White Sox acquire Francisco Liriano

For the first time since April 30, 1986, the White Sox and Minnesota Twins agreed to a trade.

After losing out in the hunt for Zack Greinke, Kenny Williams lowered his aim and landed Francisco Liriano, in exchange for Eduardo Escobar and Pedro Hernandez.

Twins fans on Twitter are disappointed by the return, and the Sox may have played a big part in tarnishing his appeal by tagging him for seven runs over 2⅔ innings in his last start on Monday.

The cost isn't an issue, as both players' ceilings are inherently limited by a lack of standout physical tools. Liriano doesn't come with a high price tag, either -- he's making $5.5 million in his last arbitration year.

The question is more a matter of what the Sox can think they can get out of the erratic Liriano, whose problems the Sox saw up close and personal early this week. He's 3-10 with a 5.31 ERA this year.

However, in his seven starts preceding his dud against the Sox, Liriano posted a 2.96 ERA and 54 strikeouts over 45⅔ innings, including impressive outings against the Sox, Texas, Oakland and Baltimore. He definitely still has talent, but the Sox are going to have to turn around this project in a hurry.

With the White Sox and Twins breaking the trade embargo, the Detroit Tigers are now the team the Sox have avoided doing business with the longest. Their last trade took place on May 23, 1989, when the Sox acquired Eric King for ... Kenny Williams.