You can Officially Cross the O-Dog off Your Wish List

Despite their apparent need for a veteran top of the order guy and an established second baseman, the White Sox officially passed on Orlando Hudson who, according to MLBTraderumors.com via Sirius XM Radio, signed with the Dodgers. Not really a shocker here, as the Dodgers have been the frontrunner in Hudson "sweepstakes" (if you can really call it that) for some time, but I was still holding out hope that KW would swoop in and bag a cheap veteran that immediately fills two pressing holes on this team. Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman notes that the Sox are fully committed to the young trio of Getz, Nix, and Lillibridge (in case you didn't already know).

Keeping Tabs on Free Agents of Interest

As anyone who follows baseball knows, this has been one of the strangest off-seasons in quite some time. We're just a few days from Spring Training and a plethora of quality players remain unemployed, struggling to find work in a sport that clearly was unprepared for the effect this down economy would have on it (nice giving Raul Ibanez that 3-year, $30+ million contract, Philadelphia. No way does that deal look terrible now). The the White Sox have repeatedly said they're not interested in adding more dollars to their self-imposed budget, they've still been linked to a number of free agents in the recent months and weeks. Plus, there are still several high-profile former Sox free agents out there whose decisions have very real consequences for the organization.

BOBBY ABREU
No more than a week ago, multiple sources had the Sox floating an $8 million offer to Abreu, but that deal always seemed to hinge on the Sox's ability to move Jermaine Dye, a task that has probably proved to be impossible as the corner outfield market is completely oversaturated.

• The Mariners had also always been discussed as a possibly landing spot for Abreu, but even local Seattle writers have come to terms that the M's will most likely have to look at cheaper options like Ken Griffey, Jr. (more on him later) or Garret Anderson
• Both Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal and some guy at Yahoo! Sports agree that the Angels and Abreu have just about agreed on a deal, even though Los Angeles seems to already have 10 other outfielders.

ORLANDO CABRERA
As the only Type A free agent the Sox lost this off-season, we've all be anxiously awaiting for Cabrera to land somewhere to resolve the question of what draft pick compensation we'd get. After waiting and waiting, there was even some speculation that Cabrera wouldn't sign anywhere until after the June draft, nulling the Sox's compensation and fittingly ending his turbulent time on the South Side with one final "screw you."

• Though nobody's talking, it looks like there is a renewed interest between Cabrera and the A's, but uh, good luck landing a contract in the range of $10 million.
• At least this guy's on our side: Local writer Bruce Jenkins points out the reasons why Cabrera would be a good fit in Oakland. Really, I just want someone to sign the guy.

JOE CREDE

• I have no idea what planet Joe Crede or Scott Boras live on, but the snag in Crede's negotiations are supposedly because Crede has been asking for a deal worth around $7 million/year. What! So far, the only teams that have looked remotely interested are the Giants and Twins, but even the Yankees would laugh off giving a guy whose chronic back problems have cost him over 1/2 his games the past 2 seasons $7 million per year.
• That said, this guy from Minnesota thinks the Twins should still try and sign Crede. When healthy, Joe can still hit and the Achilles' Heel for the Twins lately has been the lack of power in their lineup.

ORLANDO HUDSON
Before last season ended and even into this off-season, Hudson was consistently linked to the White Sox and for natural reasons, he would be one of the high OBP guys that could hit at the top of the order that we're sorely lacking, plus he plays a defensive position that we have no real answer for. The main concern was some nagging injury issues, but it seemed like a classic KW "wait and swoop"-type deal; Hudson would sit around, let his value depreciate a bit and the Sox would come knocking with an offer to help him redeem himself.

• About a week ago, Hudson was a guest on MLB Network's Hot Stove and he named four teams that have been showing him interest; the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, and Nationals.
• Earlier today, the Cardinals released Adam Kennedy, their starting second baseman for much of the past 2 seasons. Despite not having any real solution to their now void second base position, the Cardinals don't seem interested in bringing in any veteran players. Still, this feels like a developing situation that may yield some news yet.
• And finally, tonight, the Dodgers reportedly were set to make a big splash in the free agent market and could possibly sign deals with both Hudson and Manny Ramirez by the end of the week.

KEN GRIFFEY, JR

• Still feeling the effects of the incredible amount of available outfielders, but he's still waiting. As noted earlier, there's a strong possibility he'll return to Seattle.

FRANK THOMAS

• There's been so little interest in the Big Hurt, the best I could find was this post from a Yankees' fan blog that is roughly 95% not about him. After hitting only .240/.349/.374 in 71 gamed between Toronto and Oakland, it looks like the well may have finally run dry.

RAY DURHAM
Obviously, a former Sox All-Star but the free agent second baseman has been getting very little looks, which is surprising. He's not a Type A or B free agent, so he won't cost you draft picks and aside from his down year in 2007 (that now looks very much like a fluke... there's a good article at Fangraphs that backs my argument), Durham has been a consistent and productive offensive player. Can you think of any teams that are in need of a second baseman who can do a little with the bat? I can, the White Sox!

• The best offer it seems that Ray has recieved was a minor league deal to come to the Nationals' Spring Training to compete for a roster spot. The deal, worth $850,000 if he made the Nats' 25-man roster, was rejected and Durham has openly mulled retirement if he doesn't get an offer he feels is worth his time.
• The only other person I can find that seems to think Durham would be a nice fit for his 2B-less team is Bob Dutton, the Royals' beat writer over at the Kansas City Star.

