spiderman

There's been a lot of talk that Rowand wants 5 years, and nobody is willing to go beyond 3 years.

QUOTE(spiderman @ Dec 2, 2007 -> 01:49 PM) I'm kind of thinking the same thing. I'd say one at the most, maybe a move for a LF. LF down...

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Dec 3, 2007 -> 12:30 PM) Or Rowand in CF; I really dont think KW has Owens as a starter next year. He was dumb last year, but I don't think he's that dumb. How does making Quentin our LF make us better ? I know he's cheap, but unless he's ROY, I don't see how this closes the gap with Cleveland and Detroit. What kind of numbers are realistic for him ? Does anyone see Jerry Owens platooning with him ?

Would he be our new LF next season ?

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Dec 2, 2007 -> 01:27 PM) I will say 0, but KW will "start the groundwork" for the rest of the off-season. I'm kind of thinking the same thing. I'd say one at the most, maybe a move for a LF.

If Joe Cowley is correct, and Aaron Rowand is no longer on the White Sox list of options: - The market says that Rowand is probably going to get at least $12 million in 4-5 year deal, and I am glad that the White Sox aren't willing to pay that. Rowand is a good player, but at that price, I'd expect him to be an all-star caliber player, but I think last season was a career year. Yes, he'd upgrade our current CF situation, but that's a lot of money to invest. 1) I am assuming that Kenny Williams is looking for a leadoff hitter through a trade, and CoCo Crisp is probably the leading option, should they be able to work a deal out. He's only making about $5 million for this season and next, but, assuming they do acquire a leadoff hitter in CF, do the White Sox really consider putting Jerry Owens in LF as a #9 hitter ? It would give Guillen the speedy options in his lineup at #1, #2 and #9, but this is hardly, in my opinion, a championship level lineup. 2) If the White Sox were offering Hunter $15 million a season, should we still expect this money to be eventually spent this off-season ? 3) Can the White Sox afford two trades to beef up their OF ? We've heard rumors about M.Cabrera, C.Crisp and C.Crawford. I am assuming that acquiring Crisp would make two trades hard to make, but could they acquire both Crisp and Crawford without decimating their farm system ?

Rowand out of picture Crisp a more likely target for Sox; Taveras a possibility November 28, 2007 BY JOE COWLEY [email protected] It's an easy assumption to make. Chicago SunTimes Link The White Sox watched the Los Angeles Angels nab Torii Hunter from their grasp for 90 million reasons last week, and they're still in the market for a center fielder. Meanwhile, South Side cult hero Aaron Rowand, who never has met a center-field wall that he wouldn't try to run through, is at home in Las Vegas, still a free agent. Easy, right? Wrong. According to a Sox source close to the situation, Rowand actually was Plan 1-A this offseason, and the Sox contacted him before they started talking numbers with Hunter to see if the sides were in the same neighborhood. They weren't even in the same area code. While no details were offered, preliminary talks with Rowand did not even get past the number of years. In other words, the man who patrolled center field like a Rottweiler for the Sox from 2001 to '05 likely will remain a memory in the minds of Sox fans while he entertains possible offers from the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers. What that means for general manager Ken Williams is he will continue to work the phones in hopes of landing a proven center fielder in a trade. And the name that still is being whispered around U.S. Cellular Field is Boston's Coco Crisp. The Red Sox have become crowded in the outfield with the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury, and Williams is all too familiar with Crisp and his .316 batting average (62-for-196) against the White Sox since 2004. The teams know each other well, considering the Red Sox were heavily scouting the White Sox in June, when they came close to making a deal for pitcher Mark Buehrle. Another possibility for Williams could be trying to revisit a trade for speedy Willy Taveras. The Sox were in talks with Houston last winter about Taveras, whom the Astros eventually traded to Colorado. Williams could try to use third baseman Joe Crede to get a deal done with the Rockies at the winter meetings next week.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Nov 27, 2007 -> 10:31 PM) 1.) Fuku 2.) Andruw 3.) Row Why Fuku ? Am I the only one who has some concern about giving a guy $10+ who hasn't played in the majors, and hasn't made a decision about whether he's coming or not ? Granted, I don't want to overpay for Rowand either, but why Fuku ?

