souL
I.bulldoze
I'm sorry you'll have to all take me at my word here, but I know some guys on the inside of the organization, and I hear from them around the holidays. I know a PR guy for the team and chief legal counsel for Jerry Reinsdorf, and this is what I hear from them combined:
They couldn't wait to run Nick Swisher out of town. They're extremely pleased to have gotten such a talent package in return, but apparently his attitude went south so quickly after being put into that utility/time share role there wasn't a chance he would return to the south side. Good thing, as his contract gets him something in the neighborhood of 30 million over the next 3. Can't have that from a guy that hits .219 and plays sub-par OF.
Jerry Reinsdorf on Javier Vazquez: "he has no sac." He's being shopped to a lot of places, anyone who'll listen basically. The Mets are the frontrunners with a package surrounding 20 year old CF Fernando Martinez (I think that's him, he's a 20 year old CF is what I'm sure on). Also, if the Braves lose in the Peavy sweepstakes, look for them to step up and come after Vazquez. Other teams the Sox have fielded calls about Vazquez: Mariners, Cardinals, Philles.
JD's a consumate pro, but he's on his way out. The rumblings are a deal with Cincinnati in a package that centers around Homer Bailey. The Phillies are still bullish on him as well. I'm not sure he'll be traded without...
...Bobby Jenks fetching a corner OF. He's the one guy that it would seem odd for the Sox to move, but the Sox have tons of faith in Jon Link to come in and be the closer of the now and future. Same sorts of teams popping up on the Jenks radar: Houston, St. Louis, NYM, Arizona, Tampa Bay.
Doing all of this will free up a lot of money for the White Sox but apparently it won't be spent this year as the deals will likely be done after all of the big free agent moves. They're interested in Raul Ibanez playing RF for them, but they're just not sure the pieces will fall into place before he signs elsewhere. They're also still very interested in acquiring Brian Roberts, but it would seem Baltimore is asking entirely too much and they're worried they couldn't get him under contract.
They couldn't wait to run Nick Swisher out of town. They're extremely pleased to have gotten such a talent package in return, but apparently his attitude went south so quickly after being put into that utility/time share role there wasn't a chance he would return to the south side. Good thing, as his contract gets him something in the neighborhood of 30 million over the next 3. Can't have that from a guy that hits .219 and plays sub-par OF.
Jerry Reinsdorf on Javier Vazquez: "he has no sac." He's being shopped to a lot of places, anyone who'll listen basically. The Mets are the frontrunners with a package surrounding 20 year old CF Fernando Martinez (I think that's him, he's a 20 year old CF is what I'm sure on). Also, if the Braves lose in the Peavy sweepstakes, look for them to step up and come after Vazquez. Other teams the Sox have fielded calls about Vazquez: Mariners, Cardinals, Philles.
JD's a consumate pro, but he's on his way out. The rumblings are a deal with Cincinnati in a package that centers around Homer Bailey. The Phillies are still bullish on him as well. I'm not sure he'll be traded without...
...Bobby Jenks fetching a corner OF. He's the one guy that it would seem odd for the Sox to move, but the Sox have tons of faith in Jon Link to come in and be the closer of the now and future. Same sorts of teams popping up on the Jenks radar: Houston, St. Louis, NYM, Arizona, Tampa Bay.
Doing all of this will free up a lot of money for the White Sox but apparently it won't be spent this year as the deals will likely be done after all of the big free agent moves. They're interested in Raul Ibanez playing RF for them, but they're just not sure the pieces will fall into place before he signs elsewhere. They're also still very interested in acquiring Brian Roberts, but it would seem Baltimore is asking entirely too much and they're worried they couldn't get him under contract.