1 Sox = getting/giving this player will not do well for the White Sox, 5 Sox = Having/unloading this player will be awesome for the Pale Hose.
KEN GRIFFEY, JR.
Obviously not the player he was even a few years, ago but can still be an impact bat. He still gets on base at a .355 clip, but he's only slugging .432 this season, down over 100 points from his career average and 50-60 points below both of his last 2 seasons. All this despite playing in the bandbox known as The Great American Ballpark.PROS: Despite some injury troubles in Cincinnati, he's been remarkably healthy the last 2 years, playing in 246 of the Reds' 271 games in '07 and '08. As I said, I still like his OBP and his 61/64 BB:K ratio is something that is sorely lacking on this team. For reference, that is 1 walk for every 1.05 strikeouts. Meanwhile, the Sox have collectively walked 372 times and struck out 667 times; a walk every 1.79 strikeouts. The Reds are picking up a chunk of Griffey's contract and the Sox really didn't give up much to acquire him.
CONS: Well, I don't know where he's going to play. Griffey has not played a game in CF since September 4, 2006. He's been in RF for the last 2 years, and while his numbers are still all right (7 outfield assists... Nice), I don't know if Old Legs is really the answer the Sox were looking for defensively. Sandwiched between Quentin and Dye, that's got to be one of the league's slower outfields, but the White Sox play in one the smaller outfields.
VERDICT
A nice pickup, he's another left-handed bat to break up the righty dominated middle of the Sox order and if the rumors are true, he's replacing Paul Konerko in the lineup. Couple that with the reduced salary the Sox are paying and the fact that Williams didn't have to part with any big-time prospects. A classic low-risk, high-reward trade.
NICK MASSET
Masset came to the Sox in the McCarthy-Danks trade and was never able to wiggle his way into the Sox rotation. Though he's only started a pair of games, he's looked good in both. Of course, we remember his memorable win over Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs last season, but in his time in the White Sox bullpen, Masset had his successes and failures.PROS: Not a whole lot from the White Sox perspective. Masset struggled in the bullpen and with 4 veteran starters ahead of him and a handful of more intriguing pitchers behind him, Masset was never going to get a chance to pitch every 5th day in Chicago. He may be able to win that opportunity with the Reds.
CONS: Again, not that many. Granted, the White Sox bullpen has been a mess lately, but Masset's not the answer. His career ERA in the bullpen is 5.75 and a whopping 8.31 in the 2nd half of the season. I think Nick still has a promising future if he can learn how to harness all his pitches, but he wasn't going to be a key guy for the Sox in 2008.
VERDICT
I mean, he's still on the 25-man roster so the Sox obviously felt he was better (or at least, more polished) than the arms in Charlotte and Birmingham, but his future is not with this organization.
DANNY RICHAR
Though he looked to be the starting second baseman when Spring Training started in February, visa troubles and injuries completely derailed his season. Currently he's hitting .262/.321/.427 with the Knights.PROS/CONS: Richar made himself expendable and the White Sox suddenly find themselves flush with middle infield talent. Alexei Ramirez is obviously a keeper, he's had a great rookie season in Chicago with presumably a few years of maturing to go. Chris Getz is having a nice little year in Charlotte and has made himself a fan favorite of Sox farmhand watchers. Hell, 1st round pick Gordon Beckham may only need a few seasons of seasoning before he's ready to debut in the Show, if he's as good as the hype. Double hell, even Juan Uribe, who is a superior defensive infielder has even looked somewhat competent with the bat since getting PT to cover for Joe Crede.
All in all, middle infield is a position of depth and strength for the White Sox. While Richar might have been a nice option at 2nd base if Orlando Cabrera doesn't resign with the Sox (which he reportedly won't), it's not like the cupboard is bare. Williams has supposedly been taking a long hard look at Orlando Hudson, the Diamondbacks second baseman who will be a free agent this winter. OK, so the last 2 FA's Williams targeted were Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand, and we know how that worked out, but there are a lot of options, with or without Danny.
VERDICT
No real loss here. Danny's a nice talent, but he's not a blue chipper, and if he's the pivotal player you give up in a deal, you can't be very upset.
No comments:
Post a Comment