No worries as Rowand waits Outfielder patient as agent handles business Chicago Tribune Link To Story Unlike Paul Konerko two years ago and Torii Hunter last week, Gold Glove center fielder Aaron Rowand isn't stressing over his free-agent status. "I'm actually enjoying it," Rowand said Tuesday via phone from his home near Las Vegas. "We'll know when the time is right. Whatever happens, happens. Right now I'm just enjoying my off-season workouts and my time with my family. I let my agent (Craig Landis) handle that other stuff." If decision time is nearing for teams such as the White Sox, Rowand is in no hurry. "I want to weigh all my options before making a decision," Rowand said. "Hopefully that team will make the decision for me." That could very well mean that for the right price, the Sox could reacquire Rowand, whom they dealt two years ago in a package for slugger Jim Thome. Rowand, 30, has the comfort of knowing fans appreciate his fearless and unselfish style, and he's familiar with the city and the ballpark where he played for his first five seasons. Plus, nine members of the 2005 World Series championship team remain. But the Sox have other issues besides landing a center fielder of Rowand's caliber. Rowand is destined to receive a multiyear deal that could rival some of the Sox's top-paid players after setting career bests with 27 home runs and 89 RBIs to go with a .309 batting average last season with Philadelphia. The Dodgers, who were interested in Hunter, could shift their focus to Rowand, who grew up not far from Dodger Stadium in Glendora. Rowand also expressed no bitterness over the Sox's heavy but unsuccessful pursuit of Hunter, who agreed to a five-year, $90 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. "I totally understand it," Rowand said. But for now, Rowand said he isn't consumed with his destination — except when Landis calls him. "Craig informs me on a few things," Rowand said. "He lets me know what's going on, but there is no timetable." Meanwhile, center fielder Brian Anderson is in no hurry to decide whether to play for Mexicali in the Mexican Pacific League. Anderson was to take live batting practice Tuesday at the University of San Diego for the first time since he injured his left wrist July 6 with Triple-A Charlotte. "As of now, my health is good and I can't complain," Anderson said. "I just want to take this all the way to spring training." Anderson, 25, the Sox's first-round pick in 2003, said he is solely focused on preparing for 2008 and isn't thinking about whether he should play in Mexico this winter or whom the Sox will put in center. "We all know this is a business," Anderson said. "If they get a center fielder, we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out. "If they believe getting a center fielder is in their best interests, then that's their belief. My goal is to play in the bigs in 2008." Anderson said he would continue to hit in San Diego and talk to agent Terry Bross before deciding whether to play in Mexico for the second half of the winter. Anderson's health could dictate whether he could be part of a trade, perhaps for third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Florida is said to be seeking four prospects in any deal. But Anderson isn't consumed with his future. "I haven't felt this good in a while," Anderson said. "I just want to be ready."

Sox shouldn't center focus on 1 guy Return of Rowand would be big, but team has many needs Chicago Tribune Link After failing to land Edgar Renteria as far back as last summer, the White Sox were about to settle for Juan Uribe before landing Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera last week. This off-season already is mirroring the adjustment period general manager Ken Williams embarked on three years ago, at least in the sense that he swung and missed with a Uribe-like hack on Omar Vizquel as he did recently with Torii Hunter. Opting for "Plan 1B," which appears to be fan-favorite Aaron Rowand, would solve as many issues off the field as on the field. Toward the end of his five-year stint with the Sox in 2005, Rowand was known to take a subtle face-to-face poke at a teammate or reporter designed to keep everyone on the straight path. A day before hitting a grand slam against his former team in Philadelphia in June, Rowand visited the Sox's clubhouse. That prompted Darin Erstad to say he'd never seen the Sox's clubhouse so cheerful since arriving in January. And dating back to the end of the 2006 season, Rowand was aware that some Sox players were on their own program instead of adhering to the best interests of the team. A return by Rowand would fill the Sox's hole in center field, provide manager Ozzie Guillen with an unselfish player willing to hit anywhere in a lineup that resembled a slow-pitch softball team with its slow-footed sluggers and give a friendly clubhouse an edge it has lacked since the start of a 105-131 stretch that began the second half of the 2006 season. But Rowand isn't the answer to all of the Sox's problems, which still linger despite the addition of Cabrera. In fact, it wouldn't be the worst development if the Sox lose out on the Miguel Cabrera sweepstakes, especially since Florida is seeking four prospects. Williams has spoken more frequently about fielding a championship-caliber team in 2008, but the future can't be ignored unless there are talented position players to support the likes of pitchers John Danks, Gio Gonzalez and Lance Broadway. Trading Joe Crede would be tough, but the Sox already have a built-in replacement in Josh Fields, who played 79 games at third base in 2007. And at least two teams in search of a third baseman—the Dodgers and Angels—have a deep pool of young talent that could fortify the Sox's thin upper levels of their farm system. The reservoir isn't so deep in the Phillies and Giants organizations, but the chance to land a player of Crede's ability might be too tempting to pass up, especially with Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) and Mike Lowell (Red Sox) returning to their teams and Miguel Cabrera probably landing somewhere in Southern California. It also could bring the Sox results similar to when they dealt Carlos Lee on the final day of the 2004 winter meetings. They landed a healthy Scott Podsednik to hit leadoff and serviceable relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino and had enough money left over to sign catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Yet, the desire to field a title-contending team is paramount in Williams' eyes. That still requires landing a leadoff hitter and a dependable middle infielder, two valuable positions on a 25-man roster. Free agent infielder Cesar Izturis is available, but published reports indicate he is seeking a starting job. The Sox appear to have no interest in Chris Gomez, who can play all four infield positions and is attracting interest from the Yankees, Padres, Rangers and Pirates. The imminent addition of reliever Scott Linebrink is cause for scrutiny, considering he has yielded 21 homers in 146 innings over the last two seasons. Earlier this month, Williams wrote in an e-mail that he had hoped to get most of his off-season work done before the annual four-day winter meetings, which start Monday in Nashville. But if the past is any indication, Williams will be working, and likely adjusting, up to the final day.

