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Sox trade Gio Gonzalez, Fautino De Los Santos and Ryan Sweeney for Nick Swisher

Larry_david_01_tiny by CWSKeith on in News

[whitesox.com]:

The Chicago White Sox have acquired switch-hitting outfielder Nick Swisher from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for three minor league players, pitcher Gio Gonzalez, pitcher Fautino De Los Santos and outfielder Ryan Sweeney. The trade was announced Thursday afternoon by Ken Williams, White Sox general manager and senior vice president.

Highway Robbery says wiz...

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dont tease me
isnt he a good OBP guy?
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:07 PM CST   0 recs

Gio - Sweeney - DLS
are the names I'm reading on Soxtalk.  Blah.

by CWSKeith on Jan 3, 2008 1:08 PM CST   0 recs

hopefully
thats not true.
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:09 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

ALL OF THEM!!!!!
"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 3, 2008 1:11 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

"confirmation"
from a more reputable source:

In the past half hour, I've confirmed with three sources that the A's have dealt outfielder Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox for three top prospects: outfielder Ryan Sweeney, left-hander Gio Gonzalez and right-hander Fautino De Los Santos.

The A's are expected to make an announcement in the next 10 to 20 minutes.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexn?blogid=21

by larry on Jan 3, 2008 1:12 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

fucking awful
is how i would describe this. absolutely criminal to trade those players for 3 years of swisher.

by larry on Jan 3, 2008 1:14 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Agreed.
My heart would be in my throat right now.

There are a handful of players that you gut your future to trade for.  Nick Swisher ain't one of 'em.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 3, 2008 1:14 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

throw sweeney out even
and assume the low end of expectations. 12 friggin' years of, at the very least, a very good reliever (DLS) and a back of the rotation starter (gio). swisher is a very nice player - and i think he'll continue to improve as he hits his prime - but not that nice.

by larry on Jan 3, 2008 1:18 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I'm
with you on this one, larry....we have absoutely nothing left in the minors....I am now officially on the Kenny is incompetent bandwagon...and it hurts me to say it. Even more amazing is that I don't readily come to such harsh conclusions. This is unforgiveable.

by dantesox on Jan 3, 2008 1:22 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

i don't like to make rash pronouncements
it's still january 3. moves can still be made. but signs point to trouble...

by larry on Jan 3, 2008 2:05 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Meanwhile...
The Astros celebrate. They no longer have the worst farm system. Anyone want to guess who does?

by HulkSmash on Jan 3, 2008 1:27 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

my mistake
i should know better than to go somewhere else than cot's for contract status. it's five years at a very reasonable rate for swisher. a bit better but i still wouldn't do the deal.

by larry on Jan 3, 2008 1:38 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

on paper
we got fleeced.  we just have to hope gio and DLS dont turn out to be any good.
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:14 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

From MLB TradeRumors.com.
Swisher Traded To White Sox

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/01/swisher-traded.html

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 3, 2008 1:11 PM CST   0 recs

Who on earth would the A's want?
Other than Gio and DLS?

I'm really hoping it's BA, DLS and a non-Gio prospect.  But then there's no way the A's do that deal.

Crap.  I can't see a way where it's not the two pitchers.

by BridgeportJoe on Jan 3, 2008 1:12 PM CST   0 recs

Sweeney
and one of the two pitchers is ok, but if he gave all three....well, I've just lost it on Kenny....that would be a horrible trade.

by dantesox on Jan 3, 2008 1:14 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

His methods have become...unsound.
"Jerry Owens played one heck of a center field and created that Scott Podsednik sparkplug type at the top," said Williams of Owens.

by ChicagoPete on Jan 3, 2008 1:13 PM CST   0 recs

gio AND dls?
god, highway robbery...

by The Wizard on Jan 3, 2008 1:14 PM CST   0 recs

Will they be teaching him
how to pitch?
"Each one of my (off-season acquisition)targets has that edge to them, that go-getter attitude. We need it. We will embrace it." - Kenny Williams (11/28/07)

by tailgater on Jan 3, 2008 1:17 PM CST   0 recs

the hawk forgot to remind kenny
not to deal with Billy Ball!
Dubee and Danks and pray for Taco Bell

by hscs on Jan 3, 2008 1:18 PM CST   0 recs

Goodbye Jerry, we now have a new CF
Our offense just got dramatically better in 2008.  KW and Ozzie were making noise about OBP, would be pretty cool if they bat him leadoff:

Swisher CF
OCab SS
Thome DH
Konerko 1B
Dye RF
AJ  C
Fields 3B
Quentin LF
Richar/Uribe 2B

"Jerry Owens played one heck of a center field and created that Scott Podsednik sparkplug type at the top," said Williams of Owens.

by ChicagoPete on Jan 3, 2008 1:18 PM CST   0 recs

I thought young pitching
was very valuable.
"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 3, 2008 1:18 PM CST   0 recs

That's awful.
Just fucking awful.

