Sox' new focus: kids, cash
July 26, 2002
Everybody is on the trading block now, and the White Sox have nobody to blame but themselves.
Ray Durham for a minor-league pitcher might be just the start of a whirlwind five days, as the Sox appear intent on knocking down payroll and plugging in kids at key positions. Potential work stoppage on the horizon or not, the Sox are getting down to business.
Who is next? Royce Clayton, Keith Foulke and Jose Valentin all are possibilities to be moved as a new generation of Sox players wait in the wings. Even Frank Thomas might find himself in a Boston Red Sox or Baltimore Orioles uniform before August.
More kids and more cash will continue to be the asking price. The Sox tried the veteran rout this season to no avail. Young and scrappy is sure to be the theme of the 2003 season.
Call it a surrender if you wish, but the Sox' 47-56 record and 14-game deficit in the American League Central make the Durham deal a sound decision, whether the team has frugal ownership or not. The Sox didn't have the money to re-sign Durham, and he hardly did enough this season to make them have second thoughts, though he had been heating up of late.
Trading Durham hardly is a surprise. He was the third-highest-paid player on the team this season, making $6.3 million. Only Thomas ($9.93 million) and Magglio Ordonez ($6.5 million) are making more.
A major sign Durham's days were numbered was the offseason trade of outfielder Chris Singleton to the Orioles for minor-league utility man Willie Harris. That empowered the Sox to have a take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward re-signing Durham during the offseason. Harris and Tony Graffanino now will share duties at second base.
Dealing Clayton or Valentin seems like the next priority, as Joe Crede finally is about to embark on a long stay on the big-league roster. Whether or not a roster spot opens for Crede in the next few days, he will be part of the expanded roster in September and is a virtual lock to make the team out of spring training next season.
If Valentin goes, Crede is plugged in at third. If Clayton goes, Crede takes over at third with Valentin moving to short. And if both Valentin and Clayton go, recently acquired shortstop D'Angelo Jimenez gets a shot.
Clayton is a free agent after this season. Valentin, the fourth-highest-paid player on the Sox at $5 million this season, is signed through 2003 with a club option for 2004.
Paul Konerko and Ordonez won't be going anywhere. One reason for the Sox' salary purge is to be in position to re-sign Konerko when he becomes eligible for arbitration after this season.
Carlos Lee, who has been mentioned in trade rumors, also appears likely to stay. His upside still is too promising for the Sox to quit on him now.
That means if Thomas stays, the heart of the order will be intact next season. The supporting cast will change, and that might not be a bad thing.
Now if only Todd Ritchie can pull himself together.
July 26, 2002
Everybody is on the trading block now, and the White Sox have nobody to blame but themselves.
Ray Durham for a minor-league pitcher might be just the start of a whirlwind five days, as the Sox appear intent on knocking down payroll and plugging in kids at key positions. Potential work stoppage on the horizon or not, the Sox are getting down to business.
Who is next? Royce Clayton, Keith Foulke and Jose Valentin all are possibilities to be moved as a new generation of Sox players wait in the wings. Even Frank Thomas might find himself in a Boston Red Sox or Baltimore Orioles uniform before August.
More kids and more cash will continue to be the asking price. The Sox tried the veteran rout this season to no avail. Young and scrappy is sure to be the theme of the 2003 season.
Call it a surrender if you wish, but the Sox' 47-56 record and 14-game deficit in the American League Central make the Durham deal a sound decision, whether the team has frugal ownership or not. The Sox didn't have the money to re-sign Durham, and he hardly did enough this season to make them have second thoughts, though he had been heating up of late.
Trading Durham hardly is a surprise. He was the third-highest-paid player on the team this season, making $6.3 million. Only Thomas ($9.93 million) and Magglio Ordonez ($6.5 million) are making more.
A major sign Durham's days were numbered was the offseason trade of outfielder Chris Singleton to the Orioles for minor-league utility man Willie Harris. That empowered the Sox to have a take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward re-signing Durham during the offseason. Harris and Tony Graffanino now will share duties at second base.
Dealing Clayton or Valentin seems like the next priority, as Joe Crede finally is about to embark on a long stay on the big-league roster. Whether or not a roster spot opens for Crede in the next few days, he will be part of the expanded roster in September and is a virtual lock to make the team out of spring training next season.
If Valentin goes, Crede is plugged in at third. If Clayton goes, Crede takes over at third with Valentin moving to short. And if both Valentin and Clayton go, recently acquired shortstop D'Angelo Jimenez gets a shot.
Clayton is a free agent after this season. Valentin, the fourth-highest-paid player on the Sox at $5 million this season, is signed through 2003 with a club option for 2004.
Paul Konerko and Ordonez won't be going anywhere. One reason for the Sox' salary purge is to be in position to re-sign Konerko when he becomes eligible for arbitration after this season.
Carlos Lee, who has been mentioned in trade rumors, also appears likely to stay. His upside still is too promising for the Sox to quit on him now.
That means if Thomas stays, the heart of the order will be intact next season. The supporting cast will change, and that might not be a bad thing.
Now if only Todd Ritchie can pull himself together.
