Chicago White Sox

The Bard's Room

ALL
OUTSIDER

Brian Roberts To The South Side?

By Anthony Amobi | January 5, 2009 | Oriole Magic

MASN's Roch Kubatko had this tidbit on Brian Roberts on his blog, and it could be of great importance assuming there's any truth to the posting. From MASN Sports: Brian Roberts always seems to be linked to the Chicago Cubs in trade rumors, but White Sox general manager Kenny Williams loves the guy and is trying to acquire him.The two sides have discussed former Mount St. Joe pitcher Gavin Floyd as a starting point in trade talks. The Orioles might need more, though the White Sox would want it to be straight-up, since they'd be surrendering a 17-game winner.At least Orioles president Andy MacPhail could say he brought a local kid home. It's just not Mark Teixeira.Anyway, that's the buzz. As much as I hate advocating this, I say if we could get another prospect or two to sweeten the deal -- do it. Roberts may or may not sign...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Brian Roberts, Chicago White Sox, Gavin Floyd

New Year's Hopes: #8.

By Sean Heyboer | January 5, 2009 | Trumbull and Michigan

8. The Tigers compete against the White Sox. Oh, how I wish I were Michael Barrett.Let me make this clear; it would be very easy to say I would like the Tigers to win the Central. The is way too obvious. What I am hoping for is that they simply compete against their biggest foe. To not lay down against the White Sox. To show up every night and pound Ozzie Guillen.The achilles heel for the Tigers always seems to be the White Sox. Oh, and in case I haven't made it clear, I hate the White Sox. I arguably hate them more than the Yankees and Red Sox combined. Every loss against them is a crushing blow to my entire livlihood. It's like Michigan losing to Ohio State and then Ohio State sleeping with your sister.I hate their stupid blonde dyed hair, their awful cocky announcers, their "she gone" and "you can...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, MLB, Tigers, White Sox

Fantasy Baseball 2009: Trade Rumor-Orioles' 2B Brian Roberts

By Brad Berreman | January 5, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Orioles' 2B Brian Roberts - Phil Romans/Flickr.com

In what has become a regular occurrence, Baltimore Orioles' 2B Brian Roberts is on the trading block once again. Rumors have suggested that both Chicago teams are in the mix, but a report suggested that the White Sox and Orioles are discussing a trade. White Sox P Gavin Floyd would go east to Baltimore in the deal. Roberts has been a consistent performer over the past few years, In 2008, he hit .295 with 9 HR, 57 RBI and 40 SB. He also had 51 doubles last season, which was good for second in the American League in that category. Since 2005, he has hit at least .286, had at least a .410 slugging percentage and stolen at least 27 bases every season. Roberts has also been durable, playing in 159, 143, 138, 156 and 155 games since 2004. However, the White Sox lineup does face some uncertainty with the...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Brian Roberts. Gavin Floyd, Chicago White Sox, Fantasy, MLB

Top Fits for Andruw Jones

By Evan | January 5, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Andruw Jones - kla4607/Flickr.com

With word that the Los Angeles Dodgers have restructured outfielder Andruw Jones' contract to an affordable $5 million deal (with the rest of the $15 million deferred over the next six years without interest) and a pledge by the Dodgers to release or trade Jones so he can land with a new team, which teams seem like fits for Jones?There are a couple criteria that need to be met to fit for Jones. One is that Jones is primarily a centerfielder, although we won't let that play too much into our fits -- outfielders, centerfielders most notably, tend to move around the outfield corners more often than infielders do.Secondly, Jones has expressed a desire to start and will control his fate if he is released. Only through the trade market would a team be able to secure him as a fourth outfielder if they promised to give him ample playing...