I'm really pissed now.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 3, 2008 1:20 PM CST   0 recs

agreed
i feel like throwing up.
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:21 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

so lets see
we traded our #1, #2, #4, and #8 prospects according to baseball prospectus this offseason!!! way to go kenny!  
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:26 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

from the trib
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/01/sox-compelte-tr.html

and the usual energy and hard-nosedness from KW:

Nick is a quality switch hitter who consistently gets on base, hits for power and drives in runs," Sox GM Ken Williams said in a statement. "He gives Ozzie Guillen offensive flexibility with his ability to hit in a number of spots up and down the batting order, and his athleticism allows him to play any outfield position or first base.

"Nick brings to the ballpark a mix of hard-nosed play, energy and a commitment to winning, and he brings it each and every day. He's a great addition to our team and clubhouse."

by larry on Jan 3, 2008 1:21 PM CST   0 recs

Chicago tough.
"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 3, 2008 1:23 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Although this trade could hurt us in
the long term, it looks pretty good next season.

An OF of CQ, Swisher & Dye would be worth watching.  Everyone is prospect obsessed right now, but it's really a coin flip whether or Gio and DLS pan out.

by BoKnows on Jan 3, 2008 1:26 PM CST   0 recs

Makes no sense
clearly KW is convinced we don't suck.  If we were a true competitor, perhaps this is an ok, not great deal, as Swisher is an above average player.  But we're not a competitor, and we just handed away our only 2 prospects worth a damn...and Sweeney, who is Iowan for Jeremy Reed.

by Bull Pain on Jan 3, 2008 1:26 PM CST   0 recs

It really is stupid
They might as well have just caved in and given Rowand what he wanted, they would have kept their young pitchers.  
"Jerry Owens played one heck of a center field and created that Scott Podsednik sparkplug type at the top," said Williams of Owens.

by ChicagoPete on Jan 3, 2008 1:29 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

It's been determined that
Jose Contreras was 18 when he came from Cuba in '03. So he hasn't even reached his peak production years.
"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 3, 2008 1:26 PM CST   0 recs

We need a variation on a
12 Step Program theme.

"One Year at a Time"

Last year's history and fuck next year.

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 3, 2008 1:29 PM CST   0 recs

For Sweeney and DLS or Sweeney and Gio
I'd like this trade. Or heck even Sweeney, DLS/Gio and Shelby. But man all three really hurts.

Swisher is a very good young hitter who has been playing in a pitcher's park and is just entering his prime. Offensively, he is likely to be  superior to Hunter, Rowand, and Jones both now and for the forseeable future. I wouldn't be surprised if he posted a .900 OPS in the cell and he projects at .875 or so.

But da#% that is a really high price to pay. Can't say I like it.

by bhoov on Jan 3, 2008 1:29 PM CST   0 recs

Its time for Kenny to move on
He has burned the farm system to the ground, to compete with the Royals next year for the immortal battle of 4th place in the AL Central.  

This team will be complete horseshit for the next 5 years because of this goof.   Other GMs must get excited when they deal with Kenny.  Kenny is on the phone, lets get whats left of the farm system.  

by southsideirish71 on Jan 3, 2008 1:29 PM CST   0 recs

Hey guys
I heard Nick Swisher is a grinder.  Am I right?
"P.S. if Cintron gets traded or released I will buy drinks for the whole board" - tubesox 6/24/07

by mjthor on Jan 3, 2008 1:30 PM CST   0 recs

Hard-Nosed Play = Grindy
"Each one of my (off-season acquisition)targets has that edge to them, that go-getter attitude. We need it. We will embrace it." - Kenny Williams (11/28/07)

by tailgater on Jan 3, 2008 1:44 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

quentin to center?
[dvd]:
Swisher, a switch-hitter, has been a corner outfielder but may be asked to move to center field with the Sox. Or, newly acquired left fielder Carlos Quentin could move. Jermaine Dye is expected to remain in right field.

by The Wizard on Jan 3, 2008 1:30 PM CST   0 recs

How about
Trade Thome to someone for a prospect or two (if that's possible) and have JD DH?  Watching JD in right field these days makes me cringe almost as much as watching Mack in CF
"P.S. if Cintron gets traded or released I will buy drinks for the whole board" - tubesox 6/24/07

by mjthor on Jan 3, 2008 1:35 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

From a poster on MLB TradeRumors.com.
"As an A's fan I feel like I just got blindsided by a truck. Had no idea this was coming and Swisher was the player I least expected to be dealt aside from Chavez.

