From South Side Sox' (and others) favorite baseball scribe, Ken Rosenthal:
World Series titles aren't won on paper, aren't won in December, aren't always won by the best team. But White Sox general manager Ken Williams, always aggressive, never afraid, is extending his team's October roll into the off-season. His killer trade for right-hander Javier Vazquez gives the Sox -- on paper, in December -- a legitimate chance to repeat.
The addition of Vazquez makes the game's deepest rotation even deeper, putting further distance between the White Sox and the rest of the AL Central. Jim Thome, if healthy, will be an upgrade at designated hitter over Carl Everett. Rob Mackowiak, a versatile utility man, gives the Sox a viable backup for third baseman Joe Crede, who is recovering from two herniated disks in his lower back.
[...]
[F]or the moment, it's difficult not to admire Williams' work. He has upgraded the World Series champions, on paper, in December. And he might not be finished yet.
The Chicago
Tribune's Phil Rogers expresses some of the same sentiment about the trade that I did yesterday.
Besides, this deal isn't finished. In a market where pitching is king, Williams has it to deal.
[...]
When Williams trades one of his starters, then judge how the return stacks up against Young, not the starter traded.
Also from the Tribune, Mike Downey takes a break from waxing nostalgic about pitchers with WHIPs greater than 1.5 just long enough to give us this quote
Tinkering is OK. For years and years, the Atlanta Braves have thrived because they didn't stand pat. They are unafraid to take personnel risks. They don't hang on to players for sentimental reasons. If they haven't won the World Series on a regular basis, it is due more to baseball's unpredictability than to any decisions they've made.
Williams and the Sox are looking to do what the Braves do--be in contention every year, not just once in a while. To do this you can't form attachments to 25 men who came through for you. You can't dance every dance with the same partner.
The Daily Herald's
Barry Rozner is already trying to predict the Sox next move.
Offer Jon Garland, Juan Uribe and an outfield prospect, steal Tejada, and put the fear of Miggy himself into the hearts and minds of every American League contender.
That's if you can find one right now.
Seriously, you want to frighten a league that already cowers at the sight of the Sox? Throw Tejada in with the Paul Konerko-Jim Thome combo.
The Herald's beat writer, Scott Gregor, is
also looking ahead. Though I found the most telling quotes in his article to be about the package the Sox would be seeking in another trade and the 2006 payroll.
According to a source, the Sox want at least two quality pitching prospects for Garland.
[...]
With Vazquez and Garland both on the books right now, the White Sox' estimated payroll for 2006 is $95 million. By trading Garland, the payroll would drop well below $90 million.
"It's kind of a floating number, but we want to check in around $90 million," Williams said of the final payroll.
Of course that source is contradicted by one from
chisox.com.
Vazquez's impending addition gives the White Sox six quality starters on their staff, but at least two sources close to the situation expect all six to start Spring Training with the team in Tucson.
[...]
With the departure of Hernandez, Marte and Vizcaino, sixth starter Brandon McCarthy figures to open the season out of the bullpen.
I put a lot less stock in the MLB.com related sources. They are often a front for the organization. And right now, the Sox would be best served by saying they're keeping everyone, thus upping Garland's trade value.
