Source: ChiSox 'extremely close' to Soriano deal
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ESPN.com news services

The White Sox are "extremely close" to trading for Nationals outfielder Alfonso Soriano, a source close to the situation told ESPN The Magazine's Tim Kurkjian. The Nationals have great interest in pitcher Brandon McCarthy.

The White Sox, said the source, also are close to acquiring pitcher Mike MacDougal from the Royals in exchange for minor league pitcher Tyler Lumsden.

Soriano joined Washington last offseason in a trade from Texas, and the Nationals shifted him from second base to left field. Soriano is batting .288 with 31 homers, 62 RBI and 25 steals.

The slugger, who is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of the season, said Sunday he wanted to remain in Washington but doubted he and the Nationals could agree to a contract extension before the deadline.

The five-time All-Star said he spoke with incoming Nationals president Stan Kasten on Thursday, but they didn't discuss contract details. Soriano added that he doesn't think his agent, Diego Bentz, has discussed numbers with the Nationals, either.

Will they put him in left? or would they leave Pods out there and put him in place of Uribe at short, which I believe is his natural position.

I believe he came into the league as a SS but was moved to 2B. He’s not a very good infielder, so I can’t imagine him playing anywhere but LF. Also, the article only references McCarthy, but I’d have to believe they’d get Podsednik as well. He’s in the final year of an inexpensive contract, so a combo of McCarthy & Pods would be payroll friendly for Washington.

I would never, never, never, never, never give Mc Carthy up. Never. Especially not for a rent a player. I think KW is smarter than this.

As I recall he was drafted as a SS but moved over cause of Jeter. Not sure on his contract status

AGREED.

He’s in the final year of his contract. If Kenny gives up anything significant like McCarthy, I’d have to believe he’s convinced that the likelihood of Soriano resigning with the Sox would be extremely high.

My sentiments exactly, dolphin.

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Looks like Kenny Willliams agrees with you too, according to the last update.

Then who do they give up to get Soriano?

Teinowicz is saying he's heard Vazquez & Podsednik. Pods' contract is pretty cheap (about $2mil I believe), but this may mean the Sox would have to eat some of Javy's salary. Washington is looking to dump salary, not take on more. We'll see.

Trading Pods over Anderson? That's interesting. Hell, I would even consider Rob M. (I'm not even gonna try to spell his last name) or another one of our utility-stars.

I'm at work at 6:50 PM. The inmates are telling me the trade is done but they dont know who we gave up. Anyone??

Who are the inmates ?

As far as I can tell, nothing is done..maybe I'll be proven wrong, but here's my take.

ESPN was orginally reporting that Brandon McCarthy was involved - obviously, that turned out to wrong as Kenny Williams denied that McCarthy would be traded.

Saying that, I wonder if ESPN jumped on this story without having their facts straight, and all of the other news organizations, including our 2 local sports stations just jumped on the national story.

Inmates? Its called jail silly. Its my employment but thats another story no one gives a shit about.

I heard Freddy G. or Pods and Vasquez or McCarthy.

We'll see

Guys if we get Soriano and Pods isn't a part of that trade I think the best spot to bat Soriano would be 2nd in the line up. Think about it you'd have 2 fast guys plus if he hits a first inning home run it's a 2 run shot instead of a solo if he's the lead off guy. Not to mention the protection you give him. He'll be followed by Thome, Konerko, and Dye. He has no protection in Washington so he'll be that much of a better hitter here then he was there. And he was pretty damn good there.

Some have said he should bat lead off and have pods move to 8 or 9 but I disagree. Anybody have thoughts. Iguchi can move to 8th and be able to be a free swinger and not worry about getting guys over.

I wouldn't object to your batting order, but if Pods & Soriano are in the same line-up, that means Scotty is in CF and I don't like that one bit. I think Anderson is your CF regardless of whether or not the deal takes place. And if Pods stays, then he becomes the most famous pinch runner in White Sox history, but I do not want him and his rag arm roaming center field.

