It has been an unexpectedly busy offseason for the Chicago White Sox. Trapped in between contending and rebuilding, Jerry Reinsdorf put his money where his mouth was and allowed Kenny Williams to spend big dollars on the club competing early. Its a welcome change as the South Siders have been notorious over the years for trapping themselves in relatively high payrolls (always in the top third) while the General Manager crys poor. One of the most fun games Sox fans get to play, every year, is the "which position will Kenny Williams gamble and pin its success on a rookie / AAAA player or washed up veteran" game. Dont get me wrong, this game has resulted in some memorable players over the years.
Think of rookie Brian Anderson's flame-out in 2006/2007, where we were reminded that being a high draft pick doesn't matter if you can't hit big-league pitching. Or how about AAAA (professional minor-leaguer) Dewayne Wise's legendary but unearned chances in 2009, where he hit a high point in making "The Catch" to save Mark Buehrle's perfect game, but also failed to hit at the plate. And who can forget Mark Kotsay, holding down the "washed-up veteran" position as he became our primary DH and backup First Baseman last year, and proceeded to become an out-machine. I think I need a drink now, having relived some of those memories.
This year, however, we have a big-time major league DH in Adam Dunn and brough back Paul Konerko after he had a career season with the club last year. The only achilles heel for the White Sox right now can be summed up in three words: Peavy and depth. The White Sox entered the 2010 season with a focus on pitching and defense based solely on the lack of big-time bats in the lineup and a solid starting rotation of Peavy, Buehrle, Danks, Floyd and Freddy Garcia, with Daniel Hudson in AAA but percieved as major-league ready. Over the course of the season, Freddy outperformed expectations and Peavy underperformed largely due to suffering an injury that - to date - has never happened to a big league pitcher before. Hudson was traded for Edwin Jackson in an attempt to land Adam Dunn, which backfired and left us with a high-ceiling high-pay pitcher going into a contract year, and minus one long-term cheap home-grown starting pitcher. This season, since we're going "all-in", most of the club's big moves have already been made and its time to make some moves to shore up the club since - as always - there is no help coming from the minor leagues this year. Below are some players the Sox should have pursued, and why, as well as a couple of names of players who could still help out the Pale Hose as they contend through the seasonm, listed by player and role.
Should've, but didn't...
Jeremy Hermida, Fourth Outfielder
As I'll address in a forthcoming post the roll of "Fourth Outfielder" - the guy who comes in and gives other players a rest / takes over while a player is on the Disabled List (DL) - is crucial, especially given Carlos Quentin's health history. Hermida is a bit of a failed uber-prospect, a player of whom great things were expected but who has not delivered on that promise. He can, however, be passable in all three outfield positions and while he can't hit left-handers he makes good contact against right-handed pitching. He'd be a good compliment to Mark Teahen, and the White Sox would essentially use Teahen / Hermida as a platoon Fourth Outfielder as the situation warrants. Hermida signed up on a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds, and the White Sox have invited Lastings Milledge - a similarly geared underperforming uber-prospect to fill the role.
Justin Duchscherer, Fifth Starter
If you Google "Duchscherer" and "White Sox", you'll see that the club's attempts to trade for "The Duke" are longstanding and varied. At the moment, the Sox are entering into the season with their fingers crossed that Peavy will recover from his bizarre and potentially career-ending injury, with few options to cover the role of "ace" or "stopper" as the season drags on, a player with potentially filthy stuff and the head on his shoulders to use it. It sounds like they could use a low risk (cost), high reward pitcher and Duchscherer would've fit the bill perfectly. His contract demands seem to have been simple: he wants to be a starting pitcher, at all costs. Which would've been perfect for the Sox, a total win-win. If the Duke stayed healthy and excelled the Sox would've had options to maximize or move another pitcher, like Edwin Jackson or Buehrle, or kept him as Peavy insurance or even a six-man rotation. If he had a repeat of his 2010 performance - strong start followed by a season-ending trip to the DL - his low priced contract would've made it worthwhile but not prohibitive and the Sox would've won a few more games than if they go with a AAA or AAAA pitcher. The point is moot, however, as he signed with the Orioles on a $700,000 base contract with incentives.
Could still...
Jeremy Bonderman, Fifth Starter
Bonderman is a bit of a long-shot, mostly because he can still command a respectable salary in 2011 which wouldn't be a great fit for the White Sox's need for a warm-body pitcher. He does, however, bring familiarity of pitching within the division and is exactly the kind of reclamation project that Kenny Williams and White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper like. If the price is right, bring on the Bonderman, until he breaks again.
Scott Podsednik, Fourth Outfielder
Pods isn't the same guy that he was in 2005. Injuries have piled up, and the years of reckless running are having their effects, but Podsednik turned down a $2 million option year from the Los Angeles Dodgers and while frequently rumored appears to be struggling to find a home. Should he still be jobless at Spring Training, and is willing to accept a minor-league invite, Scotty would be more than welcome to come back to the South Side again. It's probably just a pipe-dream, though, since Pods will probably be signed by the strangely desperate Angels who might as well trade for Alfonso Soriano and make thier nightmarishly overpriced-outfield complete.
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