Non-Soxfest-related post.

So I'm not at Soxfest this year (although I'm heading down tonight to meet some fellow WSIers for drinks at the Atrium Bar), which is fine, as I'm content to watch the local news reports about the mania that is Soxfest 2006, which sold out months ago. The more the merrier, I think, and that's the approach I'm going to take going into the 2006 season. After mullling it over and discussing options to purchase season tickets with one of my co-workers, I decided to pass on taking the plunge. Individual game tickets go on sale in February, and I'm going to try to get a pair for the first game against the A's to see Big Frank get his World Series ring (more on that below), plus another pair or two. I'll just play it by ear this year; if I get in to see games, I get in. If I don't, I don't. After all the time I've bitched and moaned about the Sox playing second fiddle in Chicago, the notion of the Sox being the hot ticket in town (OK, make that one of two hot tickets -- it's not like the idiots are going to stop flocking in from Wrigleyville and Bettendorf, Iowa to see that "shrine" on the North Side just because the Cubs lost out in the race to be the first Chicago team in close to a century to win it all in 2005) doesn't bother me in the least. Personally, it's always less of a pain in the ass to get to the park, get in, buy food, take a piss, etc. when there are only 20,000 at the Cell, but it's going to be great to see the park near capacity for most of 2006. The Sox winning the World Series in 2005 has put me in a very mellow, contented state of mind, so if I miss out a bit on the buzz and excitement of their quest to repeat it this year, that's OK. Right now it's all good.

I haven't posted at all in the last few weeks for a few reasons, including some personal shit and my recent quest to find a new job, but things are looking up the past week as I have a strong job lead that should resolve itself in the next month or so, meaning I can get out of my current morass and start working downtown again and feeling like a human being once more. I missed out on a few developments, so let's recap, shall we?

On January 17, the Sox avoided arbitration and re-signed Joe....Crede! for one more year at a salary of $2,675,000, a big leap from his 2005 salary of $400,000. Given Joe's clutch contributions in 2005, it's worth it IF he stays healthy, something which is not at all guaranteed based on reports about his back. Crede definitely absorbed his share of abuse during the first part of 2005, but he was a rock, defensively, and without his 9th inning (and beyond) heroics, I'm not sure the Sox would have even won the division, never mind what he did in the postseason.

The White Sox announced ex-Sox CF Chris Singleton would join Ed Farmer in the radio booth as color man, a development I can't say I'm really nuts about, given the dropoff I know we're going to experience after the cheapasses as the Score refused to pony up to retain one of the best in the biz, John Rooney. Singleton has a pretty low-key, vanilla demeanor, so it's looking like we're going to get another Darin Jackson. But, hey, I could be wrong.

Longtime Sox organist Nancy Faust has agreed to a 2006 contract with the team that allows her to not work most games starting after 3:05pm, with her retaining the option to play games she wants to as well as any postseason games. Apparently she was tired of getting home after midnight for most of the 6:05 and 7:05 starts, so I guess I can't blame her for wanting to cut back after 37 years with the team, but her absence will certainly be felt even with canned organ music serving as her replacement.

"Big Frank" Thomas has found a home for the 2006 season, signing a one-year, incentive-laden deal with the Oakland A's. While I'm happy that Frank will have an opportunity to prove his ability to rebound from a serious ankle/leg injury and also tackle on more offensive stats on his way to a surefire Hall of Fame induction, it is a bit sad to see the best player in White Sox history finish his career not in a Sox uniform. A healthy Frank Thomas, even at the latter stages of his career, is capable of putting up some solid offensive numbers, so I think it's possible he could even have a monster 2006, but I don't blame the White Sox at all for going with Konerko and Thome as their 1B/DH combo given the uncertainty of Frank's comeback. I guess it is what it is. Goodbye, Frank, and thanks for all you've done over the last 15 years.

Garland: back in 2006 (and 2007 and 2008)

In a somewhat surprise move, the White Sox have come to an agreement with Jon Garland to retain his services for not only 2006 but also for the next two years. This came as a pretty big shock to myself, as I had expected the Sox to deal Garland this offseason after early negotiations failed to produce a deal, and the White Sox acquired the services of Javier Vazquez a few weeks ago. Anyway, for 2006 at least, Garland will be a relative steal: $7 million in '06, and then $10 million in '07 and $12 million (ouch) in '08. If he has even close to the year that he did in 2005, it will end up being a nice bargain for the Sox.

