Dick Allen

If the Sox still had Sosa, Magglio probably never would have gotten an opportunity to play. Schueler left him unprotected in the Rule 5 as it was, thank God nobody claimed him. If Sosa wasn't traded, and was still with the Sox, Magglio would have either been released or would have been a throw in in a trade to satisfy Schueler's annual quest for a catcher. The more you look at it, the worse Schueler's performance as GM becomes.

Doesn't exactly sound like the "grinder" type KW was looking to acquire. He has talent and still is very young though.

I think the Bobby Bonilla for Jose DeLeon trade wasn't that bad. DeLeon was sent to St. Louis for the One Dog who played a huge role in the Sox success in the early 90's. Bonilla was great when he returned to Pittsburgh.(The White Sox had claimed him in the Rule 5 draft), but he was a real cancer when he went to NY.

That Sirotka/Wells deal wasn't terrible. You may think it made KW look like a dirtbag, but I disagree. The Toronto doctors ok'd the trade after an examination of Sirotka, who will never pitch in the major leagues again. Wells was not good with the Sox, but if he helped Buerhle, then the deal goes from wash, considering Sirotka, Simmons, and Bierne, did nothing after the trade, to a KW win. The Ritchie trade was bad, Kip had as many wins as Ritchie did the year before, and was much younger and cheaper. The White Sox scouts , who once pegged K. Wells as a David Cone clone, thought Ritchie was Jon Lieber II, they were wrong. The Koch trade was bad as well, but many on this and the other boards loved it at the time it was done. Every GM makes some moves that are bad, but I think KW's problem has more to do with his pompous attitude, than the deals he makes. He has at least been average to better than average in the trades he has made. He stole Marte. The trades he made last summer were bold. The Colon deal was great, although most don't want to give him any credit, thinking it was a gift from the Yankees.

Then how can the White Sox have 11 teams below them when Uribe is the only player they added?

They have Baltimore #2. That thing is crazy. How could anyone, with the possible exception of Milwaukee, be rated lower than Detroit?

The White Sox built a very competitive team in 2003. They were in first place in the middle of September. Their attendance was about half a million below average. What evidence to you have that Sox fans will support a competitive team?

Considering game 1 of that series went 10 innings and game 3 the final score was 2-1, game 2 was 5-2, I would say the Sox had a good shot to win at least 2 out of the 3. Definitely were close to winning a couple games.

The Sox gave up Gary Glover for him. Glover was released by the Angels and signed a minor league contract with the Cubs. Chances are, if that trade was never made, the White Sox would have released Glover after the season was over, so not getting anything for him was really no big deal.

Magglio is a better hitter than Nomar, but its easier to find production at a corner outfield spot than shortstop. The Sox would also be getting Williamson in this deal, and he is a pretty good pitcher. If they send Nomar away for some good arms that's fine, but unless they are going to hold Danny Evans up, I'd just assume keep Nomar. I still think Valentin for Garcia is viable. Garcia signed for what he got paid this last season. I don't believe the White Sox ever thought he would take a paycut.

Never is a long time.

He came up in the Sox system, I believe he signed with Oakland as a 6 year minor league free agent.

That's now shoulder surgery and elbow surgery. Howry is about done.

Jay Payton was non tendered

Definitely with the Sox. His first 3 years. Willie used to live a couple of blocks from me during the season. He threw hard. On ESPN classic they have shown his no hitter in I believe 1991, and the Sox division clincher in 1993. He used to blow guys away. Hawk would just say "Gas"

Wells back was injured. If he pitched like he had the two years after KW traded for him, it would have been a steal. Bierne, Sirotka, and Simmons will never play major league baseball again. The Ritchie trade was horrible, but he went right back to Pittsburgh and got Marte for Guerrier, another steal. He also got Yan in that deal who may turn into a ballplayer.The Colon trade was great, not a no brainer. The Yankees could have found other partners for the trade. The Koch trade was bad, but a lot of people on this site thought is was great at the time, and are still down on Foulke. Since none of the players KW gave up last summer have yet to play in the major leagues for a significant amount of time, its hard to say he got taken. Every White Sox prospect has been a future Hall of Famer before they got to the big leagues, and most have flamed out. The chances that all of the guys KW gave up last summer being successful is pretty freaking slim.

Willie used to have some awesome gas. Up around 97-98 with movement.

Shoulder surgeries usually take more than a year to regain strength lost, if its regained at all. El Duque also is probably close to 45 years old. Stay away.

I bet he took less this year, and they make it up to him with a little extra for next year to help add talent to the roster

I bet the contract calls for a lot more money next year when Magglio and Valentin are off the books than this year.

Normally, I would agree with you, but the market is depressed. The Yankees and the Red Sox, and maybe the Mets are really the only 3 teams who could conceivably bid on him, and those last few years of his contract, his salary is something like $32 million a year. No way he would get that. Hicks outbid everybody by $100 million for ARod. If he doesn't want to , or can't afford to pay him what he agreed, then he shouldn't look for Boston to take the contract, and pay a portion of Ramirez' contract. I don't blame the union, I blame Tom Hicks.

I hated the Paniagua signing, was against it from day 1, and caught crap about it here. But this isn't bad. They aren't going to find out if he can get people out in a pennant race. He'll have to earn a spot on the team with a good spring training. He will have to impress, or he will not make the team, really no risk for the White Sox.

Wally may talk too much, but he doesn't talk nearly as much as the dope who got the job. Wally will be a great major league manager someday.

Everyone knows what's going on now. Gammons said the deal will get done this weekend. Therefore, the deal is officially dead.

If the Sox did the Nomar trade and signed Rhodes----Kelly Wunsch-he gawn