White Sox Offseason So Far....

It's that time of the year when the small child in all of us gets excited. There's snow on the ground, it's 30 degrees outside, and only a matter of weeks until pitchers and catchers report to the sunny skies of Arizona and Florida.

Of course, if you're like me, you're wondering what in the hell your G.M. is doing to your ballclub. My G.M. is the brilliant man behind the 2005 World Series Champions. He's also the guy behind the team that missed the playoffs the following year, with 90+ wins (only the second time in MLB history that it happened - the first being to the 2005 Indians). No biggie, right? Well, he was the guy in charge of the team that almost finished at the bottom of the A.L. Central, if weren't for those wonderful Kansas City Royals (thanks fellas).

To get things started this offseason, Williams sent Jon Garland to the Angels for Orlando Cabrera. At the time it made sense. "Okay, we've needed a shortstop for years, and we've got some great pitching in the minor leagues that's getting ready to move up. But, couldn't we have sent Jose Contreras to L.A.A.A. (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)?" I said to myself.

Well, along with Cabrera we got some "straight cash homie" (thank you Randy Moss for a quote that will never get old - well, until you bust your knee and your career is over). Cash is good. Moving the little extra money from Garland out is good. Torii Hunter is good. Torii likes cash. We're clearing room for him. Yay!

Noooooooooo! What's this? The Texas Rangers have taken our future center fielder? So, why were we clearing up room? Kenny Williams, you've gotta try harder. We don't accept screw ups at our G.M. position.

Well, Dontrelle Willis, is a good pitcher, and he's avalible. We could use him. We've got money. I'm sure he likes money. Dammit! Detroit gets him? A Central Division rival? Jesus Christ Kenny, what are you thinking? Not only do they get him, but they also get Miguel Cabrerra at third base. We didn't need help there, but still, they're loading up Ken, what are you doing?

Williams kind of pulls his head out of his ass. We get Carlos Quentin, our new left fielder, for minor league 1st baseman Chris Carter (not to be confused with the Vikings great reciever who seemed to destroy the Bears every chance he got). Carter, though, is or was, the #4 ranked minor league talent in our farm system, http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6912. Wait, it'll get better. Just keep reading.

Then, he went out and got Scott Linebrink from the Padres and Brewers. Bullpen help is always usefull, especially when you're getting rid of quality starting pitchers and not replacing them. Anywho, Linebrink looks like he'll be Bobby Jenks' new set-up man. $19,000,000 for four years ain't bad. But, that's money we could've given to Hunter.

Alexi Ramirez, formerly of Cuba, was also signed for $4,750,000. If he doesn't suck, he can earn another $3,250,000. Not too shabby for a Communist. Ok, that's not a loss.

Now, here's the swift upper cut to the ovaries. Nick Swisher, the outfielder and 1st baseman for the A's of Oakland is now a White Sox! Yes! Screw off Torii Hunter. We don't need you. Winner, us guys.

But......wait a tick.

Damn, I hate when that happens.

Williams sends to Oakland, a team once so deep in minor league talent that you could drown to death in a pool of them, three of our top 10 minor leaguers. Numero uno on that list, Fauntino De Los Santos. A young stud pitcher, you know one of those guys that could've replaced Garland. Next on the list is Gio Gonzalez. We had him, then sent him to Philly (in some random trade, I can't remember ever non-sensicle thing Williams does), then we got him back. Only to send him to Oakland. Brilliant! Here's the kicker. They're both pitchers. They're both good, they're #1 and #2, http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6912 , on our top prospect list. Then, Williams decides to throw in our #8 guy, 3rd outfielder overall, with the two pitchers. Yeah, you know that postion that we had problems filling, due to one certain base stealing fella who could stay healthy. This does not make me happy in my pants.

Well, when Crede gets dealt early in season, if not during Spring Training, Williams had better get something in return. Like a pitcher, or two. Joe Crede, the guy that should've been the World Series MVP in '05.