I don't know anything about the 2 guys other than Gonzalez.... but this is a sad day for the A's. Swisher is incredibly hard working, and one of the most fun players to watch in the league IMO. Hope these guys are ballers b/c Swish had the pedigree, talent, and drive to make it big in the league.

Best wishes on your new squad Swish. You'll be missed out west."

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 3, 2008 1:31 PM CST   0 recs

Oh my God, I was right!
Swisher is incredibly hard working
"P.S. if Cintron gets traded or released I will buy drinks for the whole board" - tubesox 6/24/07

by mjthor on Jan 3, 2008 1:32 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I like Swisher.
I really do.  He's a nice player to have.  But he doesn't make the White Sox into a contender, and they gave up WAY too much for him.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 3, 2008 1:36 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

the only saving grace is
swishers contract.

Swisher, 27, is signed at a very reasonable price: $3.5MM in '08, $5.3MM in '09, $6.75MM in '10, $9MM in '11, and a $10.25MM club option for '12 with a $1MM buyout.

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:32 PM CST   0 recs

rotoworld
provided me with bad info on his contract status. five years at those prices is quite good. i feel somewhat better about the trade now. still wouldn't have done it.

by larry on Jan 3, 2008 1:36 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

right
i ceased puking when i read that, now im just nauseous.
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:40 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

What the fuck do they know?
They probably have very minimal information about Gio and DLS, and are automatically going to reject unknowns for a player like Swisher.  Once they find out what they're getting, they'll be shitting their pants with glee.
"P.S. if Cintron gets traded or released I will buy drinks for the whole board" - tubesox 6/24/07

by mjthor on Jan 3, 2008 1:33 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

We got fucking robbed.
I like Swisher a lot but Jesus Christ.

by SSH2005 on Jan 3, 2008 1:35 PM CST   0 recs

well maybe we can ship out crede
for some propsects now that theres no room for fields anywhere but AAA and he sure aint going back there.

by Jbasic89 on Jan 3, 2008 1:36 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

B&B
Boers and Bernstein can't get on the air soon enough -- listening to Murph with Ed Farmer right now is just plain painful. Farmer likes our chances against the Tigers because Craig Monroe and Brandon Inge always hurt us. Yeah, Granderson and Cabrera got nuthin'.

Oh well, at least Murph was finally informed about Swisher's contract, which runs through 2011 or 2012 (club option) and has stopped talking about how he'll only be on the Sox for three years.

Konerko or Thome trade on the horizon?

Stretch!

by stevegoz on Jan 3, 2008 1:37 PM CST   0 recs

Something to consider
While Gio and DLS are still prospects, Swisher has proven himself to be at least somewhat of a major league asset.  I'm with you all right now that we got robbed worse than a drunken fratboy in Tijuana, but we might be singing a different tune in a few years.  Who knows?
"P.S. if Cintron gets traded or released I will buy drinks for the whole board" - tubesox 6/24/07

by mjthor on Jan 3, 2008 1:38 PM CST   0 recs

TOUCHE
"P.S. if Cintron gets traded or released I will buy drinks for the whole board" - tubesox 6/24/07

by mjthor on Jan 3, 2008 1:40 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

ha!!!
brilliant.
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:40 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Knowing our luck...
...he would survive, but spend the next three years rehabbing.  On the Sox' dime.

by BridgeportJoe on Jan 3, 2008 1:41 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

The optimistic view of this trade...
  • Gio may be an injury-risk.
  • DLS hasn't proven anything yet at higher minor league levels.
  • Sweeney already looks like a bust.
But that is a total homeristic view of the trade.  Having Swisher for 5 years is awesome though.  Still, signing Mike Cameron for a couple years and keeping our prospects may have been a better idea.

by SSH2005 on Jan 3, 2008 1:43 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Swisher vs. Rowand
Nick Swisher (Born 11/25/80)
5 years/$26.75M (2007-11), plus 2012 club option
Lifetime .251  .361  .464  OPS+ 118

Aaron Rowand (Born 8/29/77)
5 years/$60M (2008-12)
Lifetime .286  .343  .462  OPS+ 106

Is the difference big enough to make it worth gutting your farm system?  IMO they should have signed Rowand.  We've got cash, what we don't have is minor league talent.  What a horrible offseason.

