bc2k

$7M in 2006 $10M in 2007 $12M in 2008 With Contreras, Buerhle, Vazquez, Garland, Garcia and McCarthy, it gives KW the flexibility to shop one for a bat. My guess: Garcia. The Sox are way over budget and must trade one of their pitchers without assuming a large contract (e.g, Tejada). If Hendry was smart (the jury is still out), he would trade enough prospects (ex-Hill) to the Sox to get Garcia or Vazquez or Garland and then flip him with Hill and Patterson to the Orioles for Tejada. Assuming the O's bite, that way the Cubs could get their man without giving up Prior. If it made the Sox better, KW would cooperate with the Cubs and would love to rub it in their faces if one of the propects paid dividends later. I can see that happening. Hendry should offer CPatt (to compete with the Sox's rookie CF), Ohman (because the Sox need left-handed bullpen help) and a prospect like Hill for Freddy Garcia or Garland. CPatt, Ohman, and Hill for Garcia/Garland is overpaying. I think we could get a lot more than that if we were going to trade those three. Bruce Miles told us that Hill wouldn't be traded for Dunn straight up, thats how much Hendry values him. Perhaps it's overpaying, but I still like the trade. As much as I like what I saw from Hill last season, he is unproven and needs another pitch. Garcia and Garland are proven, and we need another SP. CPatt doesn't have a starting position here because of the signings of Pierre and Jones, so he's expendable. Ohman will be missed, and Hill could turn into a solid pitcher, but I like the rotation of: Z Prior Garcia/Garland Williams Maddux with Wood taking Williams's or Maddux's spot once 100% healthy.

Me either. And I've been perhaps his strongest supporter as far as Garland turning the corner. Then you're nuts. Look at what the AJ Burnetts and Kevin Millwoods of the world are getting. It's a below market value contract, especially given that it is only a three year deal. average $10m a year is not below market for a mid-tier pitcher who hasn't even hit free agency. Garland was one year away from free agency and would have earned ~7 million had he gone to arbitration. Hoops's post says Garland's contract gives him $7 in 2006, so there's no difference in 2006 salary. Garland's 2007 and 2008 salary averages $11 per year. I think that is below market value for Jon Garland. Garland's averaged over 205 IP over the past 4 years (not including playoffs and World Series), is only 26-years-old, and had a 3.50 era in the AL last year. It's a safe signing when you consider that Kenny Williams didn't have to give him a 4- or 5-year deal, and JG's floor is a .500 pitcher with 200 IP. His 2005 season doesn't appear to be a fluke considering his age and projection. Garland year 3 is too much. I would compare Garland to a Washburn. Washburn just got a 4 year $36M. His career ERA is 3.15. John's best year was last year and his ERA was 3.50. 1st year is good, 2 and 3 are reaches. So what does Zambrano ask for the year before free agency. OY! Washburn's career era is 3.93, not 3.15, according to baseballreference.com http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/washbja01.shtml

$7M in 2006 $10M in 2007 $12M in 2008 With Contreras, Buerhle, Vazquez, Garland, Garcia and McCarthy, it gives KW the flexibility to shop one for a bat. My guess: Garcia. The Sox are way over budget and must trade one of their pitchers without assuming a large contract (e.g, Tejada). If Hendry was smart (the jury is still out), he would trade enough prospects (ex-Hill) to the Sox to get Garcia or Vazquez or Garland and then flip him with Hill and Patterson to the Orioles for Tejada. Assuming the O's bite, that way the Cubs could get their man without giving up Prior. If it made the Sox better, KW would cooperate with the Cubs and would love to rub it in their faces if one of the propects paid dividends later. I can see that happening. Hendry should offer CPatt (to compete with the Sox's rookie CF), Ohman (because the Sox need left-handed bullpen help) and a prospect like Hill for Freddy Garcia or Garland.

