Planning season ends; doing season begins

Now that the free agency period is officially under way, it’s a good time to conclude the offseason plan project. I posted twice as many entries as last season, and had enough for some deleted scenes at the end.
Thanks to everybody who participated. It’s a good way to consider as many ideas and angles as possible, and also to try and prevent getting blindsided by a Kenny Williams move, although we’ll probably fail at that.
Our 16th and final plan comes courtesy of David, who goes by the cryptic name, “David.”

David’s 2011 offseason plan

MUST-MAKE DECISIONS
1) Would you offer arbitration to:
*A.J. Pierzynski? (Type A) — No, I’d expect him to accept considering he will not get close to $6 mil in free agency, and the risk is too high for the Sox budget.
*Paul Konerko? (Type A) — Yes
*Manny Ramirez? (Type A) No
*J.J. Putz (Type B) — Yes, Best case is he accepts for a slight increase and Sox only have to go year to year
2) Would you pick up Ramon Castro’s $1.2 million option for 2011, or buy him out for $200,000?
Option picked up. He’s a very affordable backup catcher and might be in line for slightly increased workload
CLUB CONTROL (explain if warranted)
3) One-year contract for John Danks?  If not, what would you pay to extend him?
Offer long term contract, four years, $35 million ($6M/$8M/$10M/$11M) with club option for a fifth year at $12 million, taking him potentially through his age 30 season.
4) Would you tender a contract to Bobby Jenks?
No.
5) Would you tender a contract to Carlos Quentin?
I would tender him but not his glove. Make him a full-time DH.
6) Would you tender a contract to Tony Pena?
I would not tender him a contract, because despite his versatility, he hasn’t been very good.
FREE AGENCY: WHITE SOX
7) Which of the following impending White Sox free agents would you attempt to re-sign, and at what price:
*Paul Konerko: I would stay involved in discussions, but assume he will get more than the two years, $20 million I’d be willing to offer and would take the compensatory picks.
*A.J. Pierzynski: Did not offer arb.
*J.J. Putz: Detailed above; preferably he returns for approximately two years and $6-6.5 million, or accepts arb.
*Manny Ramirez: And take those dreadlock wigs with you on the way out.
*Omar Vizquel: The Sox re-signed him, but I’d have let him walk coming off of an overachieving year that was overrated.
*Andruw Jones: Re-sign for one year and $1 million.
*Freddy Garcia: Thank you for your service, again.
*Mark Kotsay: Before you leave, please tell us how you brainwashed Ozzie and Hawk?
FREE AGENCY: OUTSIDE HELP

