Uribe is a great utility defender and there’s no way Dewayne Wise is good enough to be taken into consideration here. If it’s about the money, then why wait until you’ve laid half his salary already? I’ve been trying to have more faith in KW, since 2005 and now 2008 indicates he deserves it…but explain this to me. Are they just being benevolent to Juan here? Trying to find him a starting job down the stretch in a contract year?

He’s a guy with some platoon value I guess, but once Swish is back in CF he’s basically just a PR/PH guy. And as a PH, he hasn’t shown that he isn’t substantially subject to the ills of pinch hitting…so…yeah. I still don’t get it.

Are we really comfortable with a roster that has only 4 infielders (Crede, Cabrera, Ramirez and Ozuna) and 7 outfielders/first-basemen (Swisher, Anderson, Quentin, Dye, Wise, Konerko, Thome)? Seems terribly inflexible to me. On the days when Crede’s back flares up, you have literally no room to maneuver on the infield. I like Wise as much as the next guy, but having a left-handed bat on the bench is of limited value if you can’t afford to pinch-hit for anyone.

Also, you’re assuming a ton of at bats for Crede, Cabrera and Ramirez. Generally, I’m in favor of identifying you best players and running them out there, but being able to spell guys and give them regular rest is a good thing particularly where you have Crede’s recurrent back issues and the fact that none of us know how Alexi is going to respond to a full season’s ML work-load.

I’m not Uribe’s biggest fan but he serves a purpose on the bench. Even though he can’t hit, he’s a plus glove at two premium positions. I don’t see the handful of extra at bats that Wise would get as out-weighing the roster benefits and flexibility that Juan gives us. (Note that I might feel better if there was a good utility infielder to call up from Charlotte in an emergency but I don’t think there is.)

fwiw. check out the Orlando Hudson fanpost and scroll down for a KG blurb on him if you missed it.

Matchup: Indians (37-46) at White Sox (47-35), 7:11 p.m. CT
Probable Starters: Cliff Lee (103 2/3 IP, 2.52 RA, 1.04 WHIP, 90 K) vs. John Danks (92 2/3, 2.72, 1.23, 69) Pythagorean Record: Cleveland, 42-41 (368 RS, 359 RA); Chicago, 50-32 (405 RS, 318 RA)
Hit List Rankings: Cleveland, #21; Chicago, #4
Prospectus: Lee and Danks have been the two top left-handers in the American League this season, ranking first and third in the circuit, respectively, in SNLVAR. Danks’ peripherals are solid across the board, with no clear warning signs so far of any impending second-half collapse in his statistical record. If there is a complaint to be filed against the second-year left-hander, it is that he has not pitched into the seventh inning in any of his last eight starts, and has not completed seven frames since his fourth start of the year on April 20. Because of this, and because of his lack of run support, the White Sox are just 9-7 in games Danks has started despite his outstanding overall numbers. However, that "failure" to get deeper into ballgames appears to be a case of the Sox coddling Danks a bit, as he has not thrown more than 107 pitches in any of his appearances this season, and has tossed 100 or more in just four of his 16.

Offensive highlights have been scarce for the Indians this year, who flopped into last place in the AL Central with yesterday’s loss, but one of the few players actually hitting the ball has been Shin-Soo Choo, the outfielder the team acquired from the Mariners for first baseman Ben Broussard in 2006. Only the second position player from South Korea to ever appear in the majors, this season Choo is getting the chance to play that his predecessor, Hee-Seop Choi, was often denied by the likes of managers Dusty Baker and Jim Tracy. Choo’s numbers are up to .280/.391/.467 in 92 plate appearances since he was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on May 31. That performance has been good for a .293 EqA, second best on the team behind Grady Sizemore’s .304 mark. Choo has a much larger platoon split than most lefty bats, and manager Eric Wedge has sensibly been platooning him, starting Choo in 17 of the team’s 21 games against right-handers since his recall. Choo’s strong play has helped the team move past the disappointment of Franklin Gutierrez’s campaign. Gutierrez was expected to be the team’s regular right fielder after hitting 13 homers and slugging .472 in limited duty last year, but has managed just a .213 EqA and three homers so far this season.

A lot of good posts above making good points about Uribe’s existing value as a utility player. Uribe’s glove is solid, but he can’t hit. he can’t even lay off bad pitches.

