Phil Rogers Article

[DBAHO]

Interestin article as they all are,

NEW ORLEANS -- As baseball executives departed the New Orleans Marriott on Monday, Alex Rodriguez was still a member of the Texas Rangers. That could change soon.

 

A weekend of intense efforts by agent Scott Boras and the front offices of the Boston Red Sox and Rangers was not enough to unravel all the details of the complex deal centered around Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez, the two highest-paid players. The inclusion of a third team, possibly the White Sox, could be the key to closing a deal.

 

According to major-league sources, White Sox general manager Ken Williams was trying to get right-hander Scott Williamson from Boston for a starting pitcher—possibly Dan Wright or Jon Rauch—who would be sent to Texas along with Ramirez.

 

Florida also was involved in negotiations with Boston for Williamson, whom some teams view as a closer, with 14-game winner Mark Redman in the mix.

 

Citing family plans, Boras headed back to his California offices Monday afternoon. He said he didn't know if the Rodriguez trade would be completed.

 

"I'm not Mr. Goodwrench," Boras told reporters. "I don't have diagnostics. It's impossible for me to say."

 

Williams would not confirm that the White Sox had been brought in on the periphery of the Rodriguez-Ramirez deal but acknowledged that trade discussions had reached the serious stage on a few fronts.

 

"There's a lot going on," Williams said. "We've got a lot of balls in the air."

 

One of those includes the rumored Magglio Ordonez deal with Los Angeles. The Dodgers have been unwilling to include reliever Guillermo Mota along with lefty Odalis Perez and prospects, but might reconsider after leaving the meetings without the offensive help they've been seeking for two years.

 

The Dodgers also are pursuing Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who becomes expendable if Rodriguez moves to Fenway Park. It's possible they could be involved in a three- or four-way deal.

 

While the talented Mota is the bone of contention in talks between Williams and Dodgers GM Dan Evans, the Texas-Boston deal stalled because of finances. The Rangers, who still owe Rodriguez $179 million over seven years, are insisting that Boston include "cash considerations" in any deal for Ramirez. The Red Sox have refused.

 

Rodriguez appears eager to escape Texas, where his teams have finished in last place for three consecutive seasons, but he has not been willing to consider restructuring his record contract.

 

"You want your clients to be happy," Boras said. "You want them to achieve their goals. One of Alex's is to win."

 

By pushing for a trade, the multitalented Rodriguez has alienated his bosses in Texas. There were reports over the weekend that manager Buck Showalter and GM John Hart had asked owner Tom Hicks to make the deal without cash considerations.

 

Hart had hoped to use the flexibility gained through the "cash considerations"—said to be as much as $5 million a year—to obtain some much-needed pitching. He might be able to accomplish that by bringing a third team into the deal.

 

Williamson became expendable when Boston signed Keith Foulke to a three-year, $24 million contract. The Red Sox do not having a surplus of starters, however, which forces them to involve other teams in the Rodriguez negotiations.

 

While a veteran starter like Redman would immediately become the Rangers' top pitcher, the 25-year-old Rauch (7-1 with a 4.11 ERA for Triple-A Charlotte) or 26-year-old Wright would fit into Texas' ongoing rebuilding plan.

 

The White Sox would have to get more in return than Williamson if they were to include any of their top pitching prospects (right-hander Kris Honel or left-handers Neal Cotts and Ryan Wing) in the deal.

 

The White Sox added one player to their roster Monday, paying $50,000 to select right-hander Jason Grilli from Florida's roster in the Rule 5 draft.

 

Grilli, 27, was the fourth player taken in the 1997 draft and reached the big leagues in 2000 with the Marlins. His career was sidetracked, however, by reconstructive elbow surgery.

 

He recovered to make 19 starts in 2003, getting his feet wet in the Florida State League before jumping to Triple-A Albuquerque. He was 6-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 12 starts for the Isotopes.

 

"When he was at Seton Hall, he could really throw the ball," White Sox scouting director Duane Shaffer said. "The key for us is he pitched this year healthy. We know he's healthy. That's why we took a chance on him."

 

While Grilli has almost always started, the White Sox will look at him first as a reliever. They are thin from the right side in the bullpen after the departure of free agents Tom Gordon and Scott Sullivan.

 

The Cubs lost right-hander Jason Szuminski in the Rule 5 draft. He was selected by Kansas City and then traded to San Diego for outfielder Rich Thompson.

