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White Sox GM Kenny Williams pulled off a blockbuster trade Wednesday afternoon, sending center fielder Aaron Rowand to the Philadelphia Phillies in return for first baseman Jim Thome.
The White Sox had a glut of outfielders, with Brian Anderson, Joe Borchard and others stuck in the minors behind Rowand, Scott Podsednik and Jermaine Dye. The Phillies faced a similar situation. While Thome was out of the lineup with an injury, Ryan Howard put up numbers that won him Rookie of the Year honors. They didn't need two first baseman and there's no DH in the National League.
The move gives the Sox another power bat in their lineup -- prior to an injury shortened 2005 season, Thome averaged 39 home runs over the previous 10 seasons while driving in more than 100 runs in all but one of those seasons.
Adding the slugger seems to make sense for the White Sox. Should the Sox be unable to re-sign first baseman Paul Konerko, then Thome should at least equal Konerko's production. If they bring Paulie back, then Thome is a big upgrade at DH over Carl Everett.
The big question is how much cash ($22 million?) the Phils are sending along with Thome. He's owed owed $43.5 million over the final three seasons of his deal. That's the kind of money Konerko expects to get in his new deal. Can the Sox afford both Thome and Konerko? Or is this a signal that Konerko won't be back? Let's hope that's not the case. For that kind of money, we'd certainly take the younger, healthier Konerko. However, it's possible that Frank Thomas is the odd man out.
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I'd rather have Rowand in the lineup than Thome any day. And Rowand was inexpensive at $3.25 million.
But, I wouldn't criticize Kenny Williams just yet. He probably has something up his sleeve.
Matsui deal coming up?
/Thome is a real chunk. 6'4" - 246 lbs.
This is killing me. Rowand had hustle. Argh.
I trus Williams, but I will mis Rowand. :(
Well, Mariotti LIKES the trade, so that means it's complete garbage. Maybe we'll get lucky and Thome won't pass the physical.
You don't give up a player like Rowand without a plan already in place. By this time next week you'll be introduced to the Sox new center fielder...Juan Pierre
You don't give up a player like Rowand without a plan already in place. By this time next week you'll be introduced to the Sox new center fielder...Juan Pierre
You don't give up a player like Rowand without a plan already in place. By this time next week you'll be introduced to the Sox new center fielder...Juan Pierre
if you guys are trading thome for konerko, you can go ahead and kiss the playoffs goodbye. unless this is setting something else up this is a supremely bone-headed move. i love thome, but he's aging, he can't stay healthy, and he looked MISERABLE at the plate last year. he's done. hopefully the sox aren't...
Canellis is a defeatist idiot.
Let me be the first to say it. (And I'm putting it waaaay down here so nobody will see it).
Losing Konerko is NOT the end of the world. He's a solid player, but he's no All Star.
Are YOU a spanking boy for the Houston Astaroths???????????.
I forgot to put starter after All Star. He was an All Star twice.