White Sox are logical trade partners now

[JohnBriggs12]

LF has been a black hole for the White Sox.

 

There's no telling when Podsednik will return, but even when he does, he's likely to get platooned.

 

Joe Crede has a balky back.

 

I would offer them Mench and Graffanino (still a popular guy on the south side) for currently out of favor reliever Mike MacDougal who has a contract through 2009 that the Sox might want to get out of but is close to the total for Mench and Graffy this year.

[pitchleague]

that's actually not all that bad of an idea. How's MacDougal's elbow/shoulder/arm/whatever has been hurt in the past? I know nothink about his current health.

[shelmark]

I know we don't really like Mench but I do believe we need a RH bat in LF against LH pitching. I do not want Jenkins playing every day. He seems to play better with some rest. Who plays LF if we trade Mench? Rottino?

[RobertR]

Considering MacDougal's performance, injury history, and contract, no thanks. At this point, I'm not sure that Capellan isn't an upgrade. Or at least, Capellan doesn't have the downside.

 

The Brewers are in a position where they don't have to reach and can target guys that are pitching or hitting well.

 

Robert

[AJ Love]

Quote:

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Who plays LF if we trade Mench?

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Hart.

[Never Outhustled]

Quote:

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Who plays LF if we trade Mench?

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Hart.

 

Ok, I'll take the bait. Who then plays RF versus LHP?

[endaround]

Gwynn!

[AJ Love]

Quote:

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Ok, I'll take the bait. Who then plays RF versus LHP?

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Jenkins or Gwynn or Gross or Nix. Whoever has the "hot hand". Yeah, I suppose it'd be best to keep Mench. As long as he never bats vs righthanders

[MNBrew]

I think Hart's still a long-term figure for this team, so I'd guess we might see something like this if (and hopefully when) Mench is dealt:

 

starters:

Hall

3-way, 2-position platoon between Jenkins, Hart, & Gwynn

 

bench:

Gross

 

waiting in the wings (AAA):

Nix

 

Eventually Hart & Hall remain permanent starters. Gwynn may be up-and-down production-wise for a while, so I'm not put off by the idea of not quite handing him any permanent starting spot yet. He well could be the 3rd guy before long, but I don't think it's obligatory to give it to him yet.

[dadofandrew]

Considering neither Gwynn or Jenkins hits LHP much at all, you'd be weakening the big league team immensely (about 25% of the time) by dealing Mench. I don't see him going anywhere, unless we get a RH OF back.

[MNBrew]

As much as it theoretically hurts or at least weakens the Brewers to trade any of their outfielders, this system with 6 OFs isn't exactly working ideally, either. Playing time is a little thin to spread around. So someone needs to go sooner or later.

 

I guess what I'm saying, dadofandrew, is that for as often as I agree with you, I don't think that getting a RH OF in return for Mench solves anything unless his name is Sosa or Hunter or Lee . . . you get the idea. I'm can't help think but that eventually something has to give.

[JoeHova]

MacDougal is inconsistent and prone to getting rocked, but garbage in, garbage out. I wouldn't really mind that deal, though I might be a little disappointed.

[JohnBriggs12]

Isn't the whole "trading Mench weakens the offense" more than offset by now by Braun? The Brewers could get away with either Jenkins or Gwynn in there vs. lefties with Braun in the lineup. Lefties don't seem to bother Gwynn and Jenkins has had years where he did all right. Mench wasn't much better anyway. Against lefties, Yost would bat Jenks or Gwynn down in the order anyway.

 

Graffanino and Mench by themselves have little trade value because of their salaries. Together, they might draw some interest from a team needing an OF bat and some infield depth who has a guy with a less than desirable contract that might be expendable. The Sox fall in that category

 

Sure MacDougal is not all that desirable. He's inconsistent, and has a multiyear contract. If he was perfect, he'd be unavailable (he may still be). But he is a hard thrower who has actually closed and been a setup guy. Getting those guys when they are in a bad stretch is the way to go. That's how Melvin was able to get Cordero.

[JoeHova]

Quote:

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Jenkins has had years where he did all right.

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2005 was the only year since 2001 where he hit even remotely accpetably against lefties. I wouldn't want to bet on that happening again. I'd rather they platoon Jenkins with someone, it hardly even matters who. Heck, stick Graffanino out there.