8) Which positions are in the most dire need of an upgrade?
Right field, catcher, third base, relief pitching, left field.
9) Name three (or more) free agents you’d consider, and at what price.
*Sign Frank Francisco, two years, $7 million (assuming Rangers don’t offer arb; he’s Type A).
*Sign Carlos Pena, one year, $4 million plus incentives (assuming Rays don’t offer arb; he’s Type B).
*Sign Justin Duchscherer, one year, incentive-laden deal.
I also like: Akinori Iwamura (minor league deal), Felipe Lopez (two year deal as utility infielder), Russell Martin (potential non-tender), Willie Harris (one-year deal as fourth oufielder), Jesse Crain (two-year deal) to name a few.
TRADES
9) Name a couple (or more) realistic trades that could improve the Sox.
*Trade Dayan Viciedo to the Baltimore Orioles for Luke Scott: Baltimore gets six years of control of raw, flawed-but-talented Viciedo while clearing outfield logjam and payroll.  Sox get two years of control of a lefty power/OBP bat in Scott, who can play first base or outfield.
*Trade Edwin Jackson Rockies for Chris Iannetta: Colorado gets solid starter with improving groundball rate for in-flux rotation (Jorge De La Rosa and Jeff Francis are free agents).  Sox get underacheiving but power/OBP talent in Iannetta, who is under control for two years at a reasonable price.
SUMMARY
And finally:
10) Sum it all up in a paragraph or nine, and give a ballpark estimate of the total payroll.
Roster as I’ve constructed is approximately $103-107 million.
Jake Peavy – SP ($16 mil)
Mark Buehrle – SP ($14 mil)
John Danks – SP ($6 mil)
Gavin Floyd – SP ($5 mil)
Chris Sale – SP ($400 K)
Justin Duchscherer – SP/RP ($1 mil)
Scott Linebrink – RP ($5.5 mil)
Sergio Santos – RP ($445 K)
Frank Francisco – RP ($3.5 mil)
J.J. Putz – RP ($3.25 mil)
Matt Thornton – RP ($3 mil)
Juan Pierre – LF ($8.5 mil, $3.5 mil from LAD)
Gordon Beckham – 2B ($500 K)
Carlos Pena – 1B ($4 mil + incentives)
Alex Rios – CF ($12 mil)
Luke Scott – RF ($6 mil)
Carlos Quentin – DH ($3.75 mil)
Chris Iannetta – C ($2.55 mil)
Alexei Ramirez – SS ($1.1 mil)
Morel – 3B ($400 K)
Andruw – OF ($1.5 mil)
Vizquel – INF ($1.75 mil)
Teahen – OF/INF ($4.75 mil)
Lillibridge – OF/INF ($500 K)
Castro – C ($1.2 mil)
My goal for the offseason was finding bargains, maintaining future financial flexibility and investing in the farm system so that success can be sustained without a prolonged dip while remaining competitive in a weak division.  Picking up two high draft picks from Konerko leaving is a critical, though not a popular, decision.  Everything I’ve read indicates the 2011 draft will be very strong and Doug Laumann’s recent draft record offers hope.  I would not sign any players that will cost the Sox picks and made the assumption that both Pena and Francisco won’t be offered arb.  There’s reason to believe neither will.
I’ve added three position players (Pena, Scott and Iannetta) with career OBP’s of at least .350.  Each is also capable of 20 or more homers.  Pena had an extremely low BABIP of .222 last season but still drew plenty of walks (87+ last four years) and is a good bounce-back candidate.  Iannetta similarly had poor luck with BABIPs of .245 in 2009 and .212 in 2010 while still walking over 13 percent of the time.
The Sox need to find out if Sale has the ability to start.  He’s infinitely more valuable in the rotation.  The lack of a second lefty in the pen is a slight concern, but Francisco excels against left-handed batters.  Power arm, more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings, and previous closer success.  I’m a big fan of his.
I believe this team would have a deeper lineup with more power and the ability to get on base.  The rotation and bullpen are full of power arms.
*****************************
Below are some names of free agents and trade targets that hadn’t been discussed in previous plans. Some ideas may seem odd or unfeasible, but there is a certain lack of context for the rest of the picture, so focus more on the names, and less on the particulars.
FREE AGENCY
*Johnny Damon: 1 year, $6.5 million. If the Tigers go with their younger outfield, Damon has no place to play with them next year and a return to the Yankees is unlikely given the significant drop in stats his time with the Tigers proved. He could, however, fit in perfectly with Ozzie’s desired “Rotating DH” model. (Chris)
*Nick Johnson: 1 year, $2.5 million. Johnson’s performance with the Yankees mirrored Manny’s experience with the Sox. He walked a lot, and occasionally singled. Johnson’s reputation for being constantly hurt wont help him earn any money next year, but it primes him for a Russell Branyan trial contract with Kenny’s misfits. (Chris)
*Victor Martinez: Four years, $32 million. (jmsdn58)
*Rafael Soriano: Two years, $15 million. (jmsdn58)
*Trevor Hoffman: Scrap-heap deal. (Doctor Memory)
TRADE PROPOSALS
*RF Carlos Quentin to Tampa Bay for SP James Shields: Rumblings on mlbtraderumors.com and from Buster Olney seem to indicate that the Rays are ready to part ways with James Shields, who they’ve already signed to one of their ingenious extension with options contracts. Shields, like Jackson, is a strike-thrower who occasionally has control issues and would fit in perfectly with the organization’s model of pitcher. In return, Tampa Bay would be able to replace the production they expect to lose from Pena’s departure, and at a relative bargain price for a power bat. (Chris)
*CF Alex Rios to Yankees for C Miguel Montero and RP Joba Chamberlain. In the wake of the Yankees’ elimination from the playoffs this year, Yanks GM Cashman will be aggressive about adding talent to the roster. Rios had a solid year offensively and defensively at a challenging position. With Granderson’s now-legendary struggles against left-handed pitching, adding Rios’ proven-production could appeal to Cashman.
While catcher is a harsh position to fill, there is enough proven free-agent talent to appeal to the Yankees’ because of the demands of their veteran pitching staff. This trade would also give the Sox the plus prospect necessary to land Colby Rasmus, and the payroll flexibility to enter the bidding for Adam Dunn. Max contract offered for Dunn, 31, could warrant four years, $46 million ($11.5 million / year). (Chris)
*Alexei Ramirez for Jose Reyes. Since your readership is adamant that Alexei is the best shortstop in the AL, won’t the Mets jump at the chance to reduce payroll, get a bit younger, and add a guy who hasn’t been hurt much of the past two years?  This will give the Sox speed, defense, and BA.  Pierre moves to the nine-hole, creating a speed-speed tandem when the lineup rolls over.  Shoot, maybe the Mets will add $10 million to sweeten the deal. (Doctor Memory)

