The Chicago media is reporting that the White Sox have agreed to pay John Danks $65 million over the next five years.That’s a lot of money for a pitcher who was 8-12 last year, has a losing career record and an ERA over 4.00. But it’s also the going rate for pitchers who have averaged 12 wins and 195 innings pitched the last four years, especially left-handed, 26-year-old pitchers. So I sort of like the White Sox signing Danks to that extension.

But not if that means, as the Chicago Tribune reported, that it is then likely that the White Sox will trade Gavin Floyd. Gavin Floyd has also averaged 12 wins and 195 innings pitched the last four years and has a similar WHIP (1.326 hits and walks allowed per inning to 1.304 for Danks) and strikeout totals to Danks. He is two years older, at age 28, right-handed to Danks’ left-handed and has a career ERA almost half a run higher at 4.50. In other words, he’s not quite as good as Danks. But he only costs about half as much ($7 million next year, with a team option for $9.5 million in 2013).

I’m all for trading Floyd if you can get more for him, but my hunch is the White Sox could have gotten more for trading Danks, if nothing else because Danks is left-handed.

Worse, the White Sox let their best pitcher walk. Mark Buehrle has won at least 10 games and pitched at least 200 innings for 11 seasons in a row. He’s still relatively young at age 32, four years older than Floyd and six older than Danks. Not a single one of these three pitchers has improved in the last three years, which is a big reason why the White Sox have made the playoffs only once since winning the 2005 World Serie. But while Floyd and Danks have actually gotten a little worse, Buehrle has held steady. Last year he had his lowest ERA (3.59) since that 2005 World Series year. Mark Buerhle’s ERA for the last five years is the exact same as his career ERA (3.83). He also signed for less overall money than Danks: four years, $58 million.

The percentage move for the White Sox, who do need to rebuild a little and cut salary from an aging and bloated $130 million payroll, would have been to keep their most reliable left-handed pitcher and trade their left-hander with the most trade value. John Danks is a tantalizing prospect. He always seems like he could be so much more than he is. That’s why the White Sox wanted to keep him. But it’s also why others would have wanted him.

If the Sox were going to completely rebuild, I say move all three. But if they are going to do it only halfway, they should have kept their best pitcher (Buehrle) and their cheapest of their three mainstays (Floyd) and shopped their biggest trade chip (Danks).

What they did do is OK. Not good. Not bad. OK. Sort of like how the White Sox have played for the last six years now.

 

By SportsDirect

POSTED: 7:31 am MST December 22, 2011

December 15, 2011 – South Atlantic League (SAL) Kannapolis Intimidators
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (December 15, 2011) – Former Chicago White Sox draft pick Julio Vinas has been named manager of the Kannapolis Intimidators, Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, for the 2012 season. Vinas joins pitching coach Jose Bautista, hitting coach Robert Sasser, athletic trainer Scott Johnson and strength and conditioning coach Tim Rodmaker as the field staff for the 18th season of baseball in Kannapolis.

Julio Vinas Vinas, 38, returns for his second season as a minor league manager for the White Sox. The Florida native managed the Class A-Advanced Winston-Salem Dash to a 69-71 record in 2011. Prior to joining Chicago’s minor league staff, Vinas spent 10 years with the Baltimore Orioles, including six years as the team’s minor-league hitting coordinator from 2005-2010.

The White Sox drafted Vinas in the 33rd round of the 1991 free agent draft, and he played 11 minor-league seasons with the White Sox, Orioles, Red Sox and Indians organizations, hitting .264 with 84 home runs and 504 RBI over 896 career games.

Jose Bautista Pitching coach Jose Bautista returns to Kannapolis for his second year on the Intimidators coaching staff. Bautista guided Intimidators pitchers to the third-lowest ERA (3.67) and fifth-lowest walk total (399) in the South Atlantic League in 2011. Bautista, 47, enters his fifth season with the White Sox organization, having served as the Latin Roving Instructor from 2009-2010 and the pitching coach for the Advanced Rookie Bristol White Sox in 2008. Before joining Chicago’s minor-league staff, Bautista was a minor-league pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals for seven years (2001-2007).

Robert Sasser With six seasons as a hitting coach in the White Sox system already under his belt, Robert Sasser joins the Kannapolis Intimidators staff in 2012. A 13-year veteran of minor league baseball, Sasser began his coaching career as the hitting coach of Double-A Birmingham in 2006. He also served as hitting coach for Great Falls in 2007 and 2011 and for Winston-Salem from 2008-2010. Sasser enjoyed a cup of coffee in the Major Leagues, appearing as a pinch-hitter for Texas against the White Sox in 1998.