Don't the White Sox owe Contreras $20+ over the next 2 years ? If I'm right, I'd give $5 million for him to go, but I think that's getting off cheap, plus the White Sox don't historically send cash in trades.

Chicago Tribune Link Williams may need creative solution Spurned by Hunter, Sox forced to Plan B Pie in the sky. That's what Torii Hunter was for the White Sox and their fans. It's no surprise he has signed elsewhere, although you could have gotten long odds on the Los Angeles Angels a few days ago. The Angels came from nowhere to put together the five-year, $90 million deal that makes Hunter the long-awaited bat to hit behind Vladimir Guerrero. This is a force-fit that leaves the Angels' big acquisition of last winter, Gary Matthews Jr., without a spot in what might now be baseball's best outfield. Garret Anderson, Guerrero and Hunter combined to hit .303 with 71 homers and 312 runs batted in last season. That's some serious thump, at least for the moment, as all are close to the downhill portion of their careers. But that's a problem for Tony Reagins, the Angels' new general manager, and his owner, the ambitious Arte Moreno. Hunter is 32, an age that apparently didn't stop the White Sox from offering him a five-year deal. But as badly as the Sox wanted Hunter, there was no way they could spend $18 million per year to get him. That is an inflated price based on his being the biggest name available, now that Alex Rodriguez is staying in New York. Given the contracts GM Ken Williams has negotiated or assumed since the World Series parade two years ago, the Sox don't have the payroll flexibility to compete for the most marketable free agents. The Jon Garland trade improved that flexibility some, but Williams still doesn't know for sure that he can off-load the $4.5 million contract he gave Juan Uribe only 12 days before trading for a better shortstop, Orlando Cabrera. To have been in position to land someone like Hunter—and maybe even his Plan B, Aaron Rowand—Williams might also have to find a taker for Jose Contreras. That would mean opening the season with a rotation of Mark Buehrle, Javier Vazquez, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and a fifth starter from a group including Gio Gonzalez, Lance Broadway, Charlie Haeger, Heath Phillips, Jack Egbert and Nick Masset. If you're going to have three question marks in the rotation—probably the reality even with Contreras—you had better have a good bullpen. Williams is apparently close to making a major addition there, reportedly agreeing to a four-year deal for right-handed setup man Scott Linebrink, who helped the Padres reach the playoffs in 2005 and '06. If he signs, Linebrink would fit the role Williams believed Mike MacDougal would when he gave him a three-year contract last winter—that is, a quality setup man to work in front of Bobby Jenks. He would improve the bullpen, which could become a strength if MacDougal and Matt Thornton return to their 2006 levels and Boone Logan and Ehren Wassermann contribute. But it wasn't the bullpen that sank the Sox a year ago. It was their relative weakness in center field, in left field and at shortstop. Cabrera is a significant upgrade over Uribe, who was as bad as any regular in the big leagues except for the 20 at-bats that ended with home runs. Cabrera produced 179 runs a year ago (runs scored plus RBIs minus home runs) compared to 103 for Uribe. Jerry Owens is available to play center or left. But if the Sox are serious about contending, they shouldn't pencil him in. He picked up the pace in the second half after needing 97 at-bats to get his first big-league RBI, but he was hardly a first-division player. Owens' .666 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) in the second half was less than all 36 big-league left and center fielders with enough at-bats to qualify for a batting title. That includes Juan Pierre, who checked in at .685 after getting a five-year, $44 million contract from that wacky Ned Colletti, the Dodgers' GM. So instead of throwing all their resources at Hunter, the guy who would help sell season tickets, the Sox are probably better off using the resources they have to add two outfielders, either through free agency (a thin crop after Rowand, Andruw Jones and maybe Mike Cameron) or a trade. Rowand, of course, would return to the Sox and be lavished with a big contract (call it five years, $60 million) after spending two years in Philadelphia. The Phillies want him back, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are interested, but he's a guy the Sox could get. Texas, which joined the Sox and Kansas City in the bidding for Hunter, doesn't appear interested. Hunter never seemed like a fit in Chicago. He hadn't heard real good things from his two Minnesota friends with Chicago experience, Jacque Jones and LaTroy Hawkins. Rowand, on the other hand, seems like someone who never should have left. In 2005, with Rowand as the primary guy, the Sox's center fielders had a .752 OPS and produced 139 runs. Those numbers dropped to .672 and 102 in 2006, with Brian Anderson as the regular, and .628 and 124 behind the likes of Owens and Darin Erstad last season. While away from Chicago, Rowand has improved his hitting. He batted .309 with an .889 OPS in 2007. Only Curtis Granderson and B.J. Upton had higher OPS numbers among regular big-league center fielders. Hunter would have been a hit with the fans. But if the idea is to win, you can get a lot more bang for your buck spreading around that $18 million per year