IVAN RODRIGUEZ
I'm not sure how true the rumors ever were that linked the 1999 American League MVP to the Sox; most of them seemed to be the work of guys who noticed the fit between the two parties; the Sox have no real concrete options to backup AJ Pierzynski and Rodriguez is a veteran catcher, struggling to find work, who also happens to hit on the opposite side ot the plate as AJ.

• There were originally some reports that said the Marlins were not interested in brining back Rodriguez, but that's not true says Marlins' owner Jeffrey Loria.
• Because they're still the Marlins, though, a few days later is was reported that the Fish would indeed be willing to bring in some veteran talent, but couldn't spend more than $400,000 on them.

SCOTT PODSEDNIK

• Will be in Tuscson next week, trying to earn a roster spot with the Rockies again.

BEN BROUSSARD
Remember this guy? Three years ago, he hit 21 combined home runs with Cleveland and Seattle but since his power has mysteriously vanished (I'm not saying, I'm just saying) and his career has crashed and burned. He's played only 125 games in 2007 and 2008 combined, and had signed minor league deals with both the Cubs and Yankees in 2008, getting released soon thereafter both times.

• Well, the White Sox brought him abroad today, inking Broussard to a 1-year minor-league deal. I actually don't mind the move, it gives the Sox good organizational depth at 1B/DH in case Jim Thome or Paul Konerko break down, allowing more promising youngsters like Brandon Allen the chance to continue their development in the minors instead of being rushed to the Majors.
  

Manny Ramirez Saga Affecting White Sox?

Earlier today, Manny Ramirez spurned the Dodgers' 1-year, $25 million contract offer. Despite what they're saying, I think this means LA is all but done dealing with the slugging free agent. Supposedly, now they've turned their attention to Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson. Hudson, you may remember, was a free agent favorite of Kenny Williams since at least last year. And though, over the weekend, ESPN reported the White Sox weren't going to be signing any more free agents this off-season, today there are reports the Sox have offered a 1-year contract to Bobby Abreu. The Abreu offer is supposedly worth around $8 million for 2009 and it would likely mean Jermaine Dye will be moved before Opening Day, saving the Sox another $3.5 million. Now, Hudson did make almost double that amount in 2008 ($6.25 million), but in this buyer's market, it wouldn't be shocking to see him not get a much better offer. Aside from plugging a major hole in the Sox's defensive lineup, he'd bring another veteran, high OBP-guy that the Sox are currently drooling over.

New Jermaine Dye Rumors and Other Notes

I'll begin tonight with the standard Jermaine Dye rumors. Of course, as everything else apparently does, this directly ties into the Mark Teixiera Mega-Sweepstakes that has currently swallowed everything baseball-related. The lastest news on Teixeira is that his most previous employer, the Los Angeles Angels officially pulled their offer off the table after they tired of waiting, and in his latest blog update, ESPN's Peter Gammons says,

We don't know ... there really might be a three-way deal among the White Sox, Angels and Reds that would put Jermaine Dye in Cincinnati, Joey Votto in Anaheim and Chone Figgins in Chicago.

The deal makes sense for the Sox who, fill a hole at third base and at the top of their lineup and it makes a lot of sense for the Angels, who pick up a young first baseman to fill their new hole on the right side of the infield. I have no idea how trading a young, cheap player with major upside for 1 year of Jermaine Dye makes any sense for Cincinnati, but hey they haven't had a winning season since 2000 so who knows what's going on at Big Red Headquarters.

Meanwhile, the Sox seem to be schmoozing free agent Bobby Abreu... Who just so happens to play the same position as Jermaine Dye! Talk about coincidences.

If you remember, back in July (when it wasn't zero degrees out), I posted that I wouldn't mind seeing the Sox take a flyer on Daniel Cabrera at the trade deadline. Cabrera was released by the Orioles this off-season, but he just signed a deal with the Nationals. So that's that.

Fox Sports' head baseball guy, Ken Rosenthal published this snazzy slideshow of the 11 (I don't know how he settled on that figure, either) best free agents still available as well as where he felt they'd sign. #9 on his list is Orlando Hudson, who the Sox reportedly coveted earlier in the year and who just so happens to play a position that we don't have a definitive answer at the Major League level currently. Talk about coincidences. The Hudons situation feels more and more like a standard KW-style signing... A proven veteran that's been getting little publicity recently because of some nagging side issues (injuries) that fills a definite hole in this team/lineup, and will hopefully accept a lower than desired contract because of said issues. Something to keep your eyes on, but while I wouldn't be shocked if Hudson wasn't the Sox's starting second baseman in 2009, I'd say he's the frontrunner for the job, despite not being employed here yet.

Finally, in case your worried that you've been fixating too much on this whole free agent class, I've got good news for you. The guys at MLB Trade Rumors.com published this list of available (and potentially available) free agents in the 2009-2010 off-season. Headliners include Indians C Victor Martinez, Mets 1B Carlos Delgado, Orioles 2B Brian Roberts, Devil Rays OF Carl Crawford, A's OF Matt Holliday, Sox RF Jermaine Dye, Angels RF Vladimir Guerrero, Tigers RF Magglio Ordonez, Sox DH Jim Thome, Mariners SP Erik Bedard, Sox SP Jose Contreras, Cubs SP Rich Harden, Braves SP Tim Hudson, Angels SP John Lackey, Indians Cy Young SP Cliff Lee, Diamondbacks SP Brandon Webb, and Sox RP Octavio Dotel.

You're welcome. Merry Christmas, Sox fans.