The White Sox have started a new ad campaign, promising the fans that they are All In and committed to winning in 2011 and beyond. After re-signing Paul Konerko & AJ Pierzynski, they went out and signed Type-A free agent Adam Dunn. Alexei Ramirez opted out, and re-signed for $2.75 million. They also traded Scott Linebrink, although the Sox had to give Atlanta $3.5 million to complete the deal. The team also non-tendered Bobby Jenks and Erick Threets.
There are still moves to be made if we are truly All In, albeit with not a lot of cash left in the vault. One move the Sox want to make is for some bullpen help. They really want to get a left handed pitcher for the bullpen. George Sherrill, despite having a down 2010, was thought to be our target player. Sherrill posted a very bad 6.69 ERA and 1.92 WHIP last season in just 36 IP. However, this lowered his value dramatically, leaving him in our price range after all of the money the Sox have spent already.
From 2007-2009, Sherrill posted a 2.82 ERA in 168 IP, with a 1.20 WHIP, and 58 Ks a season. He has been lights out against lefties in his career allowing just a .167 BA and 4.19 K/BB. Even last season, he was great against lefties allowing just a .192 BA, although he got murdered by RHB. He was still probably our best option in our current monetary situation. He signed with Atlanta for a mere $1.3 million.
Arthur Rhodes is probably the one good LH reliever on the dwindling free agent list. He had a good 2010 campaign as a middle reliever, posting a 1.01 WHIP in 55 IP. His K/BB was almost 3/1 and he kept his ERA low at 2.29. His last deal was 2 years/$4 million. Maybe we could pull off signing him for $2 million for one season. I would be happy with that, even if he will be 41 years old next season. I don't think a 1 year deal would hurt us too badly. We're talking about the guy with the all-time MLB record for career holds with 215. He also had a 33 appearance scoreless streak last season.
Chris Sale will be forced to move into the starting rotation this year due to Peavy's injury. There is no real word when Jake will be back but I am hoping he can be back before June 1st. If Chris Sale struggles, he would probably return to the bullpen when Peavy comes back. Sale would give us a LHP in the bullpen. It's another option anyways. Many people want Sale to be the closer but I do not think that would be the right place on the pitching staff for him. Even if he were a solid closer, he would help us more if he was a solid starter. It could be a situation similar to Adam Wainwright in St. Louis.
I think Matt Thornton will start the season in the closer role barring any unforeseen trades. I would like for the White Sox to re-sign Bobby Jenks for one season and just see if he has anything to offer in a middle relief role. Being a middle reliever is a totally different monster from being the team's closer. He would be cheap at this point as well. The Sox really need the depth in the pen.
It was being reported that the White Sox were attempting to trade Carlos Quentin for bullpen help. However, Kenny Williams says that report is untrue. I think our best move going forward would be to trade Dayan Viciedo for a bullpen guy. He is pretty much blocked from playing DH or 1B and Brent Morel is clearly better at 3B than Viciedo so he has no where to play. We could trade Viciedo for a reliever, and then sign Arthur Rhodes and have two new guys to help lock down the pen.
Anyway we look at 2011, it will be a year of high salaries and high hopes. The White Sox will have their largest payroll ever, at over $110 million. There are a few small moves the Sox are trying to work on right now, but the biggest parts of the puzzle have been put together. They have the lead off hitter, the two hitter, a solid three through five, capable guys toward the back of the line up, a solid catcher, solid starting pitching, and a potential closer. The middle relief is probably our thinnest area. Hopefully the Sox go into next year with all their pieces in order, but right now, things aren't looking too bad.
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