The most important thing about trading Uribe is that we get something back in return. I expect that person to add speed, maybe a CF with some infield skills? Thats why Wise is getting a shot. my gut tells me that Swisher is going to be seeing a lot of time at 1st and Wise is a lefty that adds missing speed to center.

Anybody know what the Sox are trying to get? uribe for a prospect or Uribe + _ for a solid major leaguer? if so what position do the sox need to fill the most (CF?)

[S]eventh-round pick Jordan Danks recently worked out with the Sox, leading to speculation that negotiations are percolating since family adviser Jeff Berry was in attendance Sunday night.

The Sox didn’t have a second-round pick and could earmark that money toward signing Danks, an outfielder who completed his junior year at Texas and is currently playing in Beatrice, Neb., in the MINK League.

But Major League Baseball usually frowns on teams signing players for over their recommended slot money until the Aug. 15 deadline for signing draft picks approaches.

A Baltimore scout also was in attendance Monday night, and the Orioles could use a shortstop. That could accelerate discussions since Juan Uribe could be dealt to make room once Paul Konerko comes off the disabled list.

aided by their first above-average babip for a month at .312, the sox collectively hit .301/.362/.522/.885 in june, which included six games in nl parks.

And a low level prospect than perhaps it’s just best to keep him. DFA Ozuna, isn’t that the obvious move? I’m not sold on Crede being healthy all year and Uribe can play a competent 3rd, something Ozuna can’t.

in the last 20 years, the sox have made it through june with a winning % at or better than this year’s four times. in each of those seasons their winning percentage over the last three months of the season has dropped significantly.

‘06: 52-27 through june; 38-45 the rest of the way; from 2.5 out to 6 out
‘05: 53-24 through june; 46-39 the rest of the way; from 10.5 up to 6 up
‘00: 50-29 though june; 44-39 the rest of the way; from 9.5 up to 5 up
‘90: 45-26 through june; 49-42 the rest of the way; from 1 out to 9 out

on the flipside, in both seasons the sox had the division lead on july 1 they held on despite the race tightening by 4.5 games in each.

Let the Freddy Garcia sweepstakes preview show begin! His agent, Peter Greenberg, leaked to the press that Garcia will throw for scouts between July 20 to 24 and is expecting Garcia to be at 100% strength.

The 33-year-old Garcia is drawing interest from more than a dozen teams including the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays and his former team, the Chicago White Sox. Garcia missed most of 2007 after shoulder surgery sidelined him. In his only year with the Phillies, Garcia went 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA following his last season with the White Sox in 2006 where he went 17-9.

One of the selling points of Garcia is his 5-2 postseason record with a 3.11 ERA in nine starts. The Tigers and White Sox both have connections to Garcia who is close with White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and Tigers shortstop Carlos Guillen.

Danny Richar went 4-for-5 with a homer and a double Friday for Triple-A Charlotte.
Richar has 13 hits in his last six games, putting him up to .270/.346/.416 in 137 at-bats since he returned from a rib injury. If he can stay hot, it’ll give the White Sox another reason to let Juan Uribe go. Jun. 28 – 3:27 am et

From Rotoworld

Sweet. Suddenly the Sox have some decent options at 2B in the upcoming years. How about moving the Missile to SS and letting Richar take over at 2B?

But does anyone else get a chuckle out of the Sox bench breaking out the huge Nick Swisher poster in the dugout when he hits a dinger? I also enjoy the “Captain Morgan” pose.

1. I acted like an idiot when I was demoted. I now have 2 WS rings and a 5 year guaranteed contract. I am set for life.

2. Juan has taken his demotion like the professional he is. He will soon be leaving Chicago via train, bound for Dachau.

You make the choice re: which action works better.

Rafael Furcal will have surgery on Thursday to relieve pressure on a disk in his lower back and is likely to miss at least two months.
This puts the Dodgers very much in the market for a shortstop. It’s doubtful that Nomar Garciaparra is the answer, and none of the internal options have been close to adequate. A trade for Juan Uribe or David Eckstein could be a possibility, though Eckstein probably isn’t available just yet. Perhaps Edgar Renteria could also become an option later this month.

Angel Berroa has been awful since the Dodgers acquired him. Neither Chin-lung Hu nor Luis Maza can hit worth a damn either. The Dodgers have Nomar set to return soon but he hasn’t been able to play SS for years. A trade for Uribe would make some sense for them since they are only 1.5 games behind Arizona, even with a weak 40 – 44 record.