Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

December 6, 2011 (DALLAS) —
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.”

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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DALLAS (AP)—The Chicago White Sox traded closer Sergio Santos(notes) 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(notes) 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(notes) 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.”

Leave your comments on the news below.

Gotta run!.

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have reinstated right-hander reliever Tony Pena from the 60-day disabled list and requested waivers for his unconditional release.

The 29-year-old Pena was 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA in 17 appearances before season-ending surgery Aug. 31 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Acquired from Arizona in July 2009, he was 7-6 with a 4.93 ERA overall for Chicago.

Chicago also outrighted right-handed pitchers Kyle Cofield, Josh Kinney and Shane Lindsay and left-hander Leyson Septimo to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

Kinney had a 6.62 ERA over 13 games with the White Sox this season, while Lindsay made four relief appearances. Septimo, claimed from Arizona, made 22 relief appearances for Double-A Birmingham, and Cofield spent most of the season with that club.

What do you guys think about this.

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have reinstated right-hander reliever Tony Pena from the 60-day disabled list and requested waivers for his unconditional release.

The 29-year-old Pena was 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA in 17 appearances before season-ending surgery Aug. 31 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Acquired from Arizona in July 2009, he was 7-6 with a 4.93 ERA overall for Chicago.

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When the Florida Marlins pried Ozzie Guillen out of his contract with the Chicago White Sox in late September, they sent the White Sox two prospects in return.

Jhan Marinez and Osvaldo Martinez were ranked the No. 4 and No. 5 prospects, respectively, in the Marlins’ farm system entering the season by Baseball America. Marinez, a righthanded pitcher, made 56 relief appearances at Double-A Jacksonville this season. Martinez, a shortstop, hit .245 with a .296 on-base percentage at Triple-A New Orleans.

With the Cubs on the brink of prying Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein away from his job in Boston, the issue of compensation has arisen again. It’s a little trickier in the case of Epstein than it was with Guillen, as Epstein presumably would receive some sort of promotion, and compensation tends not to be a part of promotions. When Jed Hoyer made the move from assistant general manager in Boston to general manager in San Diego, the Padres offered the Red Sox no compensation in return.

But Epstein, for all intents and purposes, would be the primary team-builder for the Cubs — and that’s just what his job has been in Boston. The Boston Herald reported that the Red Sox would demand “something real” in the way of compensation if Epstein left.

That “something real” would not be Starlin Castro, despite wishful rumors to the contrary.

But it could still be something of quality. The Cubs came into the season with a similar level of organizational talent as the Red Sox, meaning a talented player or two might be coming back the other way.

(For what it’s worth, as much as Epstein accomplished in Boston, a top prospect or two would be a fair price to pay — especially if longtime Epstein lieutenant Ben Cherington slides into the vacant chair to provide continuity.)

Of the 10 prospects Baseball America named as the best in the Cubs’ system last January, three wound up being traded to Tampa Bay in the Matt Garza deal.

But plenty of talent remains.

At the top of the list is outfielder Brett Jackson, a 23-year-old former first-round draft pick who hit .297 with a .388 on-base percentage and .551 slugging percentage in half a season at Triple-A Iowa this season. He also — like Ryan Kalish and Josh Reddick — swings from the left side of the plate. . According to Baseball America last winter, “Jackson’s quick bat, loft in his swing and plus speed should make him an annual 20-20 threat in the majors.”

Righthanded pitcher Trey McNutt, a 22-year-old former 32nd-round draft pick, compiled a 4.55 ERA in 95 innings pitched at Double-A Tennessee in his second full season in the minor leagues. He struck out 65 hitters and walked 39 in that span, and he compiled a WHIP of 1.674. Lefty Chris Rusin— not listed among the Cubs’ top prospects at the start of the season — compiled a 3.96 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio over 3.0 in 138 2/3 innings pitched as a 24-year-old at Double-A and Triple-A.

Righthanded pitcher Chris Carpenter, a 25-year-old former third-round draft pick, made the transition from starter to reliever this season and compiled a 5.91 ERA in 32 relief appearances at Double-A and Triple-A. Righthanded pitcher Hayden Simpson, the Cubs’ No. 1 draft pick in 2010, compiled a 6.27 ERA in his first 79 innings pitched as a professional.

Outfielder Matt Szczur, a 22-year-old former fifth-round draft pick who played football at Villanova, hit .293 with a .335 on-base percentage and 24 stolen bases at two Single-A levels this season.

