself, and I can see Alexei being traded for something, maybe an outfielder or bullpen depth (or a catching prospect that can actually catch..). He's probably too good of a hitter to serve as a utility player, although he'd be very valuable in that role. Sort of a Mark DeRosa, adequate D all over and a pretty good bat to boot. I can see his trade value being high, but it's hard to tell. If Jose's gone, the Missile might follow.

Pierzynski.
I've mentioned Flowers several times, although I'm not sure if he'll be ready to catch at the big league level any time soon. Then there's Cole Armstrong, of whom I haven't heard much since spring training. Pierzynski is good and a lot of cities hate him, but he could be traded in the offseason. Depends on Flowers's development and whether Kenny can stomach a rebuilding season. And the market. I would love to see A. J. stick around, but I imagine he won't be here all that much longer.

Anderson.
He's somewhere between fourth outfielder and starter or platoon CF on a weaker team. I'm not sure how much trade value he has, and certainly he can serve the White Sox well, but I think he'd be best served by a fresh start somewhere else.

Podsednik.
I say keep him around and see what he can do. Try him in LF, in CF, and let him bat leadoff while he can. He probably won't be a part of the next great Sox team, but if he does his magic they'll be in the race even with a younger, weaker lineup.

Dotel.
Do you bother to re-sign him. Kenny very likely will, because he won't want to rebuild. But perhaps it's worth letting him go and keeping an eye out for bullpen upgrades before 2011...

Jenks.
Do whatever seems best. If his trade value is high enough, use him that way, or keep him around as the franchise closer. Either way works.

LF Podsednik
SS Ramirez
RF Quentin
1B Konerko
C Pierzynski
3B Beckham
2B Getz/Nix
CF Anderson/Wise
DH Fields/Allen

LF Podsednik
2B Getz/Nix
DH Quentin
1B Konerko
SS Ramirez
C Pierzynski
3B Beckham
RF Anderson/Wise
CF Danks

Those are a few thoughts. We'll see what happens. More later.