QUOTE(BearSox @ Nov 22, 2007 -> 08:56 PM) It makes sense to make him available, but not to just get rid of him. He's got the second best stuff in the pen, and can be a better SU man then Linebrink... but then again, he could be much worse. Now, I think mlbtraderumors.com (I know, I know) came up with this trade idea, but if the Dodgers were willing to do a Crede, MacDougal, and Massett for Ethier deal, I do that deal in a heartbeat. I'd love to move him, but I don't think anyone wants him or the conract he has.

I have to say, this only brings up more questions. Cabrera had a good season, but unless we're only paying him $4-5 million, and saving $6 or $7 million, I'm a bit confused as I expected Garland to be dealt for 2 younger players, certainly not a 33 year old SS. What does this mean for Uribe ? Are we going to pay him $4.5 million to be a backup OR does he play 2B ? Can he play 2B ? I can't imagine him after much of a trading market. In Cabrera, you'd figure he'd be a #2 type hitter so I'm assuming that we still are on the look-out for a lead-off hitter. As for the rotation, it appears they are committing to 3) Contreras 4) Denks 5) Floyd (with competition from Broadway and Gonzalez, amongst others). I really don't see the White Sox being a serious contender with that rotation. I realize there is a long way to go, and they will other moves, but their current team is probably worse than last season's without a solid #3 starter in Garland.

Chicago Tribune Link Japanese righty may provide relief Sox among the finalists for Chiba Lotte's Yabuta The White Sox are among five teams in the running for Japanese reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta. The Sox are looking for bullpen help, and Yabuta has told Japanese media the Sox, Royals, Indians, Rays and Pirates are the finalists for his services. Yabuta, a 34-year-old right-hander, had a 2.73 ERA in 58 appearances for the Chiba Lotte Marines last season. He filed for free agency last month. Yabuta helped Japan to the 2006 World Baseball Classic title. His achievements included strikeouts of Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Derrek Lee.

This is all coming from Barry Rozner's report in the Daily Herald in which he seemed to think the White Sox will 2 top prospects from a team like the Dodgers, and will be traded before spring training. There isn't any breaking news, and I don't think he he had any inside sources, but it's kind of dead right now, and sources like Yahoo picked the story up and gave it some legs.