One intriguing pickup would be 23-year-old former second-round pick D.J. LeMahieu, a versatile infielder who hit .319 with a .354 on-base percentage and .423 slugging percentage at Double-A and Triple-A this season. He came to the plate 62 times with the Cubs last season. His walk rate is his biggest question mark, something the Red Sox might find problematic.

bmacpherson@providencejournal.com

What are your opinions.

There is the quick update of the day.

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CHICAGO — Former All-Star third baseman Robin Ventura is replacing the fiery Ozzie Guillen as manager of the Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox say that Ventura agreed to a multiyear deal on Thursday.

A longtime star with the White Sox, Ventura was hired by the club last June as a special adviser to director of player development Buddy Bell. Ventura is the 38th White Sox manager overall, including 17 who played for the team.

Guillen was released from his contract with one year remaining after eight seasons with the White Sox and immediately was hired by the Florida Marlins as their manager.

Ventura was a first-round draft pick of the White Sox out of Oklahoma State in 1988 and spent the first 10 seasons of his his career there before joining the Mets for the three years and the Yankees for two.

Known for his slick fielding, clutch hitting and left-handed power, Ventura also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was six-time Gold Glove winner and an All-Star in 1992 and 2002.

Ventura’s selection came as a surprise. Most speculation had the White Sox’s top candidates as either Tampa Rays coach Dave Martinez or Cleveland Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. Both are former White Sox players.

“When I met with the media as our season ended, I identified one person at the very top of my managerial list,” White Sox general manager Ken Williams said in a team release.

“I wanted someone who met very specific criteria centered around his leadership abilities. Robin Ventura was that man. His baseball knowledge and expertise, his professionalism, his familiarity with the White Sox and Chicago and his outstanding character make him absolutely the right person to lead our clubhouse and this organization into the seasons ahead.”

Ventura, who has also dabbled in TV commentary, said he welcomed the chance to return to the city where his major league career started.

“When I rejoined the White Sox this June, I said this was my baseball home and that part of me never left the White Sox organization,” Ventura said. “My family and I are thrilled to be returning to Chicago. Managing a major league baseball team is a tremendous honor. It’s also an opportunity and a challenge.”

Pitching coach Don Cooper and first base coach Harold Baines were already re-signed to multiyear contract extensions before the season ended. Hitting coach Greg Walker is not returning.

Ventura batted hit .267 with 294 home runs and 1,182 RBIs over his career. His 18 career grand slams are tied for fifth in major league history.

He appeared in 1,254 games over 10 seasons with the White Sox, hitting .274 with 171 home runs and 741 RBI. He ranks among the White Sox career leaders in grand slams, walks, homers, RBIs, extra-base hits and runs scored.

Ventura led Oklahoma State to the College World Series and still holds the Division I record with a 58-game hitting streak.

Guillen, who was a friend of Ventura’s while with the White Sox, left after he couldn’t get a contract extension from owner Jerry Reinsdorf. His relationship with Williams had become fractured over the last two seasons.

Expected to be contenders this season, the White Sox finished 79-83 and third in the AL Central as several key players, most notably DH Adam Dunn and center fielder Alex Rios, struggled offensively.

With the managerial search completed, Chicago’s next big offseason move could be determining whether to bring back longtime ace Mark Buehrle, who will be a free agent.

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White Sox closer Sergio Santos has agreed to an $8.25-million, three-year contract that includes three club options.

The 28-year-old Santos went 4-5 with 30 saves and a 3.55 ERA in 63 appearances this season. He made a major league-record 25 straight scoreless appearances on the road to start the season from April 2-August 30.

The White Sox announced the deal on Friday.

Santos will receive $1 million next season, $2.75 million in 2013 and $3.75 million in 2014. The options are for $6 million in 2015, $8 million in 2016 and $8.75 million the following season.

Santos also gets $750,000 if the White Sox decline any of the three options.

Chicago acquired Santos in a trade with San Francisco in 2009.

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© Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Not much else going on in the MLB planet today.

The Chicago White Sox are looking ahead to 2012. Adam Dunn(notes) would surely like
to forget this year.

Dunn and the White Sox try to conclude a difficult season on a positive note
Wednesday, when they look to sweep a three-game home series from the Toronto
Blue Jays for the first time in 16 years.

Chicago (79-82) is finishing with a losing record for the third time in five
seasons, and will undergo a managerial search after releasing Ozzie Guillen from
his contract Monday. Guillen is expected to take the helm of the Florida
Marlins.

The White Sox won their first game without Guillen on Tuesday, beating
Toronto 2-1 in what might be ace Mark Buehrle’s(notes) last game with Chicago. He can
become a free agent after the season.