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers

Adding Crede would be another shrewd move for the Giants

By Daniel Rathman | January 2, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Joe Crede (tima/Flickr.com)

Among the few rumors making the rounds on New Year's Day was a bit from Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman suggesting that the San Francisco Giants are taking "a close look" at free agent third-baseman Joe Crede, one of the few Scott Boras clients who doesn't figure to land a mega-deal this offseason. The 30 year-old Crede appeared in 97 games for the Chicago White Sox last season, batting .248/.314/.460 with 17 homers and a 30/45 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 335 at-bats. Though he has dealt with chronic back ailments for the last two years, the Giants' interest in Crede reportedly has not been significantly tempered by his medicals, and he's likely to settle for only a one-year hitch this winter in hopes of rebuilding his value. Adding Crede would be the latest in a string of surprisingly shrewd moves by oft-criticized GM Brian Sabean, following the signings of lefty reliever Jeremy...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Brian Sabean, Chicago White Sox, Joe Crede, MLB, MLB Outsider, San Francisco Giants

Red Sox pick Miguel Gonzalez in Rule 5

By Evan | December 11, 2008 | Fire Brand of the American League

The Red Sox selected right-hander Miguel Gonzalez from the Los Angeles Angels in the Rule 5 draft today.

In the minor league portion of the draft, the Sox selected righty Jason Rice from the White Sox and Miguel Marquez from the Seattle Mariners.Read about the two players...

Read more | 5 Comments | Tags: Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, MLB, Seattle Mariners

Winter Meetings: Day 3

By Will Schaffer | December 10, 2008 | Chop-n-Change

Update #2: Rosenthal has another update, this one saying that the Braves are prepared to lose John Smoltz if another team guarantees significant money. The Braves more than likely would offer a deal with a low base salary and incentives. I still would be downright shocked to see John Smoltz pitching elsewhere this season so don't get too worried. Update: Ken Rosenthal says the Braves upped their offer to A.J. Burnett to five years and $80 million. Dave O'Brien agrees that the Braves have put five guaranteed years on the table.The big news today is the Yankees' signing of C.C. Sabathia to a 7-year $161 million deal. As the top free agent starter, Sabathia's signing sets the market and it will be interesting to see if there is a domino effect with the lower tier free agent starters, including A.J. Burnett.Speaking of Burnett, Jon Heyman reported last night that the...

Read more | 24 Comments | Tags: AJ Burnett, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Jermaine Dye, Jordan Schafer, New York Yankees, pittsburgh pirates

Contemplating Speculation

By bheikoop | December 9, 2008 | The Outsiders Look at the Insides of Baseball

Despite the fact that we are still two months away from pitchers and catchers meeting for Spring Training, there is plenty of action going on. The Winter Meetings signal the actual start to free agency, where the majority of big name free agents will either sign their contracts or begin to put the specifics of an upcoming contract down.This is a time where General Managers beginning checking off items from their shopping lists, where the off-season plan either comes to fruition or is the start of 'plan B'.But the most exciting part of Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings are the rumors, the speculation. This is the time of year where a team can do nothing and find fans turning against them. This is where fans should figure out exactly how invalid the majority of rumors are.Let's kick it off with the most outlandish one:Kansas City will trade Zach Greinke to...

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Jake Peavy, Jeff Francouer, Kansas City Royals, MLB, San Diego Padres, The Hot Stove League, The OLIB, Zach Greinke

Fantasy Baseball 2009: Trade Rumor-Orioles' 2B Brian Roberts

By Brad Berreman | January 5, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Orioles' 2B Brian Roberts - Phil Romans/Flickr.com

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Brian Roberts. Gavin Floyd, Chicago White Sox, Fantasy, MLB

Top Fits for Andruw Jones

By Evan | January 5, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Andruw Jones - kla4607/Flickr.com

Adding Crede would be another shrewd move for the Giants

By Daniel Rathman | January 2, 2009 | MVN Outsider

Joe Crede (tima/Flickr.com)

Read more | Discuss | Tags: Brian Sabean, Chicago White Sox, Joe Crede, MLB, MLB Outsider, San Francisco Giants

Hot Stove Dishes - November 14, 2008

By Brian Joseph | November 14, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The latest buzz served up from baseball's Hot Stove League. Ten of the hottest stories, moves and rumors from the past week: Yankees out to buy back in to playoffs, offer Sabathia record deal The New York Yankees are tired of missing the playoffs. The one-year absence has driven them to offer CC Sabathia a six-year, $140-million contract to bring his talent to the Bronx. The Brewers want to keep Sabathia but can they afford the price of competing with the Yankees in the free agent market. Better yet, can anyone? Padres go one way with offering Peavy, Braves go the other At some point in the past seven days there was buzz that the Braves and Padres were very close to a deal that would send Padres ace Jake Peavy to Atlanta. After an entire offseason of talks, the Braves announced that they were calling off their pursuit of...Read more

