White Sox Interested In Brewers Greinke

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 16, 2012 9:35PM

The White Sox have had the Detroit Tigers in their rear view mirror for the duration of their run atop the AL Central this season and some still believe it's the Tigers who will win the division. The White Sox' pitching, with six rookies in the bullpen and two more performing above expectations in Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, has been one of the surprises of the team and the area they most need to address before the July 31 trade deadline.

Which is why it makes sense, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, that the White Sox are looking at a trade for Milwaukee's Zack Greinke. Greinke, who won the 2009 Cy Young Award with Kansas City, is 9-3 with the Brewers this season and is widely considered the top trade prospect as the deadline nears. The Brewers have a shot at playoff contention but don't expect to have Greinke beyond this season.

The White Sox, meanwhile, need rotation help bad. Philip Humber is set to rejoin the rotation soon, but John Danks is more uncertain and Gavin Floyd's Wednesday start has been pushed back due to shoulder tendinitis. The major stumbling block to pulling off a trade for Greinke is whether the Sox have enough to offer Milwaukee in return. Atlanta, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Texas and Baltimore are also expected to be in the Greinke sweepstakes. Another concern is Greinke's personality disorder, which has some believing he can's pitch in a major market like New York and Chicago. But Greinke has success in the AL Central and, if Kenny Williams can pull off this trade, Greinke will be pitching in somewhat empty U.S. Cellular Field. So it's like pitching in a small town.

Don't start dreaming of a Sale, Greinke, Quintana, Floyd, Jake Peavy rotation just yet.