White Sox Hot Stove Heats Up

White Sox GM Kenny Williams always seems to have some deal in the works, so it's no surprise that the Sox are involved in some of the early trade chatter during the off-season. His boldest move last season was landing Jake Peavy from the cash-strapped San Diego Padres, and he might use the Padres' financial situation to try to land another of their star players. Preliminary talks suggest a three-way trade which would send Sox first baseman Paul Konerko to the Anaheim Angels, Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the White Sox and prospects from Chicago and Anaheim to San Diego.

Gonzalez hit 40 home runs and drove in 99 runs while sporting a .277 batting average for the woeful Padres in 2009. He also won his second NL Gold Glove for fielding at first base, and has hit an average of 32 homers in the past four seasons while driving in 100 runs per year. At 27, he should just be entering his prime and at $4.75 million, his salary is a bargain for his production. Konerko is about to enter the final year of the contract he signed following the Sox's World Series championship, which will pay him $12 million. So while Gonzalez would be an upgrade in the field and at least Konerko's equal at the plate, he'll cost less than half as much.

Which isn't to say that such a deal is a no-brainer. While Replacing Konerko might seem like a good idea on paper, he is popular with the fans and a leader in the clubhouse. Trading him could upset the team's chemistry, especially given the departures of veterans like Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye. Additionally, the Padres would want significant prospects in return in such a deal and most would come from the Sox's system. How much do the Sox risk the future if the Padres demand players like pitcher Daniel Hudson, outfielder Jordan Danks and catcher Tyler Flowers?