On The Block

Mark Buerhle To The Red Sox

I read on SI's Truth And Rumors section that the Red Sox may be the favorites to go after Mark Buerhle, for two reasons:

1. It Would Give The Red Sox another Star Quality Pitcher In The Rotation, Pushing Wakefield and Doug Mirabelli's terrible bat to the bench.
2. It would keep Buerhle away from the Mets and Yankees, two teams that are also kicking the tires on him.

White Sox GM Kenny Williams says publically that he is not eager to move Buerhle and, if push comes to shove, he'll allow Buerhle to walk, allowing him to reap the draft picks that would come his way if Buerhle is signed.

I don't buy it and judging from the rumors, neither does the rest of baseball.

The White Sox system is one of the worst in baseball, thanks to a strategy of conservative drafts and a great deal of trades that have sapped the Sox of many of their top talents.  Most of the team is either in decline or is going to be a free agent.

If things remain the same and none of the impending free agents are re-signed and those players who have options held on them do not get their options exercised, the White Sox will have holes in two of the three outfield positions, the entire middle infield, and will be missing a starter in the rotation.

And, judging from the system, the White Sox can't replenish most, if not any, of them internally.

Which is why, in this case, a trade with the Red Sox makes the most sense.

Boston can offer the White Sox the most pieces to fill in their holes for next year.

Williams will likely as for, and won't get, centerfield prospect Jacoby Ellsbury and top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz.  Both are too highly regarded and are close to the majors for Boston to allow to leave via trade.  Had Buerhle had one more year on his deal, it would be plausable for one, but not in this case.  Ditto for Jon Lester.

However, the Red Sox do have centerfielder Coco Crisp, who needs to leave Boston as I think that unreasonable expectations in light of Johnny Damon's departure, as well as Wily Mo Pena, who has dazzling potential, but is roadblocked for playing time thanks to Manny Ramirez and J.D. Drew.  Both players would start for the White Sox and fill two immediate holes for the future.

The Red Sox could offer a pitching prospect, likely RHP Michael Bowden, who isn't as good as Buchholz, but is dominating the Calfornia League at the tender age of 20 and could grow into a middle of the rotation beast for the White Sox if given time. 

Kenny Williams might try to push for another prospect or could hold out for Lester, but that's as good of an offer as he might be able to get.  If he would try to hold out for the Yankees and Mets to get involved, the offer isn't going to be as tempting. 

• Mets Offer - OF Lastings Milledge, RHP Phillip Humber, OF Carlos Gomez.  The Mets are flush with outfielders and Milledge is on bad terms with the Mets' management due to his numerous antics that he's done.  Humber is a solid prospect, but his upside is far below that of Bowden, though Humber is closer to the majors.  It's really a trade off there.  Gomez is also looking like a solid player, if given the chance.  The real problem is that neither player has Pena's power potential and Humber, while good, doesn't have Bowden's upside.
• Yankees Offer - OF Melky Cabrera, RHP Ian Kennedy, 1B Eric Duncan. And that's about it.  Kennedy is a solid pitcher, but he doesn't really blow anyone away.  He's more of the command and control type of player, something the White Sox already have in prospects Kyle McCulloch and Lance Broadway.  Cabrera is a meh prospect, though he is an excellent defender.  And Duncan is, well, Duncan.  Either way, the Yankees have made it clear they don't plan to offer much in regards for rent a players and this may be about the extent they'd go. 

Are there other options?  Maybe.  The Dodgers are reportedly interested, but are looking for a power bat to add to the lineup, as the pitching is quite solid.  Looking at the other contenders, there's really not anyone that you can point to and say there is a need there and there are prospects there to suit that need.

Adding Pena and Crisp would fill into two of the outfield spots with younger players with some control left on their deals, as well as add a solid pitching prospect to their system, as it's becoming apparent that Williams' attempts to had high cieling pitching has failed, for the most part. 

Should the White Sox pull the trigger on this trade, here is how their lineup would look, come 2008:

• Coco Crisp (CF)
• Danny Richar (2B) - Acquired From Diamondbacks
• Paul Konerko (1B)
• Jim Thome (DH)
• Joe Crede (3B)
• Josh Fields (LF)
• Wily Mo Pena (RF)
• A.J. Pierzynski (C)
• Free Agent Shortstop (SS)

All in all, that's a lot more promising, and a lot less expensive than what the White Sox are currently runnng out there.  It should also be noted that Crede could be moved in the off-season for a shortstop, allowing the White Sox to use Fields at third base and promote top outfield prospect Ryan Sweeney to take over left field.

Would it solve all of the White Sox problems?  No.  There still is a hole in the rotation to fill, but it's possible that Gavin Floyd could eventually be a viable alternative as a Number Five.  It wouldn't hurt to at least give him a shot.  The White Sox could even try to trade for Blog Favorite Matt Murton, who could be had for some relief help.

All in all, there are several trade options available, some that might even be better or worse than what I've suggested.  But, that's the best offer I've come up with that could not only fill the holes for the short term, but possibly long term as well.