Me either. And I've been perhaps his strongest supporter as far as Garland turning the corner. Then you're nuts. Look at what the AJ Burnetts and Kevin Millwoods of the world are getting. It's a below market value contract, especially given that it is only a three year deal. average $10m a year is not below market for a mid-tier pitcher who hasn't even hit free agency. Garland was one year away from free agency and would have earned ~7 million had he gone to arbitration. Hoops's post says Garland's contract gives him $7 in 2006, so there's no difference in 2006 salary in this deal. Garland's 2007 and 2008 salary averages $11 per year. I think that is below market value for Jon Garland. Garland's averaged over 205 IP over the past 4 years (not including playoffs and World Series), is only 26-years-old, and had a 3.50 era in the AL last year. It's a safe signing when you consider that Kenny Williams didn't have to give him a 4- or 5-year deal, and JG's floor is a .500 pitcher with 200 IP. His 2005 season doesn't appear to be a fluke considering his age and projection.

I asked this before, but I don't know the answer: Does Dusty Baker's salary get included in the budget?

I'm dumbfounded and nearly speechless. Tejada is a top SS in the game, Bedard looks very promising, but I can't believe Hendry would think of trading Prior or Z. [Personal speculation] Maybe Hendry knows something about Prior that we, or any other GM doesn't know. Perhaps there is a physical reason 2005 Prior wasn't as dominant as 2003 Prior and Hendry knows he can't ever return to 2003 Prior. In that case, he's attempting to trade him while his value is highest, receiving a near sure thing in Tejada, who has played 162 games every year since 2001, and is a top player who plays a position we need. [Personal speculation/]

I'm a Bears fan, but I gotta tell you it was painful to watch Favre and GB on Monday night against the Ravens. I kinda enjoyed it. *shrug* :D Ditto

Yes, and putting just one more loss on the all-time Favre record versus the Bears.

Uh, that would be a definite NO. But, nice try though. Can we now get back to the topic at hand, which I believe had something to do with Kerry Wood pitching in relief for no other apparent reason except Dusty felt the need to preserve a winning season for his own personal gain. Ding Ding Ding! I also think Dusty used the WC possibility as an excuse to meet his real goal: obtaining a .500 record for his own personal gain. Pitching him the day before surgery?

I think you're right. He's trying to save his own job at the expense of the team. Sad.

There's less than that left. No there's 15 million left. Is a manager's salary included in the team's payroll?

I could've done without that.

Tree, if you somehow include a vicious critique of this signing in with the Wood surgery question at the Peoria stop, it's now up to $75. It's a shame that I'm more looking forward to Tree's inquisition than the 2006 season. :x

Zach Duke?

Byrd, not Bird.

I think he'll re-surface when more is known about the status of arbitration eligible players, i.e., which players are tendered vs. non-tendered. Just a guess. On what date will we know which players are tendered and non-tendered? Dec. 20th Thank you. :)

I think he'll re-surface when more is known about the status of arbitration eligible players, i.e., which players are tendered vs. non-tendered. Just a guess. On what date will we know which players are tendered and non-tendered?

Only if the Cubs play in Boston or NY. Oh yeah, he said Clemens will wait until late January and Oakland won't trade Zito because they have the best team in the AL and Zito will want 13. Could you explain the part about Zito and 13 please? I don't know what 13 means. Gammons said that Oakland won't move Zito because they have a good team and that Zito is going to want 13M per year and is very likely to become a free agent after seeing what Burnett got. Thanks for clarifying that for me. :)

Only if the Cubs play in Boston or NY. Oh yeah, he said Clemens will wait until late January and Oakland won't trade Zito because they have the best team in the AL and Zito will want 13. Could you explain the part about Zito and 13 please? I don't know what 13 means.

from the trib. Something stinks. There is no way CP is the starting RF for this team. This is Hendry's way of saying "we're not giving him away for scraps." I think it's a little late for that, though. I think you're right. Hendry might have no intention of starting Patterson in right, but he's smart not to let every other GM know that. This thinking is consistent with what he said last year about potentially trading CP. He's not going to give him away.

