White Sox acquire Mackowiak
Chicago strengthens roster with utility infielder
DALLAS -- The holiday season still remains more than two weeks away, but the White Sox Ken Williams is all but done with his Christmas shopping.
Chicago's maverick general manager made his offseason list and checked it twice, with the acquisition of designated hitter-to-be Jim Thome from Philadelphia and the re-signing of free agent first baseman Paul Konerko to a five-year, $60 million deal being very, very nice for the South Siders.
But Williams completed his team's holiday improvement program by acquiring ultra-utility infielder Rob Mackowiak from Pittsburgh for left-handed reliever Damaso Marte Thursday afternoon, on what has become Williams' trademark final day of maneuvering at Major League Baseball's annual Winter Meetings. Williams picked up Scott Podsednik and Luis Vizcaino from Milwaukee, in exchange for Carlos Lee, in a trade that was announced at the Anaheim Marriot last year as workers were stacking chairs in the main ballroom at the end of the event on a Monday.
Williams declined comment on this particular trade, with it most likely not becoming official until next week -- pending physicals for both players and approval from the Commissioner's office. For Mackowiak, who hit .258 with 52 home runs and 221 RBIs for Pittsburgh after being selected in the 53rd round of the 1996 amateur draft, the news was greeted with mixed emotions.
This versatile performer was moving from a team perennially trying to fight its way up from the bottom of the National League Central to the defending World Series champions. He also was going home, with Mackowiak being a native of Oak Lawn, Ill., true White Sox country, located just 15 minutes from U.S. Cellular Field. White Sox fans took an instant liking to Mackowiak on May 28, 2004, when he beat Cubs closer Joe Borowski with a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of a doubleheader in Pittsburgh and tied the nightcap with a two-run, ninth-inning blast off LaTroy Hawkins.
Thursday's deal also marked the first trade of Mackowiak's young career, a somewhat tough adjustment, as Aaron Rowand could attest after being shipped from Chicago to Philadelphia for Thome.
"It's the team you root for as a kid, it's a winning team and you always dream of playing for a team that has a chance at a championship," said Mackowiak of the White Sox. "But it's always tough to leave the place that you have been your whole career. They gave you your chance and you feel like you owe them the world."
While it doesn't have the glitz of trading away a 30-home run, 100-RBI producer in exchange for one of the game's top leadoff men, as last year's trade did, this Mackowiak move could have just as great an impact for the South Siders. For starters, the White Sox picked up a versatile left-handed hitter, with some pop off the bench, who turns 30 in June. Mackowiak, who earned $1.5 million last year and is arbitration eligible, has the ability to play every position but shortstop and catcher and provides a solid insurance policy behind Joe Crede and his two herniated discs at third base.
His presence gives the White Sox a crucial opportunity to carry a 12th pitcher and protect against not only some of the big inning totals amassed by the starting rotation in 2005 and beyond but also Dustin Hermanson's ongoing offseason rehabilitation on his back, which Williams said Thursday was going well. The addition of Mackowiak, who hit .272 in 2005 and knocked out 17 home runs in 2004, also means the end of the line with the White Sox for outfielder Timo Perez and infielder Willie Harris.
Both are expected to be non-tendered at the arbitration deadline. The move also could mean a new location for Ross Gload, with basically the fourth outfielder's spot the only roster opening remaining, and rookie Jerry Owens apparently a leading candidate to fill that void.
In the process, the White Sox moved a talented left-hander in Marte who seemed to have a need to play somewhere else. Marte battled control and confidence problems for most of last year, walking the same amount he did in 2004 over 30 fewer innings, and had issues with manager Ozzie Guillen late in the season.
Marte showed up late for treatment of his injured neck before a Sept. 11 home game against the Angels and was not only sent home by Guillen, but the White Sox manager made comments that sounded as if Marte would be removed from the team. Amends were made during a private clubhouse meeting the next week in Minnesota, and Marte was part of the squad's stunning 11-1 playoff run to the World Series title.
It was just two days ago when Guillen talked in his manager's interview session at the Wyndham Anatole as to how Marte still could be a functioning part of this staff next season, despite the past issues.
"Damaso's problem was nobody grabbed him and talked to him the way you should be talked to," said Guillen of Marte, who was to earn $2.25 million in 2006, with club options at $3 million for both 2007 and 2008. "Everyone was babysitting him and talked to him the nice way.
"When I talked to him the wrong way, he got better. I don't see that many lefties better than Damaso. He has one of the best arms in the bullpen."
The White Sox reportedly have a couple of lefties already lined up to fill Marte's void behind Neal Cotts, lefties from outside of the organization with the same potential Marte had when he was acquired from Pittsburgh for Matt Guerrier prior to the 2002 season. Internal options such as Arnie Munoz and Paulino Reynoso also will be explored.
Since Thanksgiving, Williams has added a power-hitting left-hander in the form of Thome to the middle of his lineup. He re-signed Konerko by apparently coming up with a fifth year during ongoing negotiations and strengthened the bench mightily with Mackowiak.
Not bad for a brief overhaul, especially for a team that won 99 games in 2005. Scrooge apparently missed 35th and Shields this year.