Still up in the air, then, is the status of Jose Contreras, who now sits as the odd man out in the Sox starting rotation. Contreras was the rock of the Sox's rotation in the second half this year, so ditching him is something the Sox shouldn't take lightly. A couple of relievers in exchange would be a nice surprise.

Sox lock up A.J. for 3 years; Timo & Willie both gone?

Not the most important signing of the offseason, but definitely one that needed to get done: A.J. Pierzynski is locked up as the primary White Sox receiver through the 2008 season, in a deal that pays him $4 million in 2006 and $5.5 million in 2007 and 2008. My estimate of $3 million a year, I guess, was not based in reality, but I think A.J. is worth it.

In true A.J. "clubhouse cancer" fashion (*cough*yeah right*cough), the deal went smoothly. Welcome back, big guy. Nice to have a solid catcher (OK, except for those passed ball tendencies) with a somewhat potent bat, fuck-you attitude, and a great rapport with the pitching staff. After so many years of your Josh Pauls, Jorge Fabregases, Ben Davises, Chad Kreuters, Robert Machados, Brook Fordyces, Mark Johnsons, and even Charles Johnsons, it's to have a guy you can really rely on back there.

The other development of the last day is the White Sox not offering salary arbitration to both Willie Harris and Timo Perez. After the Mackowiak deal, I speculated that either Willie or Timo would probably become redundant, so I am surprised that both players will not be with the squad next year. The Sox currently have Anderson, Mackowiak and possibly Podsednik to play Center Field; Dye and Mackowiak in Right Field; and Iguchi and Ozuna for 2B. That feels incomplete, so I would wager another speedy utility infielder would be forthcoming. Iguchi played 1171 innings at 2B in '05, while Willie played 248 and Pablo just 29. Someone's gotta give the Gooch a break, right?

Sox continue to deal: Vazquez in, El Duque/Viz/Chris Young out.

So, if you had told me on, say, October 27 that of the two professional baseball squadrons currently toiling away in Chicago, the White Sox would be the ones making the big trades and signings while the other team was plodding along, getting stymied at nearly every turn in the dealmaking game, and making just one big move so far, I'd've said you were nuts.

But, hey, here we are, one day after the Sox made another significant dent in transforming their ballclub: acquiring righty starter Javier Vazquez from the Diamondbacks for ALDS Game 3 stud Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, long-armed set-up man Luis Vizcaino, and Sox minor league Center Field prospect Chris Young. The White Sox now possess 6 bona fide starting pitchers, none of whom suck: Buehrle, Garcia, Garland, Contreras, Vazquez and McCarthy. Considering that the Sox's bullpen has been depleted by both Vizcaino and the recently departed Damaso Marte, I would look for Kenny Williams to make at least one more move this offseason to bring in some seasoned relief help (last time I saw Jeff Bajenaru, he was getting a terrible case of whiplash watching a Travis Hafner monster bomb at the Cell head into the Right Field seats). Of the 3 players moved, Young may be the one the Sox miss most, if Brian Anderson doesn't pan out in CF this year. El Duque was, of course, magical at times in the playoffs, but his shoulder problems this season (shut down twice) and desire not to be a bullpen guy somewhat forced Kenny's hand, since there just wasn't any room in the starting rotation for him. Right now I'm calling this a good deal for the Sox. Whatever mental problems Vazquez has had can be overcome, I think, and Don Cooper has proven his worth as a guy who can pull off some reclamation projects. Vazquez is an innings eater who strikes out a lot of guys, so he should fill a solid niche with the Sox in '06 and beyond.

Bravo, KW.

Marte - hegawn, Mackowiak - welcome.

Kenny Williams continues to tinker with the '06 Sox lineup by adding versatile left-handed stick Rob Mackowiak from the Pirates and dumping noted left-handed headcase Damaso Marte.

Mackowiak, in addition to being a native south suburbs guy, fills in a lot of holes for the Sox with his impressive resume in the field. Check out his games by position stats:

1B: 3, 2B: 20, 3B: 65, LF: 1, CF: 41, RF: 23, PH: 21.

That 65 games at 3B is especially intriguing, in light of recent stories about Joe Crede's ailing back (two herniated discs). Also, 41 games in Center Field? Maybe Brian Anderson will have to earn his starting spot after all. And lastly, as a potential left-handed hitting right field replacement, does this mean that Timo Perez has become extraneous? Or is it Willie Harris who might get squeezed out?