Perhaps a number of Sox pitchers had career years in part because of the work of their pitching coach, Don Cooper. Since KW was the one responsible for his hire, that looks to be another great KW addition. 2005 was the second year in which Cooper worked with a lot of the guys who had career years: Contreras, Garcia, Politte, Cotts, with Garland also blossoming with Cooper. Also, while Pierzynski isn't too good at blocking pitches in the dirt or throwing out runners, he is known for his game calling skills and knowledge of the AL Central hitters. I'm sure he and the improved infield and outfield defense also helped the Sox pitchers perform better than they've ever have.

Especially, when your team ain't exactly the '27 Yankees. I mean...why the Sox feel they NEEDED to upgrade their pitching, when they have HOLES at SS, 3B, and catcher. Then you have a rookie in CF, that puts a heavy burden on Pods/Tads/Konerko/Thome/Dye to produce, cause that bottom half of the White Sox lineup, ain't good enough to start for the Florida Marlins. But hey KWilliams is the "genius" in Chicago. :roll: :?: The Sox could use upgrades at SS and 3B, but they don't have holes at those positions. Uribe and Crede do play solid defense. Uribe's arm strength is just below Furcal's, and while Crede has been a horrendous offensive failure, his September and October offensive explosion could hint that he's figured out the other half of the game. Pierzynski is decent too. It'd be hard for KW to upgrade on either of those "holes" given the payroll he works with. That said, I agree with your point that he shouldn't be targeting more pitching. edit: Don't forget that KW did address two of your complaints, CF and 3B, by trading for Rob Mackowiak if either Anderson or Crede fail.

Good point. I'm not sure of Williams's motives. I am sure that they're not getting Tejada. If I were KW, I'd rather keep McCarthy + El Duque + Young instead of having Vazquez at double the salary. Buehrle, Contreras, Garland, Garcia, McCarthy with El Duque as the swingman and backup starter.

Browsing the White Sox MLB boards, they have been saying that Mackowiak fills a couple important roles as utility man. They said if center fielder Brian Anderson fails, Mackowiak can fill in. Or, if Joe Crede has to go back on the DL because of his bad back, Mackowiak can fill in there. Also, as you'd expect, there's a certain South Side chest-beating about how successful Mack has been against the Cubs and how he is from Oak Lawn, a Southwest suburb. A lot of Sox fans were fed up with Marte's 2005 season and yearly regression. The fact that Mack costs less than Marte is an added bonus. Some said they were happy to have a left-handed bat off the bench.

I think he's done a good job so far this offseason, but he did an even better job last year. He went against the grain and traded Lee for Podsednik and Vizcaino, then used the money saved in that trade to acquire AJ Pierzynski, Dustin Hermanson and Tadahito Iguchi. He chose not to re-sign Magglio Ordonez. He signed the World Series MVP Jermaine Dye, made a midseason trade for Jeff Blum who hit the game-winning home run in game 3 of the World Series, and most overlooked, picked up Bobby Jenks and turned him into a reliever. He also gave a chance in ST to nobodies like Pablo Ozuna and Chris Widger who contributed much yet accounted for very little payroll. And he won without having to trade his best pitching prospect, Brandon McCarthy, or his best position playing prospect, Brian Anderson. All on a $75 million payroll. You watching Hendry? Ohh how hindsight is twenty-twenty :?: Kenny Williams deserves compliment for making those moves because he didn't have hindsight knowledge of how his acquisitions would turn out. You could also say that he got rid of someone who had more 2005 RBIs than DLee for a mediocre leadoff hitter, then used the money saved to acquire a clubhouse cancer, an over the hill reliever, and an unknown quantity Japanese player. You could say he picked up an injury-prone, strikeout-prone OF in Dye, he gave a chance in ST to guys most teams realized are not good, made a midseason trade for another guy who wasn't good, and held on to his best prospects like most intelligent GMs would do unless bowled over with an offer. Those moves worked out, but they could just as easily have ended up being terrible moves. But they didn't; thus, they were great moves. Above anything else, a GM is a talent evaluator. So you must give Kenny Williams credit for seeing something nobody else saw in those players.