tee minus 49 hrs on the trade deadline. just taught i'd let you know, and now i'll remove myself from white sox's business.

He should only trade for players with contracts that run through at least 2010. This is not a year to be going for it. In fact, I would not be screaming if the Sox were sellers.

They should TRY to deal Dye, Jenks, Thome, Contreras and Dotel...if they can get any decent prospects in return. The money they save on the remainder of this years contracts with those players, could be saved for players they might sign for next season.

The problem with this team, is that even the good young players they do have, are not complete players. Neither Ramirez, nor Beckham are very good defensive players and Quentin can't stay healthy. They need to get more prospects in their minor league system that have a chance to replace all the older players that will soon be gone.

If you look at how next year's roster may be put together:

C - AJ in his final season under contract with Flowers waiting in the wings.
1B - Konerko in his final season under contract
2B - Getz has shown some flashes this season, and has done enough in my opinion to return as a starter
3B - Beckham is going to be a stud
SS - Ramirez has lapses defensively, and doesn't hit until June, but still a good, young player
LF - Quentin if healthy
CF - ??? (Podsednik if he continues hitting, else this opens up again)
RF - ???
DH - ???

Something tells me that Dye will be back, but only a lesser salary, and as a possible DH. If that is the case, Podsednik, if he continues to hit, would probably stay in LF, and Quentin shifting to RF.

Point is, this year, Williams has started the transition of making this team younger with Getz, Beckham, Ramirez and Quentin and can continue that transitition with increased payroll flexibility, and an improved minor league system.

Okay let's look at your list here. Flowers is waiting in the wings, but what do you do with A.J.? Do you start the season with both and give a significant # of starts to Flowers to see if he has what it takes to assume the starting spot the following year. What effect does that have on the teams chances of winning, with a rookie catching a significant potion of the time. Konerko will finish up his contract and you might try Viciedo over there. But again, we are talking about an unproven guy in Viciedo, who seems to have a problem with weight too. Chris Getz it, and I agree on him. He should get a chance to take over 2B. Alexei has too many lapses on defense and not hitting the first 6-8 weeks of the season puts your team in a tough position for that stretch of time. Beckham is going to be a star for his hitting, but he too has too many defensive problems and whether or not he is kept at 3rd is a question I dont believe even Ozzie is ready to answer. Quentin in LF-if healthy....you should have wrote Quentin IF healthy, as thats a BIG if. I like Pods, he's a legit leadoff hitter, which is hard to find. But he is a lousy CF'er. he belongs in LF. If the Sox can get the CF'er they drafted developed more quickly, perhaps he could play there or they can sign or trade for a CF'er. Then they could use Quentin as the DH, which would make him less likely to get hurt and keep Pods in LF. I don't believe for a minute that the Sox will bring back Dye on his option for 2010 (a mutual option). But if he doesn't get any good offers elsewhere, perhaps the Sox might bring him back at a lower salary.

The real key is pitching. If Clayton pitches his way into an spot in the rotation next year with his work down the stretch this year, then they can take a gamble on a low paid 5th starter for next year. If not, they probably have to find a $10 million per year starter to fill the 4th slot AND find a low paid 5th as to battle Clayton in spring training.

They are going cheap next year. Just like this year, savings will not be reinvested into talent.

I look for the outfield next year to be Quentin, Danks/Pods, Dye.

He should only trade for players with contracts that run through at least 2010. This is not a year to be going for it. In fact, I would not be screaming if the Sox were sellers.

Got a little bit of Nas in you.

I know you already know this, but good dolphin is a genius.

Quentin is too a leaky vessel to put much faith in sailing through a season with. Dye has really limited range in RF these days and Pods in CF is not real good. They really need to aggressively go after a GOOD starting CF'er....what a difference Torri Hunter would have been for this ballclub.