It's official now. The White Sox announced they have acquired OF/IF Mark Teahan from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for 3B Josh Fields and 2B Chris Getz.
At first glance, I was surprised that Getz was part of this deal as GM Kenny Williams has repeatedly said the team needed more youth and speed. Getz was an average player offensively, but his speed on the base pads cannot be overlooked. He stole 25 bases last season in 27 attempts, a better percentage than Scott Podsednik. I had visions of Getz becoming a lead off hitter if he could work the bat better. Still, Getz just concluded his first full season with the Sox and was hampered by injuries in each of the last two seasons. His durability and inconsistent performance at the plate may have been a concern.
Teahan is a versatile player, and he has played second and third base as well as the outfield. He's only 28 and has been in the league about five seasons, so he brings more experience to the infield, which the Sox need. He batted .271 for Kansas City last season, but batted .277 against the Sox, which might be another reason why they wanted the guy on their side.
The Sox plan to put Teahan at third, his natural position, and move the talented Gordon Beckham over to second base. Beckham played some second base during the Arizona Fall League and with time, he should do well. He's a fast learner and should pick up the position quickly.
Fields had a stellar year at third base in 2007 after Joe Crede had back surgery, but never quite played at the same level since then. He played mostly in the minors in 2008 during Crede's final year, and struggled early last season before losing the job to Beckham. Fields was sent to the minors mid season amidst speculation that he would soon be traded before the July 30 trade deadline. While his stint in Chicago overall was not memorable, Fields will be remembered for hitting a grand slam in Mark Buehrle's perfect game last July.
Despite losing Getz, which could come back to haunt the Sox down the road, this deal could work out well for both teams.
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