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Having lost eight of their last nine games, and currently sitting six games back of the Detroit Tigers entering September, the White Sox have waved the white flag. Ahead of Monday night's deadline for players to be traded and eligible for the postseason with their new teams, White Sox GM Kenny Williams sent a memo to other teams that a number of veterans were available. As the deadline approached, the Sox announced that they had traded DH Jim Thome and pitcher Jose Contreras.
Thome joins the LA Dodgers, and in return the Sox received Class A infielder Justin Fuller. The Colorado Rockies picked up Jose Contreras for Triple-A pitcher Brandon Hynick. Contreras had recently been demoted from the starting rotation, given his 5-13 record and 5.42 ERA. Thome was batting .249 with 23 home runs and 74 RBIs. Both become free agents at the end of the season, so the Sox didn't figure to receive much in return. But a couple of prospects and some salary relief was in the team's best interests given the slim chances of making the playoffs.
With the Sox giving up on the playoffs in '09, the biggest roster question now concerns Jake Peavy. He suffered a setback in his rehab when he felt tightness in his elbow, but tests determined it to be just a bruise. Do the Sox decide to just shut him down and get him healthy for 2010? At this point, that would make sense to us.
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So long, Big Jim.
i still think Big Jim will be signed as a FA (much cheaper than his current contract) in the off season
Contreras? In Colorado? Bombs away!!!!
Actually they should have sent Thome to Colorado. He would still have a chance to make the post season and he'd launch balls left and right up there.
Yeah, but he'd have to play. Thome hasn't played first base in two years. He's solely a pinch-hitter in the NL.
I was quite surprised to see Thome go to an NL team, given that he's been almost exclusively a DH since joining the Sox.
It's a waste to see Thome on an NL team. He didn't have an amazing average this year, but the power numbers were there at least.
Thanks for the memories, Jim.
the only thing Thome is missing from his HOF resume is a WS ring
This also complicates his HOF induction even more. They hate him in Cleveland. He might as well have not played in Philly. He set a few major records with us...but played here '06-'09. Three years. Is that enough for a White Sox induction?
wouldn't hurt if the Sox resign him in the off-season
man, it sucks that they dealt thome. I did not expect that. Everyone was saying Jermaine Dye's days here might be numbered, but I never heard a word about Thome being up on the trading block.
I don't think this could be considered a white flag deal. Sure, it sucks to lose Thome but Contreras was just taking up space this season. I'm surprised Ozzie didn't jettison him earlier in the season.
If the Sox held on to Thome until seasons end, they would have gotten nothing for him. The writing was on the wall that he wasn't going to be invited back so you may as well get something for him. As far as Contreras goes, getting anything for him is a bonus and quite possibly could be considered theft in some states.
Will miss big Jim...sigh..
great good riddance to Contreras.