 

Last-minute shopping: Normally, we don't offer gift suggestions, but if you're looking for a last-minute idea, why not consider a specially made bat that features highlights of the Cubs' 2003 season emblazoned on the barrel?

 

Only 2003 of the bats were made and about 500 remain. They sell for $129.95 apiece (plus $15 for shipping), with proceeds benefiting the Boys and Girls Club. Orders or further information can be made with a call to 1-866-243-2287 or at www.hampsterdirect.com.

 

Another way to help is through the Tribune's Holiday Campaign. It takes only a few seconds to fill out the accompanying coupon.

[DBAHO]

Also this article from Mike Downey of da Trib,

On a scale of 10—a 10 being the capture of Saddam Hussein and a 5 being the arrest of Michael Jackson—the magnitude of a White Sox trade would rate as a ... what?

 

As a 1, tops. An 0.75.

 

But as baseball's trade winds blow in and out of Chicago and change direction, the South Side's two top players—the only bona fide Sox superstars—continue to be batted back and forth like a couple of badminton birdies:

 

Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez.

 

We are not talking about a pair of money-motivated free agents out searching for a better offer.

 

We are talking about this team's most valuable assets, two dyed-in-the-wool White Sox who rank among the organization's greatest players ever, being packaged and sent on their way like a box of Christmas apples and pears from Harry and David.

 

Sox fans have come to expect—or dread—word at any hour that Thomas or Ordonez is leaving town for good.

 

Last week rumors were rampant that Thomas, at 35 the elder of the two by six years, would go to Los Angeles as part of a three-way deal. It presumably would result in pitcher Kevin Brown going to New York, as ultimately he did, and the Yankees sending a package of some kind to the Sox.

 

Bull's-eye or bull, that was the buzz.

 

This week it is Ordonez's name surfacing with greater frequency. Same destination: L.A. Supposedly what the Dodgers still require is a strong right-handed bat. And what the Sox need in return is a starting pitcher, a reliever and perhaps a hot young prospect or two.

 

The popular guesswork is that Ordonez might not be money-driven now, but that he already makes a steep $14 million a year and can become a free agent beyond 2004. The Sox would hate to lose him and get nothing in return.

 

High-profile players already have been abandoning the Sox. Pitchers Bartolo Colon and Tom Gordon sought greener pastures. Relatively inexpensive infielder Tony Graffanino just joined one of the club's rivals, the Kansas City Royals, while extremely expensive outfielder Carl Everett is becoming a Montreal Expo.

 

(You know your team's bankroll has shrunk when the Expos can outbid you.)

 

Much of the enthusiasm generated by the return of Ozzie Guillen to the fold is dissipating at this exodus of A-list talent and at the prospect of having a neighborhood favorite like Thomas or Ordonez return to town—either side—in another team's cap. It might not be Michael Jordan in a Washington Wizards get-up, but it still makes you wince.

 

A fan's first instinct is to blame the team. In some cases, what fans should do is vent their anger at a Colon or even a Jordan, who turns his back on the team, rather than on the men who "let him get away."

 

But in a Thomas or Ordonez divorce, the Sox would be in no position to seek pity as the deserted party. They would be the ones instigating the star's departure. They would be the ones endeavoring to explain why, in management's humble opinion, Chicago would be better off without him.

 

Good luck.

 

Any players the Sox get in return had better be braced to deal with the fallout. When a pitcher flops, as Todd Ritchie and David Wells definitely did and as Colon marginally did, it makes the Sox look unwise or unlucky. But if he's a flop as a pitcher who cost the team Thomas or Ordonez, it is going to make the Sox look and feel like fools.

 

Odalis Perez has been mentioned as a possibility in a proposed Sox-Dodgers deal. Perez is a very good left-handed pitcher who came to L.A. in a deal that cost the team superstar Gary Sheffield, but Perez did not have to face the wrath of fans because the obnoxious Sheffield's popularity had eroded.

 

A hitch in these trade talks reportedly has been L.A.'s reluctance to part with Guillermo Mota, a middle reliever.

 

Mota throws hard. He has thrown several directly at Mike Piazza and once threw his glove at Piazza when the batter charged the mound. Mota ran from a fight so far and so fast, one teammate behind his back called him "El Pollo"—the chicken—and Mets manager Art Howe said, "He backpedaled faster than I can run forward."

 

Anytime you acquire a player, you take a gamble.

 

But if you are willing to part with one of your town's most popular and valuable properties, you do much, much more than simply roll the dice. You are making a decision that you had better be prepared to live with for the rest of your days in this town.