Chicago strengthens roster with utility infielder
DALLAS -- The holiday season still remains more than two weeks away, but the White Sox Ken Williams is all but done with his Christmas shopping.
Chicago's maverick general manager made his offseason list and checked it twice, with the acquisition of designated hitter-to-be Jim Thome from Philadelphia and the re-signing of free agent first baseman Paul Konerko to a five-year, $60 million deal being very, very nice for the South Siders.
But Williams completed his team's holiday improvement program by acquiring ultra-utility infielder Rob Mackowiak from Pittsburgh for left-handed reliever Damaso Marte Thursday afternoon, on what has become Williams' trademark final day of maneuvering at Major League Baseball's annual Winter Meetings. Williams picked up Scott Podsednik and Luis Vizcaino from Milwaukee, in exchange for Carlos Lee, in a trade that was announced at the Anaheim Marriot last year as workers were stacking chairs in the main ballroom at the end of the event on a Monday.
Williams declined comment on this particular trade, with it most likely not becoming official until next week -- pending physicals for both players and approval from the Commissioner's office. For Mackowiak, who hit .258 with 52 home runs and 221 RBIs for Pittsburgh after being selected in the 53rd round of the 1996 amateur draft, the news was greeted with mixed emotions.
This versatile performer was moving from a team perennially trying to fight its way up from the bottom of the National League Central to the defending World Series champions. He also was going home, with Mackowiak being a native of Oak Lawn, Ill., true White Sox country, located just 15 minutes from U.S. Cellular Field. White Sox fans took an instant liking to Mackowiak on May 28, 2004, when he beat Cubs closer Joe Borowski with a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of a doubleheader in Pittsburgh and tied the nightcap with a two-run, ninth-inning blast off LaTroy Hawkins.
Thursday's deal also marked the first trade of Mackowiak's young career, a somewhat tough adjustment, as Aaron Rowand could attest after being shipped from Chicago to Philadelphia for Thome.
"It's the team you root for as a kid, it's a winning team and you always dream of playing for a team that has a chance at a championship," said Mackowiak of the White Sox. "But it's always tough to leave the place that you have been your whole career. They gave you your chance and you feel like you owe them the world."
While it doesn't have the glitz of trading away a 30-home run, 100-RBI producer in exchange for one of the game's top leadoff men, as last year's trade did, this Mackowiak move could have just as great an impact for the South Siders. For starters, the White Sox picked up a versatile left-handed hitter, with some pop off the bench, who turns 30 in June. Mackowiak, who earned $1.5 million last year and is arbitration eligible, has the ability to play every position but shortstop and catcher and provides a solid insurance policy behind Joe Crede and his two herniated discs at third base.
His presence gives the White Sox a crucial opportunity to carry a 12th pitcher and protect against not only some of the big inning totals amassed by the starting rotation in 2005 and beyond but also Dustin Hermanson's ongoing offseason rehabilitation on his back, which Williams said Thursday was going well. The addition of Mackowiak, who hit .272 in 2005 and knocked out 17 home runs in 2004, also means the end of the line with the White Sox for outfielder Timo Perez and infielder Willie Harris.
Both are expected to be non-tendered at the arbitration deadline. The move also could mean a new location for Ross Gload, with basically the fourth outfielder's spot the only roster opening remaining, and rookie Jerry Owens apparently a leading candidate to fill that void.
In the process, the White Sox moved a talented left-hander in Marte who seemed to have a need to play somewhere else. Marte battled control and confidence problems for most of last year, walking the same amount he did in 2004 over 30 fewer innings, and had issues with manager Ozzie Guillen late in the season.
Marte showed up late for treatment of his injured neck before a Sept. 11 home game against the Angels and was not only sent home by Guillen, but the White Sox manager made comments that sounded as if Marte would be removed from the team. Amends were made during a private clubhouse meeting the next week in Minnesota, and Marte was part of the squad's stunning 11-1 playoff run to the World Series title.
It was just two days ago when Guillen talked in his manager's interview session at the Wyndham Anatole as to how Marte still could be a functioning part of this staff next season, despite the past issues.
"Damaso's problem was nobody grabbed him and talked to him the way you should be talked to," said Guillen of Marte, who was to earn $2.25 million in 2006, with club options at $3 million for both 2007 and 2008. "Everyone was babysitting him and talked to him the nice way.
"When I talked to him the wrong way, he got better. I don't see that many lefties better than Damaso. He has one of the best arms in the bullpen."
The White Sox reportedly have a couple of lefties already lined up to fill Marte's void behind Neal Cotts, lefties from outside of the organization with the same potential Marte had when he was acquired from Pittsburgh for Matt Guerrier prior to the 2002 season. Internal options such as Arnie Munoz and Paulino Reynoso also will be explored.
Since Thanksgiving, Williams has added a power-hitting left-hander in the form of Thome to the middle of his lineup. He re-signed Konerko by apparently coming up with a fifth year during ongoing negotiations and strengthened the bench mightily with Mackowiak.
Not bad for a brief overhaul, especially for a team that won 99 games in 2005. Scrooge apparently missed 35th and Shields this year.