Read more | 1 Comment | Tags: Atlanta Braves, BBWAA, CC Sabathia, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Dayan Viciedo, Hot Stove, Jake Peavy, Kerry Wood, Kevin Gregg, Los Angeles Dodgers, Manager, Manny Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Scott Boras, Trevor Hoffman

Yankees Acquire Nick Swisher from ChiSox

By EJ Fagan | November 13, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The Yankees picked up Nick Swisher and Kenekoa Texeira from the Chicago White Sox in return for Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez, and Jhonny Nunez.The White Sox didn't get much out of Swisher last year. Acquired from the A's amid big expectations, Swisher hit just .219/.332/.410 split between 1st base and all three outfield positions. He is a lifetime .244/.343/.451 hitter. The Yankees didn't give up much in return. Wilson Betemit was a disaster as a Yankee. Jeff Marquez was a quality pitching prospect as little as a year ago, but has struggled at the higher minor league levels to strike batters out, and is taking up a valuable 40-man roster spot. Jhonny Nunez is a throw-away.The real question: What position do the Yankees intend to play Swisher at? He's a better 1st baseman than he is an outfielder, and was fairly miscast as a centerfielder last season. He struggles against...Read more

Read more | 8 Comments | Tags: Chicago White Sox, Hot Stove, MLB, New York Yankees, Nick Swisher

Being the GM: 2009 Chicago White Sox

By Evan | November 3, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Eric Hinske - Samara Pearlstein (MVN)

The Chicago White Sox hung in there all season long to win the division over the Minnesota Twins but then were quickly vanquished by the Tampa Bay Rays in the playoffs. What does GM Kenny Williams have up his sleeve? No one knows, but here's one man's scenario...Read more

Read more | 6 Comments | Tags: Chicago White Sox, MLB

NLCS and ALCS Previews; Where the Cubs and Angels went wrong; Squeeze play with season on the line?

By Brandon Rosage | October 9, 2008 | MVN Outsider

Dodgers first baseman James Loney turned Los ANgeles' postseason around in Game One, and didn't stop hitting until they had swept the Cubs. (DoYouMindTheGap/Flickr). As you might expect, The Pitch's resident Chicago Cubs honk Joe Aiello was in the dumps on Thursday's show. His Cubbies left their bats in the regular season and didn't feel like throwing strikes in the October cold. But his Cubs may have paved the way for October's most dangerous team: The Los Angeles Dodgers. The NL West champions have youth, health and starting pitching going into Game One of the NLCS. But what did the Phillies show in their division series win over the Brewers? The guys breakdown the NL side of the coin and preview the championship series matchup. After a bitter finish to the ALCS, which saw the 100-win Angels drop flyballs and produce outs, the Red Sox earned a shot at one...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags: ALCS, Angels, audio, Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers, MLB, NLCS, Phillies, Rays, Red Sox, White Sox

MLB Power Rankings

By Daniel Rathman | September 22, 2008 | MVN Outsider

The MLB Power Rankings will run on Outsider every Monday night until the conclusion of the regular season.� This is the second-to-last edition of the Rankings; next Monday's edition will be the last.� The final week of the regular season is upon us.� Yeah, already.� Hard to believe, isn't it?� The Halos, Rays, and Cubs are into the playoffs.� The Dodgers and Red Sox are, for all practical purposes, in.� Two of the Mets, Phillies, and Brewers will make it, as will either the White Sox or Twins.� All the other teams will be hitting their La-Z-Boys when the final outs of their games are recorded on Sunday.� Here's how the league stacks up in the penultimate edition of the Power Rankings. Note: some of the statistics and records below are through SATURDAY's games. 1.� Los Angeles Angels, 95-59 With the AL West division locked up and home-field advantage essentially...Read more

Read more | Discuss | Tags:

MVN: Most Valuable Network