[Flash Tizzle]

Scott Williamson for Danny Wright or Jon Rauch......what a fricken steal. Preferably I would deal Jon Rauch and keep Danny Wright in a position to become a long reliever. But if Danny has to go to get Williamson then I'll take the offer.

 

Good to see LA facing limited options with their offense. If the whole Maggs....Perez/Mota deal goes down then KW has put us in a great positon to win the Central.

[Soxbadger]

If Maggs gets dealt it is going to be to to 1 of 2 teams:

 

LA or Boston.

 

The funny part is if the LA really wants Nomar, Williams is going to rip off the Dodgers anyways.

 

LA put themselves in a bad position when they traded Brown for Weaver.

 

Had they kept Brown, they could be offering Brown for Nomar, straight salary swap that allows Boston to have the ultimate pitching staff, and LA gains Nomar at Weaver price.

 

Its becoming more and more apparent that the LA GM could not deal himself out of a bag,

 

Why deal for salary cap relief so fast if you dont use it?

 

Brown was under contract, so was Weaver. There is only 1 Kevin Brown when he is on and uninjured, there are a bunch of Jeff Weavers (is he even better than Freddy Garcia?) LA should of held and they made a quick trade thinking the Sox had to dump salary so were going to move on an O.Perez trade fast.

 

Sox did not dump, LA is stuck having cap relief but only a limited supply of players to use it on, Nomar and Maggs, with little but prospects to trade.

 

If the Red Sox deal goes down, LA will over pay, they need Nomar now.

 

SB

[Chisoxfn]

Williamson for Rauch is the better deal and i'd definately do it. If the Sox get him and then Mota...add a lefty in the mix and I'd call it an offseason as far as the relief corps goes (of course I'd still say trade Koch if they could).

[YASNY]

I still think Danny Wright is going to be a good pitcher... either starter or closer, someday. Not as confident in Rauch. But, I'd move either one to get Williamson.

[Capn12]

I still think Danny Wright is going to be a good pitcher... either starter or closer, someday.  Not as confident in Rauch.  But, I'd move either one to get Williamson.

well, if I can get Scott Williamson for Jon Rauh, I may have to say yes. I want to keep Wright, and let him grow accustomed to being in the Bullpen. I don't want him to start in our rotation, maybe ever again, but as a setup guy or closer, yes.

[Flash Tizzle]

I love the Trib article. Story seems to establish a point that any trade we make is going to screw us. Downey concentrates an entire paragraph to proving how Molta is a coward.....but only manages 3 words to describe him as a pither: "Molta throws hard."

[YASNY]

I love the Trib article.  Articles seem to establish a point that any trade we make is going to screw us. Downey concentrates an entire paragraph to proving how Molta is a coward.....but only manages 3 words to describe him as a pither: "Molta throws hard."

Typical Tribune.

[Pastime]

In Chicago, we call it the "Chicago Cubbune." (And for obvious reasons).

 

If we could pull off Williamson for Rauch, I would be ecstatic, much like many of you. I used to have really high hopes for Jon Rauch, but I don't anymore. I think he's possibly already reached his ceiling, and he's hardly made a big splash over the last 2 years. Look at this scouting report from Rotoworld (take it for what it is):

 

Rauch, one of the top prospects in all of baseball following a brilliant 2000 season, isn’t yet back to where he was before hurting his shoulder in 2001. Still, after a strong finish for Triple-A Charlotte, he deserved a look at the end of last season. The 6-foot-11 right-hander throws in the low-90s and has a solid curve and slider. He remains a good bet to make it as a fourth or fifth starter and he could be something more. Despite their pitching problems, the White Sox don’t seem to be including him in their plans for 2004.

[Loaiza21]

I just don't see us getting Williamson that cheap, but hell, go for it Kenny.

[slick03]

i dont know about you guys, but i want one of those 2003 bats that commemorate the year for the cubs!!!

[YASNY]

i dont know about you guys, but i want one of those 2003 bats that commemorate the year for the cubs!!! 

I would highly suggest you use green when you say something like that!

[slick03]

I would highly suggest you use green when you say something like that! 

my bad....i knew i forgot something....i dont know about you guys, but i want one of those 2003 bats that commemorate the year for the cubs!!! rookie mistake

[YASNY]

my bad....i knew i forgot something....i dont know about you guys, but i want one of those 2003 bats that commemorate the year for the cubs!!!   rookie mistake

That's better!

[Iguana]

This from RotoWorld guys

i wish that the sox could get Nomar!