The Chicago White Sox have fairly boring so far this hot stove league. And I guess it makes sense given hwo they went “all in” last year. It was a great marketing slogan, even though the end result was a train wreck of phantasmagoria.
Time to undue the damage I guess. And since no one in their right mind (MLB doesn’t have a GM like Isaiah Thomas in in his New York Knicks days, that every NBA front office would deal their garbage deals to) would take on the ultra-expensive crap that is the Adam Dunn, Jake Peavy and Alex Rios signings, the Sox will have to cut payroll and try to be more financially efficient elsewhere.
They started by dealing their closer to Canada.
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Sergio Santos from the White Sox in exchange for Nestor Molina.
Santos went 4-5 record with a 3.55 ERA and 30 saves, 8th in the American League. The 6-2, 230 lb. native of Bellflower, California struck out 92 hitters in just 63.1 innings last season allowing 41 hits and 29 walks. Santos was 3rd among American League relievers last season with 13.07 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
Molina posted a 12-3 record with a 2.21 ERA between Dunedin (A) and New Hampshire (AA) last season in 26 appearances (23 starts). The Valencia, Venezuela native was also signed as a position player prior to converting to pitching in 2008. In five minor league seasons the 6-1, 179 lb. right-hander has pitched to a 27-7 mark and a 2.21 ERA in 103 games, including 27 starts.
This move signifies that the Sox are in full on rebuilding mode. There’s no denying it, 2011 was “All in.” 2012 is “we fold.” And there’s nothing wrong with that- it’s probably the right thing to do. Tell me again why manager Ozzie Guillen is gone but GM Kenny Williams stays? His three horrific deals (Peavy, Rios, and Dunn) are going to handcuff this team from doing anything for a couple years at least.
Mark Buerhle is gone next. Forget any “hometown discount” this time.
Enjoy your 2012 AL Central race, Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
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