Scott Johnson Scott Johnson returns for his second season as the Kannapolis head trainer and his 24th with the White Sox. Prior to joining the Intimidators in 2011, Johnson spent the previous 13 seasons with Chicago’s Triple-A affiliate – 12 years with Charlotte and one at Calgary.

Tim Rodmaker Tim Rodmaker returns to the Intimidators as the Conditioning Coach after spending the last two seasons with Advanced Rookie Great Falls. Rodmaker, 29, enters his seventh year as a conditioning coach with the White Sox organization. He served as Kannapolis’ Conditioning Coach from 2007-2009.

The Intimidators open the 2012 season – the 18th year of professional baseball in Kannapolis – at home on Thursday, April 5, 2012 against the Hickory Crawdads. The Intimidators drew 138,487 fans in 2011, setting a new franchise attendance record. For 2012 ticket information, please call the box office at (704) 932-3267 or visit www.IntimidatorsBaseball.com .

• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board…

• Digg this story

• Add to Del.icio.us

• Atlanta Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez Headlines 2012 Hot Stove Event – Rome Braves

• Julio Vinas to Manage Intimidators in 2012 – Kannapolis Intimidators

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

By Mark Gonzales

Tribune reporter

10:52 a.m. CST, December 12, 2011

The Chicago White Sox have until 11 p.m. Monday to tender contracts to all of their unsigned players.

Those players include left-handed pitcher John Danks and right fielder Carlos Quentin, whom each are arbitration eligible and have been targeted in trades.

The Sox are expected to tender contracts to Danks and Quentin before the deadline. Danks and Quentin can become free agents after the 2012 season. Danks could earn close to $8 million and Quentin near $7 million in 2012.

Any unsigned player who isn’t tendered a contract by their team by the deadline can become a free agent. The Sox signed catcher Toby Hall after the 2006 season following Tampa Bay’s decision to not offer him a contract.

Also, the Sox have signed left-hander Eric Stults to a minor league contract, according to Baseball America. Stults, 32, has a lifetime 8-10 record and 4.93 ERA over parts of five seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado.

Stults pitched a four-hit shutout against the Sox on June 25, 2008, at Dodger Stadium while pitching for the Dodgers.

By Mark Gonzales, Tribune reporter

9:27 a.m. CST, December 8, 2011

DALLAS — Minnesota selected Chicago White Sox pitcher Terry Doyle in the major league phase of Thursday’s Rule 5 draft for $50,000.

Doyle, 26, made a strong impression in the Arizona Fall League, where he was 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA for the Mesa Solar Sox.

Doyle was scouted in the AFL by Vern Followell, the Twins’ professional scouting director.

Doyle was the second player chosen in the Rule 5 draft. If Doyle doesn’t stay with the Twins for the entire season, he can be offered to the Sox for $25,000.

“Terry Doyle is a nice pitcher,” said Dan Fabian, the Sox’s director of baseball operations. “He did a nice job in the Fall League. He definitely opened some eyes in the industry. And it was just a decision made, looking at our long term, that we had players we felt we needed to get on the 40-man (roster) before Terry Doyle.

“It’s (the) Rule 5 (draft). He still has to get through spring training and still maybe an opportunity to get him back down the road.”

Jordan Danks and Brandon Short were not selected.

The Sox did not make a pick in the major league and Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft.

“All you can do is protect as you see fits best on your 40-man roster,” Fabian said. “And with (general manager) Kenny Williams and (player development director) Buddy Bell and (assistant GM) Rick Hahn, they just felt that was our best situation of the players we decided to add, and Terry Doyle was in Triple-A. And you take that risk that someone may take him, and that happened with the Twins today.”

 

DALLAS (AP) — The Chicago White Sox traded closer Sergio Santos to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, sending him back to the organization where he spent three seasons trying to make the majors as a shortstop.

Toronto gave up pitching prospect Nestor Molina to acquire the 28-year-old Santos in a swap made at baseball’s winter meetings.

Santos had 30 saves in 36 chances this year, going 4-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 63 games. The 28-year-old righty is a strikeout pitcher, fanning 92 in 65 1-3 innings. He made a major league-record 25 straight scoreless appearances on the road to start the season.

Santos was golfing when Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos called to tell him about the trade. The deal caught Santos by surprise — a few days after the season ended, he signed an $8.25-million, three-year contract with the White Sox.

“I think he expected to be in Chicago,” Anthopoulos said.

Santos was in Toronto’s minor league system from 2006-08 as a shortstop. He converted to pitching in 2009 while in the White Sox organization and made his big league debut the next year.

Anthopoulos was the Blue Jays’ assistant GM when Santos was in their organization. The team asked Santos if he wanted to take a try on the mound, but he wasn’t interested.

“He didn’t want to pitch. He believed in himself as a shortstop,” Anthopoulos said.

