Keyser Soze wrote:
Here's a possible trade for ya OBJ:
According to ESPN's Peter Gammons, the Braves and White Sox have talked about swapping Edgar Renteria and Jon Garland.
It makes some sense, as the Braves have Yunel Escobar to plug in at shortstop. However, they'd likely want the White Sox to pick up some money to even up the salaries. Renteria is owed $9 million next year, while Garland is due $12 million. Even if the money could be worked out, a deal still seems like a long shot.
Yes, I heard this last night, and rumor is the White Sox rejected this.
From the White Sox perspective, it makes little/no sense. Right now, they have 10 players under contract for next season for about $79 million. If they keep those 10 (AJ, Konerko, Thome, Buerhle, Pablo, Vazquez, Garland, Contreras, MacDougle, and Thorton) alone, they would be able to do much else, and still keep their payroll around the $100 milion mark.
Renteria is a good player, though he struggled the one season he was in the AL (with Boston a few years back)....What the White Sox need, should they make a trade of Garland, is flexibility in return, meaning they would want young players to fill holes in OF, SS, possibly 2B, and in the bullpen.
From all reports that I read, Garland is not available, but that seems rather odd to me if they don't at least explore trade possibilities (perhaps they are waiting until the off-season) for a player one year away from free agency. This is a catch-22 though - if you move Garland, it's unlikely the White Sox compete in the tough AL Central with young/questionable starting pitching, but if they keep him though next season, chances are he goes into free agency, and leaves the White Sox.
At this point, moving Contreras should be Kenny's main objective. It's hard to believe anyone would want a pitcher who's been as bad as he has since last year's all star break, and who is under contract for a few more seasons, but hopefully they can find that desperate team out there.