Call it a Rebuild: White Sox Trade Santos, Shop Danks

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 6, 2011 9:40PM

If the hiring of Robin Ventura or offering arbitration to Mark Buehrle weren't big enough signs for White Sox fans that the team is in a rebuilding mode, today's trade of Sergio Santos to Toronto for minor league prospect Nestor Molina should hammer home the obvious to even the most deluded fan of the Pale Hose.

Another sign the Sox are in a rebuilding phase: GM Kenny Williams said so.

“It is the start of a rebuilding," Sox general manager Ken Williams told reporters in a hotel suite. "And you guys know I have not used that word in 12 years. But it is the start of a rebuilding. Now, is it the start of falling-domino rebuilding? No. Absolutely not.

"Because as we currently sit, I do not like what is currently being offered for any of our valuable veteran pieces so I’m of the mindset that we may do a couple more things as we sit now, we’ll probably keep most of the pitching intact and we’ll focus on some peripheral things to continue to get a piece here or there that will help us in 2013-2014. But, as I sit here, I don’t see any deals for any of the other pitchers.”

Santos had a breakthrough season in 2011 with 30 saves and was recently signed to an extension. Experts say the Sox made a good trade for Molina, a converted position player with three pitches in his arsenal and pinpoint control. According to Sun-Times Guillen family correspondent Joe Cowley, Williams isn't done dealing. Cowley told WSCR-AM midday hosts Dan McNeil and Matt Spiegel the Sox have dangled John Danks to the Yankees for Manny Banuelos and Jesus Montero, two of their best prospects.

Buehrle and his agent, Jeff Barry, have promised to go back to the Sox for a final offer, regardless of the value. But it's long been assumed the southpaw is as good as gone. Ventura, for what it's worth, used a chance encounter with Buehrle in New York to plead his case for BUehrle's return.