Jayson Stark recently mentioned on ESPN's Trade Deadline special edition of Baseball Tonight that the Padres acquired White Sox outfielder/utility guy Rob Mackowiak. An unknown minor leaguer went to Chicago in the deal.

More:

The Chicago White Sox have traded outfielder Rob Mackowiak to the San Diego Padres for a minor-league right-handed pitcher Jon Link.

Mackowiak is hitting .278 with six home runs and 36 RBIs in 85 games for the White Sox this season.

Link is currently pitching in the Class A California League.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2956001

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

So what. But that does mean that Sweeney will be here before the roster expands in September.

Good. Let's see him for 2 months.

It's the return Kenny is getting that has me worried.
Class A pitching prospects?
Don't we have enough of those in the bullpen?

The Gooch & Mackowiak moves both smell like payroll dumps.

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

Once again. It doesn't matter if this guy we got back is good. You can never have to many arms. Who knows? Maybe you find a diamond in the rough. But it doesn't matter.

This trade is to make room for Sweeny. Force Ozzie's hand because he's loyal to veterans and would play Rob if he were here. Plus you save a million on Macoviack's remaining salary or whatever it is. So yes. It is a pay roll dump in part. But there is nothing wrong with that. A million saved here and a million saved there maybe gets you a bullpen player next year. Or it gives you more to bid to get a big dog in free agency.

That's why these type of trades are done. I'll explain this until you guys get it.

My only problem with these deals are that today they are only worth single A prospects, but what was Iguchi and Mackowiak worth two weeks or a month ago when the sox were still out of it? Was Kenny asking too much early on and then just had to settle for single A prospects to get rid of them?

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May 1, 2007 - CSFMB Civil War
“Those who don’t remember history are doomed to repeat it.”

It's questionable anyone would have wanted Iguchi at any point, they got helped out by the injuries the Mets & Phillies had to essentially create a market. I don't think there were a lot of people beating down the door to get Mackowiak. If Dye is supposedly only worth a AA or AAA prospect, we should be elated we got anything more than a bag of balls for Mackowiak

Jon Link looks to have pretty good stuff. He's closing for Lake Elsinore in Single A. 45K's in 41 innings. WHIP of 1.05. 13 saves. 3 ERA.

Kenny said he had no offers for Iguchi before the Utley injury. I have no reason not to beleive him. Macoviak is a back up. The most you were gonna get for him was right at the deadline.

Guys, it's Iguchi and Macoviak. I don't know what the hell you were hoping to get. Macoviak is a back up that's been forced to play every day for us cuz of injuries. Iguchi was a good player but he was batting .250 when we traded him. He's lost some range in the field.

I believe that the current market has teams overvaluing prospects, and undervaluing established MLB talent.
Like many times before, John Schuerholz seems to have figured that out before the rest of the GM's.

If Kenny's 2008 plans did not include Gooch or Mackowiak, than these dumps make sense, I just don't see why Mackowiak couldn't be a part of the 2008 team in his current utility role?

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

That's a fair point. If you liked Macoviak as a back up next year I can accept that you're upset he was traded..

Let's see who Kenny gets to replace him as a back up this off season. Who knows.

Beardown,
actually, as terryfying as this realization seems to me, Mackowiak may have been the best defensive LF the Sox have had in 3 years

He was OK after Ozzie stopped putting him in Center, and he was underutilized as a corner infielder. His value comes from his ability to play 4 positions which he never did for the Sox.

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

True.

The goal next year should be to get 3 starting outfielders that can play 150 games each. Guys who aren't injury prone. Dye might be back so it's a cross of the fingures with him. But I'm not against resigning him. I'll take that risk if they get him at the right price.

The other 2 guys need to be durable.

It might end up being Fields in left if the give Crede arbitration. Maybe Owens in center. Let's see how he finishes the season. Then it's either Dye or a trade, or a free agent for the right fielder.

Anybody know how many more years Thome has left? Because if you sign Dye for 2+ years, and Thome's contract is done next year, you can then move Dye to DH and find a right fielder for 09.

Mackowiak is a backup player. Nothing more, and he was blocking the way for another young player to come up. Same situation as Iguchi. We only benefit by seeing some of our younger players over the last 2 months of the season, and hopefully this means Ryan Sweeney will get an opportunity.

I'm not saying that Mackowiak is a starter, I'm just questioning the logic of moving a player who has actually performed above his expected level without a replacement in sight for what amounts to be minimal payroll relief.
Next season Kenny will have to go find a Mackowiak type for the bench, and there are not that many of them who are as good. (Ozuna???)
He was one of 10 guys on this roster from Opening day who actually met my expectations so far:
1) Konerko - after a slow start
2) Thome
3) Fields - About what I thought he'd be.
4) Earstad - yes, I expected him to be hurt 50% of the time
5) Mackowiak
6) Buehrle
7) Vazquez
Garland
9) Danks - about where I thought a 1st year 5th starter would be
10) Jenks

The other 15 guys have way under achieved

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

But the answer IS Ozuna for next year though. He plays a bad outfield just like Rob and can play 3rd base pretty well. He's way faster and is a better hitter for much cheaper. Plus now you clear a roster spot for another young guy to see what you have down the road.

Mackowiak is under contract for 3.5 million next year. That is far too much for a role player. That is why he is gone. KW has just created 7 million dollars for next year with these moves. I have no problem with them...but pitchers who are already relievers in single A are a sure sign of a dump. Call it what it is.

Right. It is a dump but there is nothing wrong with that. He's wants to save money this year and spend it else where next year.

When will Kenny just eat Uribe's contract and get rid of tubby already?

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

You have to stop making fat jokes about people across the internet. It seems to get you in trouble....not that I don't enjoy a good flame war with HPE.

you saw that? I especially liked the part where I told him I would beat him with a fish.

Did you see my thread about Howard and music? That is the one that got me put on timeout.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

I wouldn't call it a flame war. It was me with witty insults, and him saying F U over and over.

http://high.pitch.erik.justgotowned.com/

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

I'll have to take a look at the music thread.

As for hpe, you are dealing with someone who I believe is functionally retarded (not a put down, I really think he falls within the classification). I normally wouldn't advocate antagonizing someone in this condition but he is such a low life I think it is ok.

I know he is a mess, so I let it go pretty quickly. I only threw a couple of jabs.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way