The White Sox are open for business, ESPN's Buster Olney heard from multiple executives. Olney specifically names Paul Konerko as someone who is available right now. Check out Olney's info in these three tweets.
Back in April, I ran through players who could be available if the Sox became sellers. Konerko can veto any trade, a right that will be granted to A.J. Pierzynski and Mark Buehrle on June 14th and July 6th, respectively. As sellers the White Sox could offer up one of trade season's hottest commodities: relief pitching. Bobby Jenks and J.J. Putz would be prime trade candidates. I'm guessing Scott Linebrink and Tony Pena would not be difficult to pry loose, though Matt Thornton would. The Sox also have plenty of veterans on one-year deals, such as Andruw Jones, Freddy Garcia, Mark Kotsay, Omar Vizquel, and Ramon Castro.
Fire sale already?
Who are you kidding, more like it’s about time – pf
I’m not a big fan of trading Konerko he has multiple good seasons left in him
ya, none of which the white sox have him under contract for…
God you are clueless, the Sox would have no trouble resigning him
He can finish the 2010 season with another team, and then be signed in the offseason as a free agent. Trading Konerko could very easily set off an AL West bidding war, as 3 teams are within 2 games of the top, and 2 have serious black holes at either 1B or DH.
Due to 10-5 rights, I don’t see him accepting a trade unless to a contender.
Catchers hitting .218 with an OPS of .584 are tough to find huh. Wouldn’t count on a contender forking over much for this, even Texas and they have been looking all year.
It is clear this combination of players and coaches are not capable of winning consistently. Sox may not need to do a fire-sale…this team could put together an exciting rest of the season if the right changes are made. A full fire-sale could re-stock the minor leagues which is good, or if even just one of the rally-killing bats in our lineup is replaced by a left-handed bat that hits for average….we might get some momentum going and salvage this season.
By salvage the season do you mean finish respectably or make the playoffs? I don’t see the point in finishing ~.500 and missing the playoffs, if the Sox play it right they could restock the farm and clear payroll space to be back in contention sooner than later.
not to mention a better draft pick next year
I don’t think Konerko will have another season like this one again….and he is only under contract for this year. Thornton would probably bring back the most in prospects considering he is one of the best set up men in the game and is under a cheap contract for this year and next.
Deal away as far as I’m concerned. This team is going nowhere this year. AJ to the Rangers, Konerko to the Angels, Putz to the Phillies, Jenks to anyone that will take him. A. Jones to the Braves, Freddie Garcia to the Cardinals. Get er done…
First goal is to trade AJ Away before he gets 10 – 5 rights.
Its time for the sox to start over plain and simple.
“Due to 10-5 rights, I don’t see him accepting a trade unless to a contender.”
Yeah no kidding. The only teams that would be wanting to take him and his contract on are contenders anyway, so really not an issue. Same thing with AJ, if these guys have a chance to go to a contender, im sure they will waive there NTC. Of all the Sox available I think Putz will be the one teams call most about. Thornton would bring back the most prospects. That said, I wouldnt be suprised to see Paulie and Putz be brought back next year as both will be FA’s. Jenks and AJ??? Not so much. Their days are numbered in Chicago regardless.
Thorton seems to be the only one who could actually bring some useful players or high caliber prospects in return. I don’t see any others getting nearly as much as the Sox need to compete in the immediate future (2011).
If the Sox are dumb enough to let the guy who assembled this mess try to clean it up, they deserve the 4000 that will be showing up for the next 4 years.
High payroll, horrible team, worse farm system = a GM in over his head.
It’s time to dump Kenny if they want this to change.
I totally disagree… Astros have the worse farm system, followed by the ChiSox.
I didn’t say they had the worst farm system of anyone, but at least you put them in the bottom 2.
The point is that every facet of this club has been run poorly and that if they want to correct it they need to get rid of the clown who did this.
I’d much rather see Ozzie / Greg Walker gone than KW. Just my opinion.