“They have a lot of decisions to make, a lot of pieces they can trade, a lot
of guys they can get back,” Buehrle said.

Chicago has a chance to sweep three games from the Blue Jays at home for the
first time since winning three contests Sept. 1-3, 1995.

Dunn hasn’t done much to help the White Sox achieve that feat, striking out
in all five of his at-bats in this series.

The designated hitter is in an 0-for-22 slump as the worst season of his
career comes to an end. Despite going 2 for 4 with a homer and four RBIs in his
White Sox debut on opening day, Dunn has a .159 average with 11 homers and 42
RBIs.

His 177 strikeouts broke a team record that had stood since 1963. He is
unlikely to eclipse Rob Deer’s record .179 average in 1991 as the worst
qualifying batting average, as he needs six plate appearances.

Dunn, who vowed last week to “never talk about it again” after this season
is over, doesn’t appear to have a good chance to raise his average in the
finale. He is 1 for 19 with 13 strikeouts against Toronto (80-81).

Phillip Humber (9-9, 3.86 ERA) has been enduring his own issues of late,
going 1-5 with a 6.15 ERA in his last 10 starts. The right-hander is 0-1 with a
9.00 ERA in his most recent two outings.

“It’s frustrating,” Humber told the team’s official website. “It’s probably
a good lesson for me learning to deal with adversity. I obviously want to finish
the season strong, but at the same time, I can’t try too hard.”

Humber allowed one run in 7 2-3 innings but didn’t get the decision in a 3-1
win over the Blue Jays on May 26, his only career start versus Toronto.

The Blue Jays’ Brandon Morrow(notes) (11-11, 4.78) will try to continue his longest
shutout streak as a starter. The right-hander has won back-to-back starts while
tossing 15 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and striking out 17.

The dazzling stretch has followed a dismal five games in which he went 0-4
with a 9.47 ERA.

Morrow held Tampa Bay to two hits and struck out nine in seven innings of a
5-1 road victory Friday.

“I’m trying to finish strong,” Morrow told the team’s official website.
“It’s a little frustrating to come to it now, but like I said, when you go
through that (rough) stretch all you can do is learn from it. That’s what I
tried to do and I think I came to the realization that that’s the approach I’m
going to take.”

Morrow is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts against the White Sox. He
opposed Humber in May and yielded one run in seven innings, not getting a
decision.

What are your opinions.

(Sports Network) – Brandon Morrow tries to cap his campaign with a flourish
this afternoon when the Toronto Blue Jays wrap up their season against the
Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

After holding the New York Yankees scoreless for eight innings on September
18, the right-hander scattered two hits and did not give up a run over seven
innings on Friday to Tampa Bay, as he improved to 11-11 to go along with a
4.78 ERA. He also struck out nine in the win and has fanned 17 in his last two
starts.

Morrow has faced the White Sox eight times (three starts) and is 0-1 with a
4.29 ERA.

Chicago, meanwhile, will counter with righty Philip Humber, who is 9-9 with a
3.86 ERA. Humber lost to Cleveland his last time out, allowing seven runs and
eight hits in six innings.

This will be his second-ever start against the Blue Jays.

The White Sox won their first game without former manager Ozzie Guillen on
Tuesday, as Mark Buehrle pitched seven shutout frames to lead Chicago to a 2-1
win.

Guillen was let out of his contract and coached his last game on Monday,
paving the way for first interim manager Joey Cora and then Don Cooper to take
over for the last two games. Cora was named interim manager on Monday, but
after consultation with general manager Kenny Williams, Cooper was given the
role for the final two games. Guillen is reportedly set to become the Marlins
manager and will reportedly bring Cora with him to south Florida.

The manager roulette didn’t overshadow the White Sox stalwart on a rainy night
on the south side. Buehrle (13-9) pitched his prototypical game, giving up
nearly as many hits (six) as innings pitched, but he danced in and out of
trouble thanks to six strikeouts and zero walks. He came out for the eighth
inning by himself and was then removed by Cooper, leaving the field to a
standing ovation.

Buehrle, a free agent after the season, has pitched his entire 12-year career
with the White Sox, winning 161 games in the process and helping the club to
the 2005 World Series title.

Alejandro De Aza finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and Tyler Flowers hit a
solo home run for the White Sox, who have won the first two games of this
series.

Henderson Alvarez (1-3) was the hard-luck loser, giving up just the two runs
on seven hits with six strikeouts over seven frames. Jose Bautista and Jose
Molina each finished with two hits for Toronto, which has lost four straight.

Toronto took three of four meetings from Chicago back in May.

The Sports Network

That’s all for today.