QUOTE(rockren @ Nov 17, 2007 -> 02:58 PM) It isn't a bad idea, however I don't think the WSox want to give Garland an MB contract. Not that he isn't worth it to them, but I don't think they want to tie up another SP for multiple seasons at 12 mil/year. That's the going rate now though especially for someone as durable as he's been.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 17, 2007 -> 02:56 PM) While your point is taken...I think it would be foolish to insist on pitching as a return for JG given the state of our minor leagues and the fact that we're mildly stronger on pitching talent than on position players. Naturally, if someone offers you a Kershaw you laugh all the way to the bank, but barring that, I would put a higher priority on finding someone who could play the field somewhere. I think their first objective would be to acquire a young SS, but I don't think they'd pass on more pitching.

QUOTE(rockren @ Nov 17, 2007 -> 02:55 PM) Agreed, although Garland is certainly a player they'll look to dump for multiple young Grade B arms. Definitely (and maybe probable) that Garland will be dealt for 2 major league ready (or about ready) prospects.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 17, 2007 -> 03:04 PM) The way I look at it...right now we have so many different places where we need to spend money that at some point, we have to gamble a bit on what we have and save money in a place or two. Based on what Floyd, Broadway, Danks, Gio, etc. have done recently, which for many of them is simply "Not suck for an entire year", I think SP is a good place to try to do that. I can give the same logic for why I think we need Owens and Richar in the lineup next year; we just don't have the money to find someone better at every slot, and our money would be better spent finding another OF/#2 hitter, an upgraded SS, and another RHP out of the bullpen. So, you're in favor of trading Garland, and then rounding out the rotation with Contreras and 2 of the youngsters ? I understand the thinkingl, especially if Kenny doesn't believe he can resign him, but I just have so much concern about having 3 guys I don't really trust. I do agree with you on the need to save money in certain spots. That's why I would lean to giving Owens a shot in LF next season should they be able to add a CF, and making Richar the primary starter at 2B along with a young starter in the #5 hole. I really only see one expensive addition, and that looks to be CF.

QUOTE(retro1983hat @ Nov 9, 2007 -> 11:41 AM) Please, please, please ..... stop saying it's early. In 2007, coming out of a horrible ST, Sox fans said, "it's early" When we got off to a horrible start, Sox fans said, "it's early" When we were swept by the Cubs, Sox fans said, "it's early" The off season started for the Sox in May last year. It is not early. I know there is still 3 months until ST, but the Sox deserve no relief of pressure from Sox fans this year. Every day, KW needs to be asked, "What have you done today to win the World Series in 2008?" Anything short of that is a FAILURE!!!! That sounds like a bit of an overreaction. If there were other moves happening every day, and we were sitting back, that's one thing, but Kenny is about as agressive they come, and he'll get going soon. I think the ARod decision will hopefully get the ball rolling going into next week.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Nov 9, 2007 -> 06:10 AM) Good points. I am also starting to think the sox could hang onto Jon. If the sox want to make the playoffs this year--and they certainly seem built for that rather than rebuilding--keeping Jon for 2008 seems smart. Yet if the sox are out of it come the deadline again, trade for youth. Though if the sox want to get some young talent that could help in 2009, or the end of 2008--say a SS like Brent Lillibridge, as well as getting a solid bullpen arm for 2008, trading Jon makes sense as well. If the sox sign Hunter for CF, there are few options for LF/ someone to hit leadoff. The sox could go with a Shannon Stewart/ Owens platoon, with Stewart getting most of the AB's but keeping him rested. The vets have to hit better. And they should. If PK and Dye can't hit for long stretches of the year, the sox aren't going anywhere. The bullpen can't be as bad. But they need to add at least one solid arm for the 7th, 8th inning. Someone like Jason Frasor from Tor. The sox if they keep Jon would only have Crede and guys like Aardsma, Massett, and Sisco for trade. They will likely only get solid arm from that pool of guys. And IIRC, those three are out of options. Only one of those arms should be around come spring. Or bring them all back to fight for one spot. They may actually boost their trade value if they can get some outs in spring. It can't get much lower. The rotation seems set. But Floyd needs a spot as he'll be out of options. Danks needs to step it up. Contreras might be the odd man out, though he's likely to improve after going through his divorce. A few teams will likely offer a decent bullpen arm for him. It might be selling low. But the sox could then hold onto Jon with the possibility of selling high in July. It seems that a consensus is building that keeping Garland as the #3 starter is a major key to getting this team back on track. Adding another relief pitcher would be another smart move, but it would be extremely hard to compete with a shaky (at best) starting rotation.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Nov 8, 2007 -> 10:30 PM) Are we going to have 9+ new faces for Opening Day 2008? Let's see. I think we'll have a veteran middle IF brought in, a CF, and maybe a LF (though if the CF is a power hitter, I can see the White Sox sticking with Jerry Owens in LF), and maybe another middle reliever. Whether there are more changes will depend on how willing Kenny is on remodeling the club as opposed to just adding to it. We've heard the Konerko rumors as an example. Trading him would change the shape of the offensive club.