 

 

This infatuation with Gwynn is really crippling the team's construction.

[JohnBriggs12]

News item: White Sox lose Pablo Ozuna for 3-4 months.

 

Can't think of a better time to at least be talking to them about Graffanino.

[recte44]

If we could get Nick Masset then I'd REALLY pee my pants. Won't happen, Kenny Williams wants to have his children.

[JohnBriggs12]

"If we could get Nick Masset..."

 

Reality check. Brewers are trying to unload unproductive overpriced veterans that play positions that are overcrowded.

 

The only thing to expect in return are either low level grade C prospects or other overpriced unproductive veterans who might bolster an area that is not overcrowded on the Brewers such as in the bullpen.

 

Nick Masset doesn't fall anywhere near either of those categories. The equivalent would be the Brewers trading Carlos Villanueva for Emil Brown.

[foamboy1]

There is no team in baseball that couldn't use another reliever....but I think we've been very solid in the pen. Adding another reliever does not solve our problems. During this losing skid the offense has not had timely hitting and the number of quality starts by our starters has not been what is needed. I don't see how a reliever solves anything.

 

We can surely upgrade Dessens, but we're just eating some salary with him and he (when healthy) eats innings in games in which we are resolved to the outcome, either victory or defeat. He's a placeholder for now while his contract runs. We have better arms in the minor's without a doubt.

[JohnBriggs12]

foamboy1,

 

I don't disagree with anything you said although the Brewers could still use another lefty right now. But sometimes you don't make deals for now, you make them for down the road.

 

For now, they need to clear up the overcrowded OF and IF now that Braun is up.

 

Cordero is a free agent after this year. Turnbow is the only candidate to close next year and we know that he runs hot and cold. Picking up a currently struggling guy who still has the stuff to be a late inning reliever, and getting him straightened out might give you more options for 2008. The Sox have several guys that fall into that category.

[Klements Bratwurst]

This might change things a bit:

 

Craig Wilson to the White Soxs

[MNBrew]

Craig Wilson also was just cut by the Braves, whose offense hasn't exactly been stellar.

 

Mackowiak's hardly an outfield stalwart, either, but they keep trotting him out there.

 

Mench has had more AL success than NL success over his career (okay, the NL part is only 4 months long and counting), and seems well-suited to the AL as a corner OF & DH guy. There's some sell-able upside there. . . . and then of course there's his contract and the fact that his once-great start this year has been totally negated by his ensuing slump.

 

Graffanino was solid when we got him last year. I still think we'd've been a better team this year with Cirillo and Graffanino on the bench than Graffanino & Counsell, but that's water under the bridge (but sore spot nonetheless). But Graffanino still hasn't gotten on track at the plate this year. However, he's had a decent stint with the White Sox and he fits the hole created by Ozuna much better than Craig Wilson. I don't like the idea of giving up on Graffanino at this point, but I sure don't like what he's doing with a bat in his hands so far this year, either.

 

The White Sox would seem to be a good fit for both those guys. I'm just not totally sold on giving up Graffanino yet.

 

And besides, Corey Hart quietly seems to deliver more consistently than Gross or Mench, and brings more distinct assets to the team when he plays. I want to see Hart in RF nearly every day, and no more Kevin Mench taking away time from Hart's continued development. Not that Hart's about to become MVP. It's just that he seems (key word is "seem" = my perception) to do a lot of little things well that are what you need on a winning team.

[Samurai Bucky]

Link

 

Rumor has it that Buehrle is also on the block for the Sox. Let's say the Brewers trade Mench and somebody else (non-starter) for Buehrle, who would get bumped from the rotation?

[iluvlamp]

Dye is also likely to be available. Not saying, just saying.

[Weirdos19]

I could see a Graffy/Mench/Vargas for Buerhle deal.

 

They would want some young pitching back.

 

Move Bush to the pen and bring up Gallardo.

 

Rotation: Sheets, Buehrle, Suppan, Cappy, Gallardo

 

Pen: Coco, Turnbow, Shouse, Villanueva, Bush, Wise

 

 

Looks pretty good to me.

[pogokat]

Buehrle will take tons more than mench and graffy...we might get someone like brian wolfe for those guys...ie, the pitcher we traded for koskie..