White Sox in '09

So the baseball season is officially over, and I'm focusing on what the Sox need to do in the off-season, so they are better next year (I can say the same about the Blackhawks, Bears and Bulls for next year as well, because... let's face it...). I'm no Kenny Williams, and I think he is outstanding in what he does, but as a loyal White Sox fan, and purchaser of Sox tickets, that grants me the ability... the right, to make my suggestions. Anyway, I get to play GM on the videogames on Playstation, and I'm not bad at creating a team.

Who's gone in free agency (major players): Joe Crede, Ken Griffey, Toby Hall, Orlanda Cabrera. After two years of being disabled, Crede will find a new team. The Sox have several options to replace him. Griffey (as much as I love Griffey, and have wanted him on the Sox for years) will leave, hopefully for Seattle, where he can end his career, hopefully with a World Series. Toby needs to come back. Extremely valuable as a backup backstop. Cabrera can be let go. He was brought in to be a leader, and became a headache. And he didn't produce all that much, though I'll give him the benefit of leadoff, which was not his natural spot in the order. Sox have better options.

Positions that need to be filled: Centerfield, shortstop, thirdbase. The Sox have a great problem in centerfield: three players fighting to play in Brian Anderson, Nick Swisher and Jerry Owens. One of these three will be starting there soon. At shortstop there are options in-house as well. Thirdbase was handled very well by Juan Uribe, this season, which may be a possibility unless Josh Fields is brought up as he was two years ago.

Batting order needs: It is quite obvious that a lead-off hitter is needed. There are two possibilities in-house through Jerry Owens or Chris Getz (both Triple-A), and there could be possibilities to bring them up.

Pitching needs: For starters, it revolves around Jose Contreras. When healthy, he's dominant. The last two years have been shaky. The Sox won't be able to trade him, but he's not suitable for relief work, because it takes too long for him to warm up. Keep him in the rotation, and promote Clayton Richard to be the long relief and back-up, just in case Contreras goes down again. There is an obvious need for middle relief, and I think this is where the Sox need to focus on making a trade. The Sox need one or two middle relief before the 7-8-9 of Dotel, Linebrink and Jenks. Thornton was good, but MacDougal, Wasserman and Logan were bad. Perhaps bring up some young kids, because you have 4 (5 counting Richard) good relief pitchers. A trade would be best.

People to trade: Nick Swisher. Yes, he's a switch hitter, but had a horrendous offensive year. He's a natural firstbaseman, but Paul Konerko isn't going anywhere. He's abismal in centerfield, and we have better options (both offensively and defensively). His only bonus at the moment is that in close games, he is a defensive substitution at first, and can give Konerko a day off here and there. However, late this season when he was benched, he complained. It seems that his best quality is trade bait for a middle-reliever. Consider the Yankees or Angels who will need a firstbaseman. I would hate to see the Sox trade Konerko (no trade clause) to the Angels, and have Swisher starting at first.

Trade to make: Swisher and middle relievers for: middle relievers or experienced lead-off/left infield

So where does that leave us: Here's a couple possible line-ups and positions

1. Jerry Owens or DeWayne Wise -CF
2. Alexi Ramirez - SS
3. Carlos Quentin - LF
4. Jermain Dye - RF
5. Jim Thome - DH
6. Paul Konerko - 1B
7. AJ Pierzynski - C
8. Josh Fields - 3B
9. Chris Getz or Juan Uribe - 2B

Yes, this line up still relies on the long ball. How can it not? Look at 2 through 6, that's around an average of 120 home runs a year. But the top has average and good hitters, and add Getz at 9, and you have double speed. DeWayne could be lead-off as well, but he's not quite as fleet as Owens. Uribe moves back to being a super-sub off the bench to play any other the infield positions, which if rotated properly, he plays a couple times a week.

Anderson remains as an option off the bench, but also spells the outfield.

If a tested lead-off man is needed, trade for one who plays 3B, SS or 2B, fill where needed and move Ramirez where he fits.

Pitching rotation: Floyd, Beuhrle, Vazquez, Danks, Contreras (Richard)
Relief: Richard (long), Thornton, Dotel, Linebrink, Jenks, Empty (Broadway), Empty (Carrasco)

Overall, this team has the power and hitting, and most of the starting pitching to compete again. The relief team needs to find a few more pieces, and stay healthy. Biggest concern is bringing up these several younger kids (Owens, Getz, Fields, Broadway and Richard), but with the core of the offense and defense being veterans, this is the perfect time to bring them along. The American League Central is weak at the moment, no one team stands out. The White Sox can definitely compete for the division title again in 2009.