I don't think KW is done dealing this offseason, specifically re: the bullpen. With Marte gone, that leaves just Neal Cotts as a viable lefty, and Dustin Hermanson may potentially become a void that needs to be filled if reports of his bad back health continue. I'm going to assume El Duque moves to the 'pen, but another southpaw would be nice to see.

Meet Paul Konerko: White Sox Lifer.

Or so it seems. In any case, Paul Konerko today becomes White Sox property through the 2010 season, which is one hell of a signing for Kenny Williams given the money and years being offered up by Baltimore and Anaheim in the past day. Very, very rare to see the White Sox go beyond 3 years let alone beyond 4, but I think they see what most Sox fans see in Konerko, and that is a driven, hard worker whose health has mostly not been an issue for his entire Major League career, and one whose presence in the lineup on a daily basis is going to be one of the keys to trying to repeat as World Series champs in 2006.

The deal is apparently pretty straightforward: 5 years at $12 million per, with a limited no-trade provision that blocks the Sox from dealing him to just 6 teams in the future, so it seems like both sides gave a little and got a little (if you consider $60 million "little").

The downside to today's signing is that it leaves just about no wiggle room for the White Sox to retain Frank Thomas in any capacity, given that both Konerko and Thome are first basemen and potential DHs. Nothing, of course, is final on that front, but I now believe that there's a better than average chance that Big Frank hangs up his shoes during the offseason, rather than trying to ply his skills in a new city, at a time when both his skills and his health are starting to drop off. Frank might try to stick around another two years, which would probably get him close to 500 careers HRs if he's healthy both years, but from where I sit, those odds don't look very good. Pretty sad.

More on Rowand-for-Thome

Curiouser and curiouser...

The AP is reporting that the Phillies will be kicking in about half of Thome's salary over the next 3 years, or $22 million, which is a staggering sum. However, the White Sox are also sending over two minor league pitching prospects.

Thome will then be owed about $20.5 million over 3 years, or $6.8 million per. Subtract Rowand's $3.25 million salary for next year and the net bump here is only about $3.5 million for 2006. Could Thome's role be more of a full-time DH and maybe 40-50 games a year at 1B, with Konerko being retained?

Either Thome is intended to replace Everett and Thomas, or primarily Konerko. Right now, after reading about how much the Phillies are kicking in, I'd have to go with the former.

Also: does KW have designs on a replacement Center Fielder? Juan Pierre, perhaps?

Sox pull trigger on huge trade of Rowand to Philly for Jim Thome.

Holy shit.

Much chatter the last few days about the Sox's interest in dealing Rowand and of their mutual interest in having (a hopefully healthy) Jim Thome come to the Sox to man first base and hopefully pound the fuck out of the ball as he was wont to do to the White Sox while a member of the Cleveland Indians. So, pending physicals, the Sox have signalled goodbye to one of their key 'grinders', and a guy who I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with over the years. Rowand was one of those guys like Jose Valentin who made difficult plays look easy and easy plays look difficult, on occasion; his much decried "bad routes" drove me and many Sox fans nuts, especially down the stretch in September when the Sox were close to choking the division away to the Indians. But I can't forget that defensive clinic against the Yankees in the Bronx this year as well as many of his warning-track heroics over the years. I did wonder why his power numbers went down so much this year (though I don't think it had anything to do with steroids), and if the 2005 Rowand was what we were going to see for the next few years.

So it's hello to Brian Anderson in Center Field next year, an experiment I'm willing to endure, given the promise he showed during his short stint in the majors this year, sitting in for an injured Scott Podsednik.

As for Thome, unless he suddenly becomes a much faster person and a hell of a lot more versatile as far as what position he can play, this trade also seems to indicate that Paul Konerko will not be pursued any further by the Sox as a FA, and to me, that's the biggest shocker of all. I really thought the Sox would make it Priority #1 to re-sign him. Anyway, I'll hold judgment on that aspect until Konerko officially signs elsewhere. Thome has indicated that he's 100% healthy again, and if so, I think he can give you everything Konerko gave this team the past few years and more. But that's a big "if." Just a quick prediction for him next year: 34 HRs, .288 BA, .398 OBP, and 112 RBIs.

Thome is due $42.5 million over the next 3 years, so how much will Philly kick in? I would guess somewhere in the neighborhood of $11-12 million in total, but we'll see.

So, so long Aaron. It's been nice knowing you.