QUOTE(Chombi and the Fungi @ Nov 8, 2007 -> 09:15 PM) So does the weight fall on KW, or does it fall on our poor scouting, player development, where? Do you think that a few years in the dumps would do this organization good? I don't see us being contenders with how tough this division is. So would it make sense from a business standpoint and an organization standpoint to go with the "kids can play" moto and let them develop up in the show. We were the only team excluding NYY or maybe just the only team in general I believe to not have a top 10 pick in the last 15+ years. I forget the stat, but I believe prior to this upcoming draft we hadn't had one. Deal for prospects, scout better both for our draft and also internationally. Then be ready for 2 years from now. 100 mil a year to get a top 10 pick is a joke. I don't think the White Sox are going to dump players in order to improve the farm system - they resigned Dye and Buerhle to compete now.

QUOTE(Beastly @ Nov 8, 2007 -> 09:13 PM) Yes, the White Sox are in a big mess---as of right now. -I hope that they sign someone to help that pen out there, it doesn't need to be a big name or a Japanese player. It just needs to be someone who comes in here and just gets on a tare and kicks ass. I can see Aardsma coming back and being a help in the 'pen this year, I believe last year was a fluke and I hope he proves everyone else wrong in ST. Hopefully MacDougal lives up to what KW wants him to be, but I'm not too high on him like I am Aardsma. Either way, the 'pen needs two more arms. I like what I see out of Wassermann, too. -I am a bit concerned about our rotation if Buehrle and Vazquez fail and we don't add anyone this off-season, but it is only November 8th. I have a feeling the Sox will end up trading Garland at the Winter Meetings. I liked what I saw out of Broadway, I wouldn't mind if he was the No. 5 and the Sox tried to move Danks or Floyd in a package deal with some other player. If there's any way they can dump the Count, they should do it. Otherwise, I anticipate it being a challenge, but by no means a problem that cannot be fixed. -I'm not sure that it was a good move to re-sign Dye, but maybe his fat slow ass can prove me wrong. The major issue I see is that there isn't a good leadoff hitter and I don't think our OF or 2B is set yet. I'm under the assumption that Williams will bring in Graffanino or Iguchi to platoon with Richar, because I don't think Richar is the answer at 2B. I'm still on the Rowand bandwagon, but the Sox should not go and sign Hunter, that would be a bad move IMO. He's too pricey, getting older and he wants a long-term deal. Other than that, I think it'd be fine with Fields playin in LF and if Crede is healthy, then he'll take 3B. -Hey, at least the Sox didn't get Eckstein. Maybe Juan will lay off the quarter-pounders, booze and Mountain Dew and put down the World of Warcraft at some point in the off-season. -I think Konerko and Crede will be back and that we will see Fields in LF after Williams said, "We will know soon of Fields' playing status for '08." Although I didn't like that the Sox may not have pursued other options for the shortstop position and that Williams re-upped with Dye, I can't sit here and say the moves were bad. Dye could be good this year and we gave Uribe $500,000 less. Let's just sit here and see what happens in the coming weeks, because there's got to be some moves happening at the Winter Meetings. - I don't see a bullpen makeover happening here. Already, we are being told by local reporters that Day could be a possible surprise for next season, but even if he isn't on the roster, I think the White Sox are really basing their bullpen improvement hopes on MacDougle and Thorton bouncing back, and we've seen enough over the years to see that a lot of those relievers tend to be up one season, and down the next. If they do trade Garland (or whoever else), I wouldn't be surprised if they add a bullpen arm for next season provided that he has a reasonable contract, but that would be about it. - I'm hoping that the White Sox keep Jon Garland for next season, and find somebody to take Contreras. I don't think he's got much left in the tank. I'm kind of resigned to the fact that we're going to have 2 young starting pitchers in our rotation, and Broadway will hopefully be allowed to compete against Floyd/Denks. - I'm hoping Kenny Williams brings in a veteran to a 1 year deal to compete with Richar, and the guy I like is Mark Loretta. He also played some SS last season though he's more known as a 2B.