"Jerry Owens played one heck of a center field and created that Scott Podsednik sparkplug type at the top," said Williams of Owens.

by ChicagoPete on Jan 3, 2008 1:45 PM CST   0 recs

i think that's misleading
swisher is entering his prime. rowand is on his way to exiting it. and OBP is waaaay more important and rowand won't hold up in that category at all.

IMO they should have done neither.

by larry on Jan 3, 2008 1:51 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I was about to say the same
Swisher is on the way up, Rowand on the way down. Plus, have you seen Swisher with a beard? A beard is much grindier than Rowand's half-hearted goatee.

(Also, you're putting Swisher in The Cells launching pad for 81 games a year. That'll only help his numbers).

by HulkSmash on Jan 3, 2008 1:53 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I was about to say the same
Swisher is on the way up, Rowand on the way down. Plus, have you seen Swisher with a beard? A beard is much grindier than Rowand's half-hearted goatee.

(Also, you're putting Swisher in The Cells launching pad for 81 games a year. That'll only help his numbers).

by HulkSmash on Jan 3, 2008 1:53 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Well...
Age is a big factor here.  You're getting Swisher's 27-31 seasons.  You're getting Rowand's 29.5-33.5 seasons.  For a lot less money, plus without a NTC.

Also, as the OPS+ difference shows, Swisher has played in a pitchers' park.  Rowand has played in hitters' parks.

by BridgeportJoe on Jan 3, 2008 1:53 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I wouldn't make either move
But since KW is hell bent on competing in 2008, why not do it a manner that keeps your minor league system intact?  We've got surplus cash, not surplus talent.
"Jerry Owens played one heck of a center field and created that Scott Podsednik sparkplug type at the top," said Williams of Owens.

by ChicagoPete on Jan 3, 2008 2:09 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

lineup?
ocab
swisher
thome
konerko
dye
pierzynski
fields
quentin
richar

consensus?

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:45 PM CST   0 recs

swisher LF, quentin CF?
hmmmmmm
"P.S. if Cintron gets traded or released I will buy drinks for the whole board" - tubesox 6/24/07

by mjthor on Jan 3, 2008 1:47 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

swisher CF
played 50 somethin games there last year.
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:47 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

according to yahoo sports
played 60 there.
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 1:48 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

nice
well either way, we know hes an option out there and can field his position.
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 3, 2008 2:16 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

But can he play there
Mack played something like 60 games in center (06)- we know what that got us

by Brush Back on Jan 3, 2008 2:16 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

And I think...
that Swisher in center was a lot like Mackowiak in center - someone that was out there because of lack of options.  Their two main options out there (Mark Kotsay and Milton Bradley) were hurt most of the year.  Swisher did not look good.

Now, Ken Williams might think that Swisher is a viable option out there - I've given up trying to figure him out.  But he doesn't look like a centerfielder to me.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 3, 2008 2:21 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I remember him playing CF vs. CWS
last year, he made a ridiculous full sprint back-to-home-plate Willie Mays catch against us.  I'm sure it was a fluke for some guy who usually plays 1B, but he sure looked like an athlete on that play.
"Jerry Owens played one heck of a center field and created that Scott Podsednik sparkplug type at the top," said Williams of Owens.

by ChicagoPete on Jan 3, 2008 2:22 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, it was Eric Byrnes style...
but I will take offense in CF over Jerry Owens little bit better defense, noodle arm, and .636 OPS.

by SSH2005 on Jan 3, 2008 2:29 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

(Deep breath)
Any rumblings of artificial enhancement?  His personality/look reminds me of J. Giambi during his heyday.
"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Jan 3, 2008 2:30 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I doubt he knows how to bunt
Therefore, now way he can play the #2 batter position for Ozzie.
"Jerry Owens played one heck of a center field and created that Scott Podsednik sparkplug type at the top," said Williams of Owens.

by ChicagoPete on Jan 3, 2008 1:48 PM CST to parent up <