The White Sox are on the lookout for a left-handed bat and an addition to the starting rotation, reports Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago/670thescore.com (via Twitter). Per Levine, GM Rick Hahn and his staff have been “very active” to this point. Levine expands on that statement a bit toward the end of his latest column, noting that the Sox figure to look for a replacement for John Danks, who was designated for assignment earlier today, both internally and via trade. The Sox are turning to Erik Johnson to make Danks’ upcoming start, and the club has other internal options in the form of Miguel Gonzalez, Jacob Turner and Chris Beck. As for the search for bats, Levine writes that the Sox are “kicking the tires” on quality left-handed bats. Levine speculates that Carlos Gonzalez, who could be moved by this year’s Aug. 1 trade deadline, would make sense and could fit into the budget after the Sox saved $13MM with Adam LaRoche’s retirement. I’d add that lefties Jay Bruce and Nick Markakis both figure to be available in trades this summer, though neither is as strong a hitter as Gonzalez.
More from the AL Central…
- Within that column above, Levine has quotes from Hahn about the difficult decision to designate Danks, the White Sox’ longest-tenured player, for assignment. “There is no doubt in my mind that after the shoulder surgery he was not the same guy,” said Hahn of Danks. “That was zero fault of John Danks because he did everything in his power to fight back. Really giving the extent of the surgery, it was impressive how much he was able to contribute.” Levine also spoke to Sox stars Jose Abreu and Chris Sale about the move, with Sale plainly stating that “it stinks” to see a close friend that means so much to the clubhouse dismissed from the team. “He definitely left his mark on me and a lot of guys in here,” said Sale. Levine also tweeted following Danks’ DFA that the Sox offered him a chance to go to the minor leagues, but he declined.
- Twins GM Terry Ryan told reporters, including MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger (Twitter link), that he’s undecided about whether to send a scout to watch Tim Lincecum’s showcase on Friday. The issue, Ryan explained, is that Lincecum wants to start. Minnesota has a number of rotation options in house already, with Ervin Santana slated to return this week to join Phil Hughes, Ricky Nolasco, Jose Berrios and Tyler Duffey. Minnesota also has Kyle Gibson on the DL with a shoulder injury, left-hander Tommy Milone in the bullpen (but capable of starting) and righty Alex Meyer, who got the nod in tonight’s contest (where he struggled).
- While the Tigers aren’t ready to pull the plug on Mike Pelfrey’s rotation spot, GM Al Avila admitted that the club is concerned with the big righty’s early struggles, writes Peter J. Wallner of MLive.com. “Yeah, we are concerned because he has not pitched consistently,” said Avila. “This last outing, he did show some flashes of really, really good stuff, which is some of what scouts saw in him from previous years that we felt he could give us the innings we needed. All we need him to do is be a solid fifth starter and go five, five and two-thirds and every once in a while go six.” The Tigers will indeed be present to watch Lincecum throw, Wallner notes, though Avila chalked it up to due diligence more than a firm indicator that the club will embark on a serious pursuit of the former NL Cy Young winner. As Wallner notes, the Tigers do have internal alternatives to Pelfrey, including Michael Fulmer, Shane Greene (once he is healthy), Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd.
They may have “saved” money with LaRoche leaving, but they owe about the same amount to Danks – who is no longer pitching for them.
They were already going to have to pay danks, so unless they are replacing him with a pitcher who will make as much as him, your point is irrelevant to the comment in this article.
My point is totally relevant…….
The money they “saved” on LaRoche’s salary can be used to pay off Danks for not pitching. When they were “already going to have to pay danks”, they were going to get innings out of him. Now they’re not getting anything. They’re out a prorated amount of the $15M yearly salary he was due. These are revenue-neutral moves.
As bad as danks was pitching, paying him not to pitch is a good thing.
What is so hard to figure?
One guy left the team and they saved $13M on his salary. Another guy left the team and they owe him the same amount.
Laroche left the team and they saved the $13M. Danks, they were planning on paying anyway. So they’re not evening out back to zero. The pitcher they bring up won’t cost anywhere near the extra money from Laroche. So essentially the Sox are still up the $13M or so minus the pitcher’s contract from the minors….
So they basically got rid of 2 bums for free rather than paying them $26 mil to be garbage this year. Way to go Kenny.
Nothing about this move changes their financial obligations to Danks.
That Pelfrey deal is still a head-scratcher.
That signing made no sense for any MLB team at any price.
I hate the idea of $8MM for a long reliever, but Pelfrey has been brutal, even while he is claiming he is getting better. I didn’t understand the signing at the time it occurred, moreso because it was a two year deal, but I figured you have to trust a new GM to get his players. Yet with Boyd, Norris, Greene, Ryan and Farmer ready now, and more soon available, I could not see the sense in adding the second year. Now that 2nd year is a sunk cost. I just hope they are not gun shy when it comes to correcting the mistake.
Pelfry’s stuff actually has been pretty decent, but his control has been abysmal this year. 15 walks in 25 innings is terrible.
Maybe the Tigers should just flat out admit they made a mistake and release him outright. I can’t see him as a viable bullpen piece and he’s been horrible in the rotation. Yes, I did try to make a point about lack of run support in an earlier post, but even with it, he’s winning a couple extra games at best. Maybe the Tigers will get lucky and he retires, realizing he has nothing left, saving the payroll hit.
Few walk away from the money. As long as he plays the good teammate, giving him time to straighten out as the long man, or even optioning him to the minors (no one would claim him) beats eating the just signed deal. Nothing wrong with deep depth.
Timmy doesn’t want to be a Twin anyway. No good weed in Minnesota.
Can you see him going back and pitching in Seattle? I can
I’d like to see it. With his odd delivery, and Safeco being one of the most difficult parks to see pitches in, he can potentially have some great success there.
Some of the purest drugs in the country get trafficked here.
Given how competitive Lincecum is, it’s no surprise he wants to start but at this point he could probably make more money and lengthen his career by embracing a 7th inning/set up role
I don’t think money is an issue for him at this point in his career. He has already earned $100 million in his career, anything else is just icing on a very big cake. He is set for life already, but he is a competitor and he is trying to prove to the doubters and probably to himself that he is still capable of being the dominant pitcher he was in 2008-09. He is not going to be able to do that as a set up man.
Who pitched in Seattle from this article?
Timmy is from Washington and might potentially pitch their
Wonder if Atlanta could get Tim. Hasn’t pitched in a while and wants to rebuild his value. Obviously not as much pressure in Atlanta right now, sign a one-two year deal and show what he’s got.
He probably wants to know where he will be playing, and Atlanta will either cut him if he’s bad (then who would want him?) or trade him if he does well.
How about Mike Pelfrey and Tyler Collins to the White Sox, for a low level prospect (or a bag of balls).
Anybody thinking the White Sox would go for Inciarte and what do thry have to give up to make it happen ?
Not likely with the price the Braves would want. Judging by their track record, I’m assuming the Sox will want someone with more pop in the bat if they’re giving up anything of value.
We don’t want nor need Tim