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dalton

Ramirez for Reyes? There hasn’t been a SS for SS swap of this magnitude since, what, Ozzie Smith for Gary Templeton?

bigfun

won’t the Mets jump at the chance to reduce payroll, get a bit younger, and add a guy who hasn’t been hurt much of the past two years?
They wouldn’t get younger, but yeah, they might do this, I just don’t see why the Sox would. Pretty big gamble that Reyes might return to 2008 form. Alexei is a better, healthier player.

Doctor Memory

I was remiss in failing to recognize that Alexei is actually two years OLDER than Reyes. I appreciate that he isn’t emotionally quirky like Reyes, but I sit here slack-jawed at the suggestion that he’s a better player. I’ll allow the readership to educate me to this unapparent truth. Perhaps my schoolin’ can begin with metrics of their offense and defense.
Since Omar is in the fold for next year, can we project that he’d be a tutor to Reyes as he’s been to Andrus and Alexei? To my eye, Reyes has the potential to be the best SS in the game. (I recognize Tulo’s and Hanley’s power advantage, but I value the disruptive element Reyes brings with his speed: power-hitting can be added at other positions.) I still maintain that Alexei will never be more than a very-valuable complementary player. (I believe we ironed out during the season that “complementary” does not mean “barely adequate”, or anything of the sort.)
I think the only way the Mets would go for a deal like this would be as a salary-relief move. Even with that, they’d probably want a Grade-A-starter prospect included. I believe Templeton was earning more than Ozzie when that trade was made, but in this proposed deal Alexei is Templeton (more power, less range – but NOT with the higher BA, OBP, SLG or OPS that Templeton offered**), and Reyes is Ozzie. The Sox could have a star at SS for the next seven years. So, fill me in on the advantages to the Mets, other than the 10mm in savings . . ..
** When the trade was made before the 1982 season, Ozzie (16 months OLDER) had a BA of .231; Templeton, .309. Ozzie had 147 SB (27/yr); Templeton, 138 (23/yr). Templeton NEVER played as well after the trade; Ozzie, well . . ..
Re: Trevor Hoffman: if he wants to play next year, couldn’t he be the bullpen version of Omar? The advantage goes beyond performance, goes beyond position-specific insights: these guys are stabilizing professionals. It’s a lonnnnnnnngggggggg season.
And who knows, maybe Hoffman could keep the closer position afloat (sure, it’s unlikely) if gaps occur in the anointed one’s consistency. But, if Sale (or some other flame-thrower)were to be groomed as a closer, it’s impossible to estimate the impact Hoffman might have. Last year’s situation in Milwaukee confirms this.
What would he command in salary? 1.5mm? Like with Omar (as Jim mentioned in an earlier post), it’d be a sunk cost that was palatable, should he become a complete wash-out.
Also, Jim didn’t list two other hare-brained trades I proposed: Peavy-for-Cuddyear (which would obviate the Quentin and/or PK questions, and add an option at 3B – but which involves an intra-division deal); Jackson (who is attractive for his lights-out potential) for Jeremy Guthrie (who I see as ready to become a solid #2).
I think the limitation of any projection for the disposition of players under contract, FA-eligible, or arbitration-eligible, is that KW is likely to pull one or more big-ticket, high-impact moves to dramatically alter the starting eight.
Be gentle with me, y’all. I’m learnin’ as I go.

