White Sox in market for top starter (Scherzer?)
The White Sox may be open to trying to keep All-Star Max Scherzer in the AL Central. (Getty Images)
The White Sox are in the market for a veteran right-handed starter, and with some payroll flexibility remaining after two key moves, they appear to at least be considering even the top guys — Max Scherzer, James Shields and Ervin Santana, plus trade possibilities such as Jeff Samardzija and others.
Chicago would have to be considered a long shot for Scherzer in particular since several big-spending teams are expected to get into that long-developing derby.
The White Sox filled their needs for a big left-handed bat (Adam LaRoche) and a left-handed reliever (Zach Duke), and appear to have some room left as they survey the starting pitching market, with their eye on contention in 2015. Some strategic payroll cutting and especially cost-saving deals for their two superstars — first baseman/DH Jose Abreu and pitching ace Chris Sale — have positioned them for a big winter.
The White Sox are said to have had contact with the biggest pitchers as they attempt to deploy their dollars, and someone like Scherzer (or some of the trade options) could give them a formidable one-two lefty-righty rotation punch. But they have no history of stepping out on pitchers (they did so for Abreu, and long ago for Albert Belle) and are unlikely to try to outbid several big-market teams, including some of the losers in the market for Jon Lester, and maybe even the behemoth Yankees, to win Scherzer.
In any case, they are very likely to add a right-handed starter. LaRoche and Duke are key acquisitions, but the White Sox — in the unusual position of being lefty-leaning in the rotation — are in need of one more starting pitcher. Following Sale in the rotation are Jose Quintana and John Danks.
Shields is another ace right-hander whose market has been quiet as he waits for the ending of the Lester derby, with the Red Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals, Giants and others seen as possible suitors there. Santana is a slight step down from Shields, but like Shields, he has had success in the American League, including the AL Central.
Brandon McCarthy is another very good starter on the market, but former GM Ken Williams, who has since been promoted in Chicago, once traded him away for John Danks, and it is hard to see the White Sox going in that direction again.
The trade market may offer some options, as well, and it is known the White Sox have been in contact with the Athletics about Samardzija, the former Cub and northern-Indiana native (White Sox territory).
Other top right-handed starters who could be on the market include the Reds’ quartet of Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon, the Nationals’ Jordan Zimmermann. The Dodgers’ Zack Greinke, in the range of $25 million a year, has an opt out in his Dodgers deal after 2015 and has piqued the interest of at least some in Chicago. The White Sox have been fielding inquiries on shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who’s of interest to the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets.
The LaRoche deal is reasonable, and answered the big question about where they would find left-handed power. Duke, acknowledged as a bit of an overpay, also provides help in an area of need in their bullpen, and they could use some more aid in that area, as well. They are in good shape as they seem poised to do more after maneuvering their payroll down to the 21st highest in the game at $91 million.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
