Top Ten Potential Sox Pickups

Free agency signing doesn't start up for another 10 days or so, but with the Mike Jacobs deal occuring last week, I got nervous and decided to post this a week early. Even with the gaps the team has, I still picture the White Sox as an 80-win team right now. The core is there; they have a solid three guys in the rotation, a decent bullpen, and one of the better 3-4-5's in the batting order in baseball in Quentin, Dye and Thome.
But there is definite room for improvement. Below are ten free agents and trade block players that could not only fill voids, but make them repeat division champs.

10. Felipe Lopez
The former Silver Slugger winner and allstar has always been a pretty consistant player. He can play anywhere in the infield and even played left a little left last season. Lopez has always had a decent glove. While his average has been suspect at times, he has a lifetime OBP 70 points higher than batting. He would be a reliable number-two hitter for the Sox.

9. Freddy Garcia
I know this might sound dumb, but he would be a cheap and easy #5 starter. He and Ozzie are very close and Kenny Williams likes him so a deal for Garcia might not be as far away as we think.

8. Brad Penny
He is technically not a free agent yet, the Dodgers have threes days left to pick up option ($8.75 million or a $2 million buyout). This could be a sticky situation even if Los Angeles lets him go because he is a free agent though. He is a Scott Boras agent and the Sox are not necessarily in the need for a top-end starter, but Boras will surely make sure Penny gets top-end money; whether he is worth it or not.

7. Willy Taveras
There is a need for an everyday center fielder as well as a guy who can leadoff. Colorado is interested in dealing Willy in exchange for young pitching, and the Sox do have a decent amount of prospects. Taveras, though he does steal loads of bases, did not have a great '08 at the plate (.251/.308). That will not work for the Sox, a team dying for a leadoff hitter. But if he returns to his 2007 season, where he was on base .367, a deal for him might prove worthy.

6. Jon Garland
I think this would be an interesting move to bring Garland back to the South Side. Last year he won 14 games but posted an ERA of 4.90. This would be an great time to get him back, as they would be buying low on a guy Kenny Williams felt at one time could be the ace of his staff. He would not need to be anything better than a #4 starter, and at the age of 29, there is still plenty of time to improve. He would be cheaper than a lot of other starters available.

5. Brian Roberts
Roberts has been in a lot of talks with both the Sox and the Cubs the past seven months. He would fill in not only at second, but also would be the leadoff hitter they are greatly desiring. He is going to be more difficult to obtain than the others because he is not a free agent until the end of the 2009 season. Orioles GM Andy MacPhail wants to get an extension done soon and will not make any extensions once spring training signing. Maybe a deal for Javy Vazquez?

4. Coco Crisp
Boston looked to deal him throughout the 2008 season and it looks as if they are going to go with Jacoby Ellsbury as the everyday center fielder. They are also looking to obtain CC Sabathia and/or Mark Teixeira, so they will need to free up some space financially. Crisp hit .283 with an OBP of .344 and plays center really well. He would lead off and fit what the Sox need almost perfectly. This would make the plethora of platoon outfielders expendable.

3. Chone Figgins
The only way Figgins will be wearing a Sox uniform will be if the result of a domino effect of moves that happen around the league. As stated earlier, Boston and the Yankees have a lot of interest in Teixeira. If he heads east there is a hole at first for the Angels. Anaheim has always been interested in Paul Konerko and both Sun-Times writer Chris DeLuca and Tribune writer Mark Gonzales feel a deal like Figgins for Paulie could be in the works. While this would be a great fit, if not the best possible, I do not see this deal going through. Why Anaheim would pick up the last two years for a first basemen on a clear decline of his career in exchange for a do-it-all leadoff man who costs 1/3 the price is beyond me. Figgins had a poor year last season, but since he can play either second or third (two holes in the defense), as well as hit number-one in the order.

2. Garrett Atkins
This is relatively new news on the trade front. Like Taveras, Colorado is looking to move the 29-year-old (by opening day). Joe Crede is almost surely out because of injuries and the Boras factor. But enter Atkins, whose numbers have declined a bit the past two years, but we would be able to expect 20 homers, 100 RBI and a .280 average. The most important part is that Atkins has missed only 17 games the past three seasons. We have not seen that from a third baseman in a while. Maybe a deal exchanging Clayton Richard for Atkins might be worth it.

1. Orlando Hudson
This might be a surprise to people, but Hudson would be the biggest x-factor to the Sox season. The only setback to the O-Dog is that he seems to always be nicked up. But he is a fielder. There is no reason that it should weigh in on people's thoughts. Ankle injuries are going to hurt you yes. But after they are healed they are not going to factor in on your ability to play baseball. Hudson hit .307 had an OBP of .367 in the 2/3 he played this season and will fill in the leadoff spot well. He will also help in the field, being a three-time Gold Glover.

If the Sox can obtain two or three of the guys on this list, I honestly believe they will not only be a 90-win team, but one of the best teams in the AL.



Completely unrelated, check out Ricky's post on the Top Ten reasons why Madden is more fun than homework. Thanks for reading.