bigfun

I think the only way the Mets would go for a deal like this would be as a salary-relief move. Even with that, they’d probably want a Grade-A-starter prospect included.
That’s a problem, we don’t have any…
Alexei is Templeton (more power, less range – but NOT with the higher BA, OBP, SLG or OPS that Templeton offered**), and Reyes is Ozzie.
I don’t see the Templeton comparison for Alexei – Templeton never hit more than nine home runs, Alexei hasn’t hit fewer than 15. Templeton was more of a basestealer, like Jose.
Funny thing is, Reyes’ second-most comparable batter on Baseball Reference is none other than Templeton.
I also don’t get comparing Jose to Smith. Jose’s defense is mediocre per UZR and very good per Fans Scouting Report. I’ve barely seen him play so I don’t have a personal opinion. Alexei is great by UZR and the FSR called him terrible in 2009 and great in 2010. I have personally always considered him a good to great SS based on what I’ve seen. Maybe they’re close in skill but I would need to hear a pretty compelling argument to convince me that Reyes is a big upgrade.
The Sox could have a star at SS for the next seven years.
Not following this – Reyes is a free agent in 2012, isn’t he?
So, fill me in on the advantages to the Mets, other than the 10mm in savings . . ..
They get a better defensive shortstop with a better health record and three more years of team control.

Doctor Memory

My hare-brained proposal gets all its validity from NOT comparing the career metrics of the Ozzie-for-Templeton trade. My trade would make the Sox contenders next year, on its own merits alone. I was trying to compare the trade of a probable superstar-in-the-making for a serviceable player of the same position, to show that every once in a while, these trades can happen.
To wit . . .
1. The throw-in prospect would have to be resolved. (If your assessment of the relative merits of the two shortstops is accurate, it’s the Mets who should be adding a prospect, though, right?)
2. I didn’t mean to imply that the 1982 trade is identical, or really even similar (beyond that all four play(ed) shortstop very well). I was pointing out that Templeton was the stronger offensive player, and Ozzie the stronger defensive player. (Ozzie was regarded as a liability offensively. He was a .231 career hitter at that point.) Alexei has slightly more HR pop than Jose – but the same SLG and OPS. Those triples really add up. (Templeton was a hell of a hitter in the early years. One season, he had 100 hits from both sides of the plate.) I don’t know how much playing with leg injuries may have affected Reyes’ defensive metrics the past two years.
Templeton, Ozzie, and Jose were/are base stealers; Alexei is not. Reyes is in Ozzie’s class, or beyond. He’s a guy who can go for 50+/yr for six or seven more years. (60,64,78,56 for 2005 through 2008.)
(Reyes is fast/quick like Ozzie -as-quick and more-fast, and will steal manymany more bases, and hit many more triples in the next decade. He’ll also hit a fair compliment of HRs. Past performance suggests about 15-18/yr.)
It’s very important to evaluate Templeton at the time of the trade, rather than for his career. The Pods didn’t get in performance what they traded for. The Mets will likely get what they trade for.
I’ve watched both guys quite a bit (just on television), and the eyes say that Reyes can comfortably surpass what can be expected of Alexei. He’s not been a mature player to this point – when/if he becomes one, he’ll be consistently great on defense. (Nice arm, for sure. Superb balance. Quickquickquick. Focus/attitude need improvement – these aren’t a problem with Alexei.)
Re: contract. Team control of the player is non-negotiable. This would have to be a sign-and-trade: three or four years at something between 11 and 14mm/yr; team options for two years at prior year’s pay, plus 2mm/yr*. (11mm/12mm/13mm/13mm/15mm*/17mm*?)
As to what you might find compelling: speed. With Reyes hitting for four seasons what he did in 2006: .300/.354/.487/.841
G 153
AB 647
R 122
H 194
2B 30
3B 17
HR 19
RBI 81
BB 53
SO 81
SB 64
CS 17
and with all the chaos he’ll create on the bases, the character of the team will be changed toward speed and defense.
Next year, Pierre in the nine-hole will make for big trouble each time the line-up rolls over – especially if Pierre returns to his normal .300 BA.
The three “Against” items are: attitude; health; cost. Other than the facts that there’s no-way-in-hell that the Mets would make the deal, and that Reyes would have to agree to a contract extension before the trade could be made.)
Sox address attitude with Omar’s presence; health is health – he’s 26: shouldn’t he return to form?; it’s a lot of money to pay a shortstop who’s not a power hitter – a change in direction/philosophy for the organization.