Batting order w/ Soriano:

1 Iguchi
2 Soriano
3 Thome
4 Konerko
5 Dye
6 Pierzynski
7 Crede
8 Uribe
9 Anderson

The line-up 3 through 9 goes untouched. I think Soriano, batting in front of Thome & Konerko, should see plenty of good pitches. And though Iguchi won't steal you many bases, if you look at the numbers, his on base percentage is identical to Podsednik's. Gooch hits for a slightly better average and draws a few less walks, but overall they're on base the same amount. Plus, Soriano in the 2-hole is going up to the plate looking to do some damage. He's not going to sit back like Iguchi does for Pods, take 5 or 6 pitches, orchestrate a steal or just hit to the opposite side. That's my take, anyway. If you bench/trade Pods and bring in a guy that's a classic 2 or 3 hitter, your line-up is going to be unconventional at the top no matter how you swing it.

Correct. It will be unconventional no matter how you swing it. I like your line up too Bucket. I just don't see Ozzie sitting Pods over Anderson. It might be a platoon at first between Pods and Anderson. If Pods shows he is an absolute butcher then you go with Anderson. We've seen Pods be bad in left but he is fast. I think it's actually easier to read balls in center then it is in left. That is Pods biggest problem. He can't read well in left. But he can cover ground. He's played center in the past so it's not foreighn.

I don't know why a Lance Broadway and Scott Podsednik deal would not be a slightly less attractive alternative.

[quote="Nastradamus
Why not sign Soriono to a long term deal? I'm not sold on McCarthy. How many times have we seen highly touted prospects turn into bust? Soriono still has a lot of good years left in him. I have no problem letting him go if it means the Sox will win another title.[/quote]

Unlike Freddy a few years ago, I don't think there is any inside assurance that he would sign long term. That means the Sox are both paying a high price and taking a big risk. That's not acceptable.

The difference between Mc Carthy and the Scott Ruffcorns of the world is that Mc Carthy has been getting it done in the big leagues for a year already. If that start against Boston last year did not sell you then I don't know what will. I am 100% sold on Mc Carthy. I think he will come in next year and be a top of the rotation starter being payed less than a backup outfielder. That is better than gold to a team with a limited budget who hopes to contend.

You recall incorrectly as Cotts had a horrible start against the Yankees. That was the game Manuel decided to start a rookie in Yankee stadium instead of Buhrle because the Sox had already won the series. Since then Cotts has become a lights out relief pitcher.

You act like the Red Sox game was all he has done. He followed that game up with a great start against Texas, one of the best hitting teams in the league. Mc Carthy pitched very well after his recall last year.

This year he has been trying to adjust to a completely foreign situation. He has never relieved in his life. I think he has done a nice job with flashes of dominance.

You say that KW has no problem dealing prospects and I agree with that philosophy. Doesn't that make the argurment for Mc Carthy all the more stronger when KW refuses to move him (same with anderson as well).

I probably would not trade Garland for Soriano. He may be a 500 pitcher but he is only 26 with a lot of experience. I think he will be Cy Young material at some point during his current contract.

Vazquez seemed like the smart move. The Sox were overloaded with outfielders and KW had determined that Anderson was his guy. They unloaded players they thought were expendable for a currency that never loses value- starting pitching. I am not pleased with Vazquez this year but I assume the Sox would be able to get value equal to that which the shipped out for him if they put him on the open market.

I'm not exactly sure what is going on in KW's head, but stating this morning that he will not be trading anyone on his Major League roster certainly makes the Soriano deal that much more of a fantasy in my eyes.

Trust me, I hope I'm wrong.

If you could upgrade leftfield and not lose anything at the leadoff in exchange for Pods and high minor leaguers, that would be a great trade. it would benefit the Nationals as well.

The problem is that the Nationals are in the position of taking all offers. Soriano is gone, the only job of their GM is to get the highest price. KW hates to be involved in that type of situation.

I like the sound of the Soriano deal and I think the gooch will not steal as many bases as Pods because you shouldn't run with Soriano at bat because Soriano could be a legitamate 3rd hitter, he has 31 hrs.

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I keep hearing the idea of doing a 3 or 4 team deal as a possibility. If you have a team looking for youth from the farm system, it can happen. They also could go after Soriano and move him

He turns 27 in late September. The guy gets a lot of shit in this city but he has done some nice things at a very early age. He has 74 wins already (74-64), has won double digit games 5 years in a row, has thrown 200 innings two years in a row with the two years prior to that being 190+ innings.

Meanwhile teams like the Cubs tout prospects who have not even pitched in the MLB at his age.