The Sox farm system is not bottom 2. Baseball america had their system rated at 19th going into this year…it’s not great but it’s not a bottom feeder system. With Hudson, Torres, Flowers ready to help now, and in a couple years, Jor Danks, Morel, Mitchell it’s not that bad. Also don’t sleep on Trace Thompson…he is a very high ceiling OF taken in the 2nd round out of HS. His raw skill set has been compared with Mike Stanton by some scouts recently. You add some decent prospects in trades now and with Chris Sale they could improve their system dramatically by 2011/12.
I can’t see them getting a whole lot. They’ll get some decent prospects, but knowing Kenny Williams, he’ll want MLB ready talent. Which means their talent level will be diminished because of their readiness.
The Angels will get a Chicago 1B, I’m just not sure which one.
What about Rios? Anyone think if they are blown away with a deal for Rios they would trade him? He has to have the most value of anyone
Rios is still owed $55 million, so as inconsistent and spectacular at times as he’s been, I’m not sure how much trade value he actually has. The Sox would probably have to eat a decent-sized portion of that money to get something of value in return.
The Blue Jays gave Rios away in return for zero prospects last year, they were just glad to get out from under that contract, there is no way another team takes on much if any of it now.
Between injuries and him playing well, if he can continue for another month or so, you never know. But I don’t see it happening.
Hey, for those of us who remember the White Flag sale of ’97, let’s just all be clear about how different this situation is: the Sox are really struggling, 7.5 games out, and with no signs of a rally or resurgence. As such, let’s also be clear about how necessary it is to really re-make this team through the farm system, which is better than many think, but a tad below where it needs to be for a playoff caliber team. Flowers, Viciedo, Morel, Hudson, Jordan Danks, Mitchell all have strong potential, as do a few other relief arms (damnit, we should have never traded John Ely to the Dodgers…and remember, he was considered a B-level prospect, so we know there are others down there). Unlike many, I’m confident that KW can get a good haul for Jenks, Putz, Konerko, A.J., Jones, and maybe one other relief guy (I don’t think Thorton goes, he is the closer in waiting at this point). If we can get a couple of good arms and one or two position prospects, I’m fine. We have lots of money coming off the books, and can focus in on a player or two in the off-season, and we can “let the kids play” as we did after ’97 when we brought up Ordonez, Carlos Lee and others.
“What about Rios? Anyone think if they are blown away with a deal for Rios they would trade him?”
Very interesting on Rios. I think at this point nobody is untouchable. There done for this year and I have a hard time thinking they can compete next year. In fact, the earliest time I see them competing is 2012. If someone offers you a good deal you do it. As lights out as Thornton is, I dont see this team competing next year, he’ll be a FA after ’11 so if someone blows you away, you make that deal.
Heard this…
Removed Buster Olney from my Twitter feed because he seems to dish out:
A. Stuff reported by somebody else with merit (hence, “heard this…”)
B. Stuff reported by somebody else who doesnn’t have a clue, yet spoke (hence, “heard this…”)
C. Complete regurgitated alfalfa previously enjoyed by bovine.
Hey Reds you should go and get JJ Putz
mark buerhle to the cardinals?
So sad to see their season in such a disarray when they were supposed to have such a good starting staff that they didnt need a real DH. First off you start with Ozzie and fire his worthless ass. Tired of his antics. Take Joey Cora and Greg Walker with you. Make Harold the interim manager. Next get rid of Kenny Williams. For every good move he’s made ( Danks trade, Javy trade, cheap Andruw signing) there are horrible ones along the way (the Swisher trade both ways, the incoming Javy trade, getting Griffey 7 years too late). He is a worthless waste of space who singlehandedly along with Ozzie killed this ballclub this year.
With that said I think trades of A.J., Paulie (unfortunately), Quentin, Jenks (Put a bow on his fat sorry ass), Putz ( he would help a contender), Linebrink and Floyd. I like Floyd but I think he is a younger Javy; .500 pitcher that will frustrate you until you cry. Not sure how much control we have over Danks but he most certainly will not resign with club so try and move him before he walks. I think you gave up too much for Peavy so you keep him. Rios cost a lot of money and he is a headliner you can build the new team around. And by no means do you trade for big league level talent. Go for youth that you can build for the future.