South Side Sox, a Chicago White Sox community

Joe Crede was a fan favorite among White Sox fans for 6 1/2 seasons. Now he will be playing for one of the Sox's biggest enemies. Crede, 30, agreed to terms Friday night with the Minnesota Twins, according to a major-league source. edit by larry 2/21 at 11:15am: The Twins will sign Crede to one-year deal with a base salary of $2.5 million with the chance to earn $7 million in appearance bonuses. The bonuses begin once Crede reaches 250 plate appearances and tops out at $7 million when he makes his 525th plate appearance. Star Trib

All quiet on the Freddy Garcia front on Monday, but look for the free-agent starting pitcher to make a decision sometime this week. There has been some speculation that the White Sox are no longer interested in Garcia after they signed another injury-prone veteran Bartolo Colon last week. That’s not necessarily true. Given Colon’s physical troubles over the past three seasons, there is still plenty of interest in Garcia on the South Side. And even if Colon does manage to stay off the disabled list, they still need a No. 5 starter. As it looks now, the White Sox, Mets and Rangers are still in on the big right-hander, with the Yankees’ interest fading.

In theory, let's say the Marlins needed a shortstop (we know they don't) and wanted to sign Cabrera to a two-year, $16 million deal -- but they didn't want to give up their top draft pick to do it. They could, in theory, pick up the phone and ask the Yankees to sign Cabrera to what the Marlins wanted to pay; the Yankees would give up only a fourth-round pick, and the Marlins could trade a prospect to the Yankees to offset the value of the fourth-round pick. Cabrera would have to waive his right to block the trade because any free agent signing a multiyear deal cannot be traded until June. In short, Cabrera could get the contract he wanted, the Marlins could get the player they wanted and the Yankees could get a little extra value for their fourth-round pick. Everybody would win except the White Sox (who presumably would be apoplectic, because they are in line to get a first-round pick). Makes some sense, eh?

Jayson Nix is changing Sox in attempt to rejuvenate his career. The Rockies' opening day second baseman has agreed to a deal with the Chicago White Sox, according to contract details received by The Denver Post. With Kazuo Matsui lost as a free agent to the Houston Astros, Nix won the position in spring training, edging out Clint Barmes and Marcus Giles. Nix, however, got off to a slow start offensively and was designated for assignment at the end of April. He rebounded in Triple-A and was eventually chosen for Team USA in the Beijing Olympics. He was injured in China, hit in the left eye on a bunt attempt against Cuba. Nix, 26, was the 44th overall selection in the 2001 draft. Nix will make $400,000 if on the White Sox's major league roster.