bigfun

I just don’t get the appeal. Shortstop is one of the few areas that the Sox don’t have to worry about for at least a couple years (and maybe many years if Escobar is for real). To replace a great bargain with a guy who will be several times more expensive, when the team has other glaring flaws, just doesn’t strike me as good resource management.
It’s not like the 2009 and 2010 teams didn’t win because they didn’t have enough speed. I’d rather see that money go to the power bat they have so sorely lacked. Dumping a large amount of money into a speedy shortstop doesn’t strike me as a top priority.

bigfun

Re: Hoffman, maybe he has a bit of juice left, but he just came off of career-worsts in just about every statistic, and he’s 42. He should retire. There are better buy-low relievers out there, the White Sox should be looking for the 2011 version of JJ Putz.
Peavy’s contract and injury mean he won’t go anywhere and especially not the 2010 division champions.
Re: Jackson for Guthrie, I’m not sure how the latter projects as a #2 as he is a 31-year-old who has been league average throughout his career.

Doctor Memory

Good points, but my argument FOR Hoffman is outside of this logic. I just lobbed a “Bullpen Omar” into the conversation. If it doesn’t work in on-field results, they’ll still have Trevor Hoffman in the bullpen as a para-coach. If they have to cut him, they can hire him as coach. (He could be hired as a player-coach, even.)
The Peavy trade proposal is totally hare-brained. EVERYBODY wants what Peavy represents, right? He has that Allure of the Ace. (Twins risk Peavy never being whole, in exchange for what-he-could-become. Sox solve up-to-three problems with one player.) To me, this is a trade that the Twins would NEVER make. The intra-division matter is the deal-killer, but it does make for a tantalizing prospect, no? Frank F^ckin’ Lane traded ROCKY COLAVITO for harveykuenn, fercrissakes.
As to Guthrie, I believe he’s entering a late-arriving, strong prime. At present, he’s a bit cheaper than Jackson. (Don’t know the details on his contract years, etc. This will have to be addressed pre-trade, of course.) It’d be a sort of challenge trade. Maybe the O’s see Jackson as potentially “all-that”. If he is, it’s a good deal for them, but if Guthrie is about to break through, the Sox will win (or tie)the deal.

sars

i don’t get the guthrie love around these parts. maybe hawk has touted him a bunch since the sox have gotten hosed by the o’s on at least two accounts the last couple years. but good god, guthrie is the definition of ‘meh.’ no thanks.

Doctor Memory

Sars, check Guthrie’s game log. He gets touched up once a month, but he consistently goes 6+, and often is tough to beat. Even with six bad starts, he came home with a 3.83, in 209 IP. (Only 32 starts.) That says #3 to me. How about you?
Put a good defense behind him, a reliable bullpen, and work him through the cause(s) of the six-runs-allowed start each month, and what you’ve got is a guy who can pitch 220 innings, with a 3.30-3.60 ERA, who should go about 16/17-10 for a contender.
He’s not a SO pitcher (5.12/9 last year, 5.50 for his career), but last year’s WHIP was 1.16. No Sox starter matched that last year – and Guthrie pitched for the Orioles. His year was measurably superior to Buehrle’s, and comparable to Danks’s – except for SO.
If there’s a continuum with “meh” on one end, and “ahh” on the other, I see Guthrie as trending far beyond the middle point – in the realm of “mmm”. Which causes me to say, “Yes, please.”

bigfun

That ERA is a smokescreen – 4.44 FIP and 4.80 xFIP. His career BABIP is a bit low overall so maybe we can give him credit for some ability to keep his ERA down a bit but he is not a 3.83 pitcher.
He does nothing particularly well except eat innings and keep his walks down and is #4 on most teams or a #5 on a strong contender.

Doctor Memory

So, BF, you wouldn’t trade Jackson for Guthrie, correct?

dalton

Interesting plan, and if all involved hit, the Sox will have quite a line up. Let’s just hope they hit… otherwise, this is going to be one frustrating line up.

striker

I thought about Ianetta but I think Jackson straight up is too much. He probably isn’t available now that Olivo is gone. Plus, don’t you think Ianetta is just a more expensive and older version of Flowers?
I like Rios to NYY. That would net us some young talent and give us more payroll flexibility. It would also re-create our CF hole.

