Spring training has barely started, and already rumors are swirling that the White Sox may be working on a deal to send Gordon Beckham to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez, according to MLB.com.
Don’t believe a word of it. Gordon Beckham isn’t going anywhere. He’s too valuable to the Sox both now and in the future. And as we all know, you don’t mortgage the future for a short-term solution, even if the deal involves a talented player like Gonzalez.
The Sox are in a bit of a transition. As older players depart, the Sox will need to rebuild the team around younger players like Beckham. He will be the glue that keeps this team together for years to come, just as the Sox built this team around Paul Konerko earlier this decade.
As much as I would love to see Adrian Gonzalez play for the South Siders, GM Kenny Williams will have to find a way to make this deal without Beckham in the mix.
Showing posts with label San Diego Padres. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Diego Padres. Show all posts
Friday, March 05, 2010
Monday, August 03, 2009
Peavy Deal Makes a Splash
White Sox GM Kenny Williams sure likes to make a big splash at baseball’s trading deadline. Last year, for example, he picked up Ken Griffey, Jr. in a deal that left many fans scratching their heads.
This year, in a last-second deal, the Sox acquired Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres in exchange for four young pitchers, including lefties Clayton Richard and top prospect Aaron Poreda.
Peavy refused to waive his no-trade clause two months ago in Chicago’s first bid for his services, but a lot has changed since then. The Padres have since fallen well out of contention in the NL West, and the Sox are in second place, 1 ½ games out of first place in the AL Central. It didn’t take long for Peavy to figure out that it was a waste of his time and talent to stay in San Diego.
At first glance, the deal looks very risky. Peavy has been on the DL with an ankle injury since early June and may not be available to pitch for the Sox until Sept. 1 at the earliest, if at all. In the meantime, the Sox have a gaping hole in their starting rotation with Richard gone to the Padres. The Sox will need to fill that hole with either middle reliever D.J. Carrasco or bring up someone from the minors. They have some tough series ahead, including a bear of a road trip at the end of August that takes them through Boston, New York and Minneapolis with a final stop at Wrigley Field for a make-up game against the Cubs. If the Sox can stay close to the Detroit Tigers in the divisional race and if Peavy can return to the mound by the end of August, things could get interesting in September.
The Sox also took a risk financially. Even Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf hesitated to sign off on this deal because of concerns about Peavy’s salary -- $8 million remaining for this season and $52 million between 2010 and 2012. As contracts for Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko expire in the next couple of years, the Sox might get a little more breathing room with their finances to take on Peavy’s salary.
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal says the risk may be worth it, especially for the long term. If this deal pans out, the Sox rotation could be set for the next two years at least. Imagine a rotation that includes Peavy, Mark Buehrle, John Danks and Gavin Floyd. That’s a lineup that can compete with any team in the major leagues.
This year, in a last-second deal, the Sox acquired Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres in exchange for four young pitchers, including lefties Clayton Richard and top prospect Aaron Poreda.
Peavy refused to waive his no-trade clause two months ago in Chicago’s first bid for his services, but a lot has changed since then. The Padres have since fallen well out of contention in the NL West, and the Sox are in second place, 1 ½ games out of first place in the AL Central. It didn’t take long for Peavy to figure out that it was a waste of his time and talent to stay in San Diego.
At first glance, the deal looks very risky. Peavy has been on the DL with an ankle injury since early June and may not be available to pitch for the Sox until Sept. 1 at the earliest, if at all. In the meantime, the Sox have a gaping hole in their starting rotation with Richard gone to the Padres. The Sox will need to fill that hole with either middle reliever D.J. Carrasco or bring up someone from the minors. They have some tough series ahead, including a bear of a road trip at the end of August that takes them through Boston, New York and Minneapolis with a final stop at Wrigley Field for a make-up game against the Cubs. If the Sox can stay close to the Detroit Tigers in the divisional race and if Peavy can return to the mound by the end of August, things could get interesting in September.
The Sox also took a risk financially. Even Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf hesitated to sign off on this deal because of concerns about Peavy’s salary -- $8 million remaining for this season and $52 million between 2010 and 2012. As contracts for Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko expire in the next couple of years, the Sox might get a little more breathing room with their finances to take on Peavy’s salary.
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal says the risk may be worth it, especially for the long term. If this deal pans out, the Sox rotation could be set for the next two years at least. Imagine a rotation that includes Peavy, Mark Buehrle, John Danks and Gavin Floyd. That’s a lineup that can compete with any team in the major leagues.
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