Sox Machine: Chicago White Sox blog

Say hello to the offseason (updated)

If Sox Machine were an actual print product instead of a Web site, my headline would look something like this:


In this universe, the end of the World Series means the beginning of the 15-day window in which Kenny Williams must decide whether the club will exercise or decline club options for three of his players.  Allow me to take a whack at how it'll play out:

No. 1: Juan Uribe.

Option:  $5 million for 2008, $300,000 buyout

Why they should exercise it:  Although he's slipped a little, he's still an above-average shortstop with 20-homer power, making up slightly for his awful on-base percentage.  David Eckstein is the only upgrade in free agency, and his value is highly questionable.  $5 million for a one-year commitment shouldn't be prohibitive to any other moves.

Why they should decline it:  He's one of the major's biggest out machines, and one of the easiest places for the Sox to improve the consistency of their offense.  It would be a nice way to send a message to fans that a shake-up is under way, since only the third base coach and bullpen coach's heads have rolled thus far.
 
What they will do:  Pick it up.  It's never safe to read too much into an Ozzie Guillen quote, but the fact that he said, "We want Uribe to lose weight and show up in shape" might be an indication of which way Williams is leaning.

What I would do:  Decline.  There are some interesting names on the trade market worth exploring (Bill Hall, Jack Wilson, Rafael Furcal, Edgar Renteria and the Braves' farmhands), and they could also try signing Uribe to a reduced deal and deploy him as a utility infielder.

Toronto's John McDonald, who might be the most deserving of the Gold Glove at short this year, signed a two-year deal for $3.8 million in early September.  He has a better glove and a worse bat, but owns a better on-base percentage over the last two years.  I'm not saying Uribe can be had for $2 million, but they should be able to shave something off his salary.

No. 2: Darin Erstad

Option: $3.5 million for 2008; $250,000 buyout.

Why they should exercise it:  He's the Most Grindy Man in the World.  The Sox's special teams unit would suffer greatly, as would their stubble quotient.

Why they should decline it:  He is roster poison. 

What they will do:  Decline.  It won't be easy.  Williams will probably start by not returning his calls, or saying he can't hang out because he's having a seemingly inordinate amount of relatives visiting from out of town.  Erstad will wonder why Williams isn't introducing him to family members, but decides not to ask.  Then a week later, Erstad will see Williams with another center fielder sitting in a Sbarro in a mall food court.  Erstad will freak, chew him out in front of everybody and storm off. Williams will run after him and drop the "It's not you, it's me" line, even though they're both aware that Erstad isn't as attractive as he used to be six or seven years ago, when Williams was pursuing him but Erstad had other committments.  After 15 minutes of crying, Erstad will gorge himself at a Häägen Dazs, agonizing over why he can't find a GM who understands that the grass isn't always greener while blankly staring into the empty plastic cup of his second Mint Chip Dazzler.

What I would do:  Decline.  And not eat at Sbarro.

No. 3: Mike Myers

Option:  $1.1 million for 2008.

Why they should exercise it:  He could possibly provide some left-handed insurance in case Boone Logan doesn't get his act together, and Matt Thornton doesn't find the couple miles per hour missing on his fastball.  There isn't any apparent help in the minors -- Andrew Sisco is still around, and he's probably the best of the dreck.  Paulino Reynoso was Charlotte's top left-handed reliever (which is a "tallest midget" kind of title), and the Sox already outrighted him.

Why they should decline it:  If you watched Myers pitch for the Sox this year, you don't need me to say anything.  At $1.1 million, he would be the second-highest-paid reliever in the bullpen to Mike MacDougal ($1.9 million).

What they will do:  Decline.  Up until the last week of the season, over which Myers gave up seven runs in 1 1/3 innings, I was leaning the other way, since it seemed Guillen gave Myers just about every possible chance to prove himself.  He failed miserably, though, and since there isn't a buyout, I can't think of one reason why they would exercise the option.  There might be a desperate team willing to guarantee him a roster spot, but at this point, Myers looks like a non-roster invitee at best.

What I would do:  Decline.

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I normally don't check the Trib's social scene coverage for White Sox news, so thanks for SSJ Reb for the heads-up on this item:


I didn't know Ryan Bukvich was that popular. 

It's possible that this isn't BS, since Jerry Reinsdorf wouldn't let any news leak out of his great respect for Bud Selig and the commissioner's wishes for nothing to overshadow the World Series.  Outside of an unexpectedly quick decision on Uribe (or overvaluing the popularity of Erstad or Myers), I don't know who it would be.

(Question:  When reading the part about Kenny busting a move, what's the first thing that came to mind?  I pictured popping and locking, myself.)

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Phil Rogers has my back.  The newest addition to the BBWAA board of directors wrote in his latest column:


Rogers was the one beating the "Juan Pierre to the Sox" drum for the last two offseasons, so I'm not particularly encouraged by this development, although it may be good news to some of you.