A couple of weeks ago on the Bores and Bernstein show (The Score 670 AM Mid-Day Show), Bernsy let on that according to his White Sox "Guy", they were going to be making a serious run at Carl Crawford. The preface being they'd be shopping Carlos Quentin to do so. Now I'm not entirely against shopping Quentin for the right price, but I believe that this not the trade the Sox should be investigating to create the flexibility needed to make a run at top notch free agent. The emergence of Chris Sale has afforded the White Sox the opportunity to look into trading Mark Buehrle.
Buehrle has cemented his legacy with the White Sox (World Series Champion, 2 No No's, and 1 Perfect Game). A move to the National League is now in order. The Sox could look into trading him back to his hometown, St. Louis or either of the other contenders (Braves, Marlins, Phils, etc.) All have deep farm systems and Buehrle will command a legit prospect or two. Either way, Buehrle would be able to compete at a very high level in the National League and make a run at another World Series.
For the White Sox, its all about flexibility within their budget. Trading Buehrle, along with letting Jenks and Kornerko walk, allows the Sox to not only clear a ton of money, but add to a farm system that already has some top flight talent (Jerrod Mitchell, Dayan Viciedo, Brent Morel,Jordan Danks, and Tyler Flowers)
The Sox rotation sets up like this w/o Buehrle:
1. Peavy
2. Danks
3. Floyd
4. Jackson
5. Sale
Re-signing Freddy Garcia to another minimal deal as a long reliever/Peavy insurance gives the White Sox a rotation they can win with for the next 3 or 4 years. Making this move gets them younger, creates salary space to sign a top tier free agent, and enhances their farm system. Making this move gets them closer to another World Series. Buehrle has had a legendary career with the White Sox and I'll always appreciate him, wherever he plays.
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Well Done, and well thought out. I believe that the American league should not be overlooked because one of the three contenders thats needs pitching: Texas, Boston, or New York will lose on the Cliff Lee war, and will need to appease their rabid fanbase with a quality arm.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feed back. Your spot on with AL contending teams needing a lefty starter. I'm sure the Sox will do what they can to appease Buehrle and get him to St. Louis, bet making the best deal possible should be their priority
ReplyDeleteST.Louis have anything left in the farm system worth looking at?
ReplyDeleteNice, but with Mark logging over 2,000 innings and looking tired the second half the last two seasons is it realistic that the Sox would receive a top prospect? Peavy has shown nothing but injury proneness (real word?) the last two seasons and is a #! but a reliable #1?
ReplyDeleteAs Kenny goes he will most likely keep Mark and trade the prospect Sale.
I don't expect the Sox to get a top flight prospect, but definitely a solid player or two. Buehrle is good for 200 innings A year and has pitched excellent in the post-season. Yes he's getting tired in the 2nd half, but not facing a DH will go a long way in the NL (i.e Ted Lilly) And while he's thrown 2000 innings, he's not a power pitcher, and could probably go on another 8-10 years. Sale is a special prospect, and there's proof that the Sox protect those guys (Beckham, Viciedo) I'm not saying the White Sox will make the move, only that they should.
ReplyDeleteI agree they should trade him also. Jokey knows i am a Buehrle man so it would be hard for me to see him go.
ReplyDeleteBut given Hudson, McCarthy, Richard, Gonzalez and countless other pitchers Kenny has traded through the years history is against Kenny keeping Sale.
Well Richard was a gamble for Peavy, but McCarthy for Danks, Hudson for Edwin Jackson, turned out to be the absolute right moves. Kenny isn't shy about trading youth, but I think Sale is a keeper
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