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Wednesday, November 23, 2005 |
Thome To Chisox, For Rowand And Cash
ESPN has an alert up that the Chisox have traded centerfielder Aaron Rowand for Jim Thome of Philadelphia, and cash. This would have significant repercussions in their attempt to re-sign free agent Paul Konerko; with Thome on the team, the Sox might be less likely to try and bag Konerko. In turn, this would make it easier for the Angels to acquire him, if their pursuit was serious.
Update: on ESPN.
Comments:
Well, this trade virtually assures that AT LEAST one of Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko will not be playing on the South side in 2006.
Query whether the Angels would be better off taking a short-term, incentive-laden flyer on Thomas rather than committing big bucks to Konerko. Of course, I'd still rather see Kotchman at 1B and Man-Ram at DH.
Maybe this gives Stoneman another alternative he can use to gain a bit more leverage in Man-Ram trade talks.
Query whether the Angels would be better off taking a short-term, incentive-laden flyer on Thomas rather than committing big bucks to Konerko. Of course, I'd still rather see Kotchman at 1B and Man-Ram at DH.
Maybe this gives Stoneman another alternative he can use to gain a bit more leverage in Man-Ram trade talks.
# posted by 
: 11/23/2005 01:07:00 PM
: 11/23/2005 01:07:00 PM
Uh, sorry Angels fans, but this move does NOT make at all less likely that the Sox will re-sign Paulie. The Sox are in dire need of adding a left-handed slugger at DH, and Thome fits the bill, assuming he is healthy.
All indications in Chicago are that the Sox will re-sign Konerko to a 4 or 5 year deal, worth around $52 million. He will play 1B, and Thome will be the DH. It is unlikely that Thomas will be back, given that his foot was fractured in two places.
Sorry to see Rowand go. He's one of the best defensive centerfielders in baseball, and he's a Cal State Fullerton product to boot. He has an off-year offensively last year, but he has produced in the past, and still has an upside.
All indications in Chicago are that the Sox will re-sign Konerko to a 4 or 5 year deal, worth around $52 million. He will play 1B, and Thome will be the DH. It is unlikely that Thomas will be back, given that his foot was fractured in two places.
Sorry to see Rowand go. He's one of the best defensive centerfielders in baseball, and he's a Cal State Fullerton product to boot. He has an off-year offensively last year, but he has produced in the past, and still has an upside.
# posted by : 11/23/2005 03:46:00 PM
: 11/23/2005 03:46:00 PM
I hope that the Sox resign Konerko. I highly doubt he performs up to what he will be paid
Also, the Philllies are taking on at least $22 million of Thome's $40 million contract left. The Phillies got two of the Sox top 10 prospects in addition to Rowand.
Also, the Philllies are taking on at least $22 million of Thome's $40 million contract left. The Phillies got two of the Sox top 10 prospects in addition to Rowand.
# posted by : 11/23/2005 05:19:00 PM
: 11/23/2005 05:19:00 PM
Boy, I'd love to know who those prospects are. If they're Dan Evans-era guys, it'd be pretty ironic if the guy who the Dodgers chased out of town ended up having a hand -- indirectly -- in one of the bigger trades this offseason.
No doubt that whoever gets Konerko will be overpaying a little.
Cheat over at SouthSideSox.com offers a good analysis of the trade:http://southsidesox.com/story/2005/11/23/193229/10
I agree that the biggest risk for the Sox is the two minor leaguers they are giving up (Gio Gonzalez and Daniel Haigwood), each of whom is a top prospect.
As for Rowand, he is, along with Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter, one of the best defensive centerfielders in the game. He will be missed.
Word is in Chicago that, despite Ozzie Guillen's prodding, the Sox will NOT be going after Juan Pierre. Instead, Brian N. Anderson, who is the Sox top prospect, will be given a chance to be the everyday centerfielder.
In sum, the move is a bit of a risk for the White Sox, since Thome might be washed-up. But if he has anything left, the Sox will have added some badly needed left-handed production. (They have not had a consistent left-handed power threat since Robin Ventura was playing third base).
It will be interesting to see how the Angels address their lack of offensive production (particularly OBP). Erstad is essentially one-year offensive wonder (2000), whose lack of offense at a corner infield spot is killing them. And they are still saddled with Finley's contract. Delgado, Thome, and Konerko seemed like viable options, but the first two are now out the window, and odds are against them signing Konerko. Durazo is still out there, but injuty concerns loom with him.
Cheat over at SouthSideSox.com offers a good analysis of the trade:http://southsidesox.com/story/2005/11/23/193229/10
I agree that the biggest risk for the Sox is the two minor leaguers they are giving up (Gio Gonzalez and Daniel Haigwood), each of whom is a top prospect.
As for Rowand, he is, along with Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter, one of the best defensive centerfielders in the game. He will be missed.
Word is in Chicago that, despite Ozzie Guillen's prodding, the Sox will NOT be going after Juan Pierre. Instead, Brian N. Anderson, who is the Sox top prospect, will be given a chance to be the everyday centerfielder.
In sum, the move is a bit of a risk for the White Sox, since Thome might be washed-up. But if he has anything left, the Sox will have added some badly needed left-handed production. (They have not had a consistent left-handed power threat since Robin Ventura was playing third base).
It will be interesting to see how the Angels address their lack of offensive production (particularly OBP). Erstad is essentially one-year offensive wonder (2000), whose lack of offense at a corner infield spot is killing them. And they are still saddled with Finley's contract. Delgado, Thome, and Konerko seemed like viable options, but the first two are now out the window, and odds are against them signing Konerko. Durazo is still out there, but injuty concerns loom with him.
# posted by : 11/23/2005 05:47:00 PM
: 11/23/2005 05:47:00 PM
Thanks for the Soxian spin on the trade, Fullerton Sox Fan. Thome may not be washed up, but my guess is he's a 20-25 HR guy, even in U.S. Cellular, and I wouldn't be counting on him for more than 350 AB's/120 games or so.
To address your comments about the Angels, the hope among Angels fans is that Erstad will be released or become a bench player next year; Casey Kotchman has, I think, proved he's ready, but either the Angels brain trust is playing this very, very shrewdly (Scioscia made comments just after the Sox knocked them out of the playoffs to the effect that Kotchman didn't have first base sewn up), or they're far more foolish than I thought possible. (Given their 2004/5 offseason acquisitions of Orlando Cabrera, Esteban Yan, and Steve Finley, it's conceivable.) Finley will have spring training to prove he's a useful player, but Arte has eaten bad contracts before (see Kevin Appier). Delgado and Konerko I think are smokescreens, negotiating leverage for treating with the Sox regarding Manny Ramirez, who has indicated he is, aside from the Angels, also interested in playing for division rival Seattle.
The Angels still need OBP, but mainly at the top of the order.
To address your comments about the Angels, the hope among Angels fans is that Erstad will be released or become a bench player next year; Casey Kotchman has, I think, proved he's ready, but either the Angels brain trust is playing this very, very shrewdly (Scioscia made comments just after the Sox knocked them out of the playoffs to the effect that Kotchman didn't have first base sewn up), or they're far more foolish than I thought possible. (Given their 2004/5 offseason acquisitions of Orlando Cabrera, Esteban Yan, and Steve Finley, it's conceivable.) Finley will have spring training to prove he's a useful player, but Arte has eaten bad contracts before (see Kevin Appier). Delgado and Konerko I think are smokescreens, negotiating leverage for treating with the Sox regarding Manny Ramirez, who has indicated he is, aside from the Angels, also interested in playing for division rival Seattle.
The Angels still need OBP, but mainly at the top of the order.
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