David

I would agree that Iannetta is more likely to remain in COL since the Olivo decision was made. I finalized my plan before this happened. However, COL buried Iannetta behind Olivo and he seems to have fallen out of favor.
There are similarities between Flowers and Iannetta, however, Iannetta has over 1300 MLB plate appearances with an OBP over .350. He can play in the MLB…can Flowers?
As for Jackson, let’s not forget he’s had merely 2 strong HALVES in his MLB career. Skepticism should remain high. Factor in a huge financial savings for the Sox in this proposal and I think this is realistic.

matt

You called…
The buzz around the Rockies is that O’Dowd is looking into the catcher market. Victor Martinez has been dreamnt about, along with a few others. Here’s the other thing, since Olivo’s option was declined in Toronto, he’s arb-eligible at least, so there’s another option to think about.
(Interesting thought that won’t happen- do as the Yankees did a couple of years back. Sign Dunn, sign Olivo, sign one of Frasor/Downs, burn the front end of your draft but then take some high potential late rounders who aren’t expected to sign and hit them with 1st round money. Just a thought.)
Back to Iannetta, man, he’s been disappointing but that may be a consequence of getting too attached to the potential. This is a man who seems tentative at the plate… it almost looks sometimes like he’s up there looking to take a walk. That’s not always a bad thing, but with a man on second and the pitcher behind you, for the love of God swing the damn bat before you get two strikes against. My hunch is that the Olivo trade means we are handing him the keys and that the Rockies won’t deal him. It’s a really team friendly contract and our next big thing at C is at least two years away. Even if we were to sign Martinez, chances are they’d want him for a time share with Iannetta and Helton.
Now as for Jackson… Intriguing. The Rockies are definitely looking for a solid #2, which Jackson… kinda fits… if you squint. And Jackson has a decent contract for this year (next year’s questionable), so he’s an option. Right now, the team’s biggest want is to re-sign De La Rosa (lefty strikeout pitcher) but the word is that teams are looking at him to as the runner-up prize to Lee.
It could work. I don’t think the Rockies are particularly enamored with Iannetta, and if maybe the Sox kicked in some salary relief on year two of Jackson’s contract, there could be a match. A lot of chips would have to fall just right though.

bigfun

I would love that Rios deal but I don’t think it’s realistic at all. Curtis Granderson played good defense for the Yankees and his bat improved near the end of the season. Montero is one of the better prospects in all of baseball, and he alone wouldn’t be traded for an expensive very-good-but-not-great player like Rios, much less Joba as well.

alwayssox

One thought: isn’t Viciedo two yrs into a major league contract? I would think he would be under control for 4 yrs, but could be mistaken.

David

He did sign a major league contract for 4 years. However, the Sox still retain 6 full years of control.
Same with others who signed MLB contracts Strasburg, Harper, Aroldis.
Viciedo isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2016, according to my research.

tavarin

It’s in their White Sox: GM for a Day article, and it’s linked in the sentence, “Teahen’s defense was bad enough to inspire sprawling flow charts”

knoxfire30

Rafeal Soriano is a premier closer, he is coming off a great season, he is more likely to get 40 million then 15.
I like Shields quite a bit, he would be a good fit with the sox even though tampa is very difficult to trade with.
Quite a few people have wanted joba, my question would be why? He has been terrible as a 6th/7th inning guy, I understand coop works miracles but his price tag is still probably too high to be a bargain, and trading a five tool player to get him… very suspect although montero would be the key to that deal.

ricksch

I think I like this plan the best as it addresses the team’s primary needs — bullpen, DH and RF. However, I’d like to keep Sale in the pen under the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” axiom.
While some of the trades seem like a bit of a stretch, I like the Quentin for Shields deal and I love Viciedo for Scott. I know he’s still young, but Viciedo’s bad fielding makes him a DH and a DH only.

jofpgallagher

Very brief reading and not too much analysis I did on this one, but it jumped right at me the following:
Carlos Pena, Carlos Quentin, Brent Morel, Chris Ianetta and Luke Scott….all those players will have a “career year” if they are able to hit beyond 250 AVE….with those players the WhiteSox will be for sure the lowest hitting AVE team in the majors. Those are too many “easy outs” per nine innings to my liking…. Geez If I am not mistaken, Carlos Pena didn’t even hit over 200 AVE last season!!…With our Carlos (Quentin) we have plenty enough of sure-outs hitters. I like the pitching staff though! ^_^