Trader Ken does it again

[Yoda]

Here's a little something of what I read every morning in my morning newspaper. It just shows that people are starting to see the Sox as a playoff team.

 

Brian C. Hedger / Times Columnist

 

CHICAGO -- This column was supposed to be about the Cubs, but the White Sox keep getting in the way.

 

First they trounced Greg Maddux on Sunday. Then, after Cubs manager Dusty Baker was done talking about it, they trumped the Cubs in news.

 

Sox general manager "Trader" Ken Williams completed a blockbuster for Seattle's Freddy Garcia, catcher Ben Davis and cash. It was his last call to the Mariners in a month of negotiating.

 

It turned out to be perfect timing.

 

Williams landed the one guy every other American League powerhouse wanted, but it came at a stiff price. Miguel Olivo, a potential All-Star, was sent packing along with two notable prospects.

 

The price of short-term success is never cheap.

 

Olivo was one of Williams' favorite players, but true to his word, he dealt him away for the betterment of the team. It was just the latest example of Williams using young talent like money.

 

"Ultimately, the decision I had to make was, were we better positioned with Freddy Garcia on our roster or Miguel Olivo on our roster?" Williams said.

 

"Not just this year, but hopefully for future years. We have every intention of trying to sign Freddy to a long-term deal."

 

He said that about Bartolo Colon, too. Look how that turned out.

 

Short-term, though, this was another aggressive move by Trader Ken. Besides a striking resemblance to "The Rock," a wrestler-turned-actor, Garcia has the big arm the Sox need.

 

"It's nice to know we're going to have five quality starters," Aaron Rowand said. "We're going to miss Miguel a lot, though. I think Kenny got it right. He said we're getting a lot, but we gave up a lot, too."

 

Indeed. Trader Ken was able to outbid New York and Boston for Garcia, but not without a risk. Did he give up too much?

 

Maybe, but you can't measure immediate success against the future here.

 

In Chicago, it's all about right now, about shooing away a black cloud of baseball death that's hung over this city since the 1910s.

 

Williams has plenty of critics, who point to his swings and misses. At least give him credit for one thing. He keeps on swinging.

 

"He's trying to win right now," Rowand said. "All of us in the clubhouse, and all the fans, we should all be happy that we've got a GM on our side who is trying to win. He's trying to give people a winner."

 

No matter the long-term cost. Losing Olivo will sting. The Sox lack depth at catcher, and just traded away their future everyday backstop. Plus, Olivo holds a special place in Williams' heart.

 

Trader Ken took heat over acquiring him in a deal with Oakland for Chad Bradford, with A's GM Billy Beane making it sound like he pulled a fast one in a popular book. Who's holding the last trump card now?

 

Williams has spun that deal into a bigtime swap for Garcia, the one guy everybody else wanted. Barring a counterstrike by Minnesota, this puts the Sox in the driver's seat for the AL Central.

 

It also allows them to dream big.

 

"Sometimes you've got to get out there on the limb and go for it," Williams said. "We're here for one reason."

 

If you don't know what that is by now, you're just not paying attention.

[SuperSteve]

Good read.

[danman31]

You gotta admit the timing is perfect. Regardless of whether you liked the trade or not the timing makes perfect sense.

[dasox24]

Thanks for posting that. It's a good read. And, Garcia really does look like "The Rock." I didn't realize it until I read it, but he does.

[SoxAce]

Very nice read.

[whitesoxin']

The Times! I should go get my paper right now, it's still in my driveway. Yoda, since you get The Times you must live in NWI. Which town? I live in Valpo and was just wondering.