Santos made it as high as Triple-A as an infielder. He was a career .248 hitter with 72 home runs in the minors, starting out in 2002 in the Arizona system.

The Blue Jays really wanted him back and were willing to trade Molina. The 22-year-old starter has excelled in his minor league career, going 27-7 with a 2.21 ERA overall. He was a combined 12-3 with a 2.21 ERA in Double-A and Class A last season.

Anthopoulos said Santos’ contract situation and “electric stuff” made him especially attractive, given his arm hasn’t endured a lot of wear because of his late switch to pitching.

Toronto’s saves leader last season was Frank Francisco with 17. Santos immediately inherited the role.

“He’s got the ninth inning for us,” Anthopoulos said. “We think he’s got a chance to be an elite closer.”

Chris Sale was second on the White Sox last season with eight saves. Chicago had planned to move him into the rotation next year.

Asked who would be the Chicago closer in 2012, new manager Robin Ventura wasn’t sure.

“I knew yesterday,” he said. “But obviously, you know, right now you’re going to wait and see how the rest of this week goes and figure it out from there.”

DALLAS – The Toronto Blue Jays acquired closer Sergio Santos from the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, bringing the pitcher back to the organization where he spent three seasons trying to make the majors as a shortstop.

Toronto gave up pitching prospect Nestor Molina to acquire the 28-year-old Santos in a swap made at baseball’s winter meetings.

Santos earned 30 saves in 36 chances this year, going 4-5 with a 3.55 earned-run average in 63 games. The 28-year-old righty is a strikeout pitcher, fanning 92 in 65 1-3 innings. He made a major league-record 25 straight scoreless appearances on the road to start the season.

Santos was golfing when Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos called to tell him about the trade. The deal caught Santos by surprise — a few days after the season ended, he signed an US$8.25-million, three-year contract with the White Sox.

Santos said he’s “glad to be back” with the Blue Jays.

“I’m excited to be moving to a new team and (one that’s) going in the direction that Toronto is going in,” Santos said on a conference call.

Santos was in Toronto’s minor league system from 2006-08 as a shortstop. He converted to pitching in 2009 while in the White Sox organization and made his big league debut the next year.

Anthopoulos was the Blue Jays’ assistant GM when Santos was in their organization. The team asked Santos if he wanted to take a try on the mound, but he wasn’t interested.

“He didn’t want to pitch. He believed in himself as a shortstop,” Anthopoulos said.

Santos made it as high as triple-A as an infielder. He was a career .248 hitter with 72 home runs in the minors, starting out in 2002 in the Arizona system.

The Blue Jays really wanted him back and were willing to trade Molina. The 22-year-old starter has excelled in his minor league career, going 27-7 with a 2.21 ERA overall. He was a combined 12-3 with a 2.21 ERA in double-A and class-A last season.

Anthopoulos said Santos’ contract situation and “electric stuff” made him especially attractive, given his arm hasn’t endured a lot of wear because of his late switch to pitching.

Toronto’s saves leader last season was Frank Francisco with 17. Santos immediately inherited the role.

“He’s got the ninth inning for us,” Anthopoulos said. “We think he’s got a chance to be an elite closer.”

Chris Sale was second on the White Sox last season with eight saves. Chicago had planned to move him into the rotation next year.

Asked who would be the Chicago closer in 2012, new manager Robin Ventura wasn’t sure.

“I knew yesterday,” he said. “But obviously, you know, right now you’re going to wait and see how the rest of this week goes and figure it out from there.”

By Dan Connolly

5:46 p.m. EST, December 6, 2011

DALLAS—

Do the Orioles have a chance to land Gavin Floyd or Carlos Quentin from the Chicago White Sox?

Absolutely. Or maybe not at all. It really depends on whom you ask.

The sides have definitely talked — and there is no question the Orioles would love to bring Floyd, a Mount St. Joseph alum, back to Baltimore. They also would be a decent fit for outfielder Carlos Quentin, whom the White Sox would consider moving to make room for Dayan Viciedo.

But there are some conflicting signals coming out of Chicago.

The White Sox traded their closer (Sergio Santos) today for a minor league pitcher (Nestor Molina) who wasn’t even on Baseball America’s Top 30 list in the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization last year.

So that’s a sure sign that the White Sox are in seller mode.

But earlier today, their GM, Kenny Williams, told reporters that although this may be the start of rebuilding, he expects to hold on to his veteran pitchers — Floyd and John Danks — because the offers from other teams just aren’t good enough.

Maybe that’s posturing. Maybe that’s his stance.

But the truth is the Orioles don’t have much to give up. The White Sox want to get younger and cheaper, and the Orioles don’t seem to want to unload any of their young pitching except maybe Brad Bergesen, whose name apparently has been floated around the Hilton Anatole.

So they are likely one of the teams that simply haven’t offered enough.