With the way the White Sox are playing this year, General Manager Kenny Williams found himself in a very unusual position, that of a seller. For the first time since Williams took over calling the shots for the Good Guys, his team is out of contention at the trading deadline. In years past, this was a day when Williams would add the final pieces to a ball club that was always contending for a playoff spot. He’d trade for Roberto Alomar, Carl Everett (twice), Freddie Garcia, and unlikely World Series hero Geoff Blum, all with visions of those players helping the Sox make it to the playoffs. Well that’s not the case this year, because the Sox are now the team that supplies players to the contenders. A handful of Sox players were expected to be dealt by today, but only two were.
Tadihito Iguchi to the Phillies for A-ball pitcher Michael Dubee.
Some people blasted Kenny for this trade, thinking the Sox should get back more for Iguchi then a single A pitcher with mediocre peripheral stats, but this trade wasn’t about Dubee. It was, in fact, about Danny Richar. The Sox acquired Richar, a second basemen, from the Diamondbacks earlier this year, and he’s been tearing it up ever since. Hitting over .350 with some speed and a little power, Williams decided to needed to give Richar the chance to play every day for the rest of this season. The Philies may have stolen Iguchi, who should help ease the pain of losing Chase Utley, but was there really a better offer on the table? I wouldn’t think the market for a middle aged second basemen in the final year of his contract who’s hitting .250 and is bad defensively would be very strong.
Iguchi was here 2.5 years, and for that time, he was great. I can’t thank him enough for everything he did for the White Sox. Whether it was moving runners along or knocking in key runs, Iguchi was one of the Sox best players the last two seasons. No way we would have won the World Series without him. Good Luck, Gooch.
(Oh and how sweet was that last night with Gooch and Rowand both blasting homers to beat the Cubbies. That's about as good as it gets for Sox fans this season.)
Rob Mackowiak to the Padres for A-ball pitcher Jon Link
Mack started off slow for the Sox, but has come on offensively as of late. He can help a team win this year, something that wasn’t going to happen with the Sox, so Kenny dealed him to a team that might win the National League. Mackowiak came to the Sox last year from the Pirates, and spent most of his time misplaying fly balls in Centerfield, a position Brian Anderson should have been playing anyway. He should be a valuable bat off the bench for San Diego as they try to win the ultra competitive NL West.
I’m sure Kenny wanted to move Contreras, but he’s just pitched too poorly lately. No team in their right mind would ever touch that contract, so Jose stays for a few more months. Jermaine Dye was expected to be moved, and wasn’t. What happens with him now, do the Sox resign him? There was a proposed deal earlier today of JD to the Red Sawx for Manny Delcarmen and Wily Mo Pena. I would have liked that trade, but if resigned, JD can still help the Sox win. He also may be a level 1 free agent, which would mean the Sox would land some sandwich draft picks for his departure.
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Comments
I dont think so but remember Gillick was the GM in Toronto when they won those World Series. His manager their was Cito Gaston, who happened to be the initial front runner for the White Sox job after Jerry Manuel was fired. Gaston was the clear cut favorite until Kenny fell in love with Ozzie and hired him after one interview. It just shows how well the two get along.
The real question is who won the first two deals? Garcia is bad and hurt this year while Gavin Floyd is bad and healthy. Gio Gonzalez also came to the Sox in that trade and he's a strikeout machine in AA right now. I think that one goes Kenny's way. As for the Thome for Rowand and Gio trade...obviously they got Gio back for Fred-Ex. Thome was siiick last year, and Aaron is having a career year this year. The sox won 90 but didn't go to the playoffs last year, so i guess it depends on far Philli goes this year.
Hey Rickau,
I heard of the possibility of Kenny Williams wanting to get Rowand back in the offseason, heard anything about this?
Yes brother beau, Rowand is a free agent at the end of the season, and the Sox would love to bring him back. They need him too, as right now they have zero outfielders for next year. The only problem i see is that since Rowand is doing so good thi year, the Sox might have to overpay. You don't want to give an 8 million a year player 11 million.
Thank you, Chicago White Sox, for Tadihito Iguchi.
Philly fans are already chanting GOOOOOOOCH! when he comes to bat.
Has the guy ever played third in his career? Is it possible when Utley comes back to move him to third and keep his bat in the lineup?
Oh and Dubee, the single A prospect you picked up, is the son of the Phils pitching coach. What irony to this business, eh?
Gooch never played 3rd for the Sox because of Joe Crede, but i think he could if he had to. He's not the best defender at second, so i doubt you'd want him at third unless you needed a little more punch in the ole' lineup.
What's the connection between K. Williams and Pat Gillick that is allowing all of these Sox/Phils trades to happen (Rowand, Garcia, Iguchi)? Do they have a past together like the KC GM and the Braves?