Chicago White Sox Offseason Outlook

With the World Series phinally over (seriously, I'm done with substituting PHs for Fs) it's time to look forward to making our team's better. Since Hartwig, out White Sox expert has been given vacation time so he can finish his collegiate career on a high note, I'll be taking over this post.

I know what you're thinking - what do Cubs fans know about building a contender? And I'll give you that, it's a valid point. But I did build three fantasy championships and countless champions in the MLB 2K series.

So with this post, I'll throw away all biases I have towards the Cubs as I attempt to build a championship-caliber squad for the Chicago White Sox.

C - A.J. Pierzynski $6.25 MM
C - Toby Hall $2.25 MM (club option)
1B - Paul Konerko $12 MM
2B - Chris Getz $400 K
3B -
SS - Alexei Ramirez $1.1 MM
IF - Josh Fields $400 K
LF - Carlos Quentin $400 K
CF - Brian Anderson $400 K
RF - Jermaine Dye $11.5 MM
OF - Dewayne Wise $400 K
OF/1B - Nick Swisher $5.3 MM
DH - Jim Thome $13 MM

SP - Mark Buehrle $14 MM
SP - Javier Vazquez $11.5 MM
SP - John Danks $400 K
SP - Gavin Floyd $400 K
SP - Clayton Richard $400 K

RP - Bobby Jenks $550 K
RP - Octavio Dotel $6 MM
RP - Scott Linebrink $4.5 MM
RP - Matt Thornton $1.325
RP - Boone Logan $405 K
RP - D.J. Carrasco $400 K
RP - Ehren Wasserman $400 K

Buyouts: Ken Griffey Jr. - $2 MM
Other committments: Jose Contreras - $10 MM, Mike MacDougal - $2.65 MM

By my calculations (again, via Cot's Baseball Contracts) the White Sox have about $109 committed to their 2009 squad. I could be wrong however, I'm terrible at math. But that sounds like a safe number.

The SouthSiders' started at $121,189,332 on Opening Day last season, a jump from $108,671,833. Thats a jump of $12,517,499 and that's the kind of jump in payroll I expect Jerry Reinsdorf to give GM Kenny Williams.

That should be good enough to help fill some of the holes on this squad, so let's get started.

Let's just make one thing clear, I don't think it's a possibility that Getz, Fields and Anderson all get starting jobs next season. Three youngsters starting with maximum potential and minimal experience and average numbers sounds like a recipe for disaster that the 2005 Cubs would be jealous of.

I think the Sox's top priority should be trading Javier "Not Big Game" Vazquez. Javy is a great regular season pitcher - even though his record hovers around .500 - and he racks up strikeouts like nobody's business.

But he can't beat the Twins or anyone in a pressure situation. He's got a no-trade clause that doesn't allow him to be traded to the AL West or NL West.

If the Sox can dump his $11.5 MM salary, they'd have about $23 million to spend this offeason. And that's good enough to make a few significant changes.

Expect Alexei Ramirez to move from second base to shortstop, opening up a spot potentially for a new second sacker. Brian Roberts is a potential trade option, while the best free agent out there is Orlando Hudson - a Gold Glover who can hit .300 if he can stay healthy.

Nick Swisher shouldn't be a center fielder, let alone one that plays everyday. Juan Pierre is going to be looking for a trade, and Pierre and manager Ozzie Guillen h ve ties to when both were with the Florida Marlins.

The White Sox's biggest hole might be at third base, where Josh Fields is capable, but might be better off used as trade bait. It's a dry free agent market for the hot corner, so Fields just might have to do if they can't acquire Chone Figgins from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Coming Monday - a "dream" White Sox team and a team that I think would be realistically attainable.

Because "fair and balanced" is how I (try to) roll.

Chicago Cubs Offseason Outlook

Finally, the World Series is over. You can start up the hot stove, now. And by the looks of things, it's time to throw a couple of logs on it.

Ah, hot stove talk. Reminds me of the days of Fireside Chats, TVs with bunny ear antennas and gas prices being around $1.50.

Shoot, gas is $2.19 in Carbondale. It's a shame prices will go up after the election. Because that's how it always happens. And no, you can't blame Barack. But if McCain gets elected, you can definitely blame him!

Anyway...

Let's start it off right by talking about the 2008 NL Central Division champion Chicago Cubs.

C - Geovany Soto $401 K
C - Henry Blanco $3 MM
1B - Derrek Lee $13 MM
2B - Mark DeRosa $5.5
3B - Aramis Ramirez $15.65 MM
SS - Ryan Theriot $428 K
IF - Ronnie Cedeno $407 K
IF - Mike Fontenot $405 K
LF - Alfonso Soriano $16 MM
CF - Kosuke Fukudome $11.5 MM
CF - Reed Johnson $1.3 MM
RF -
OF - Felix Pie $402 K
OF - Micah Hoffpauir $400 K

SP - Carlos Zambrano $17.75 MM
SP - Rich Harden $7 MM
SP - Ted Lilly $12 MM
SP - Sean Marshall $400 K
SP - Jason Marquis $9.875

RP - Carlos Marmol $430 K
RP - Chad Gaudin $1.775
RP - Jeff Samardzija $1.8 MM
RP - Neal Cotts $800 K
RP - Michael Wuertz $860 K
RP - Angel Guzman $401 K
RP - Kevin Hart $329,500 K

By my calculations (via Cot's Baseball Contracts) the Cubs have $121.8135 million tied into its returning players. That's without arbitration raises. I'm not good at that, so I'll keep my nose out of something I truly do not understand.

The Cubs' Opening Day salary was $118.345.833 which was up $18,675,501 from last season. I would expect the payroll to go up by at least that much. There have been some reports that the Cubs payroll could go up to $140 MM or $150 MM.

If the Cubs were able to have $30 MM to spend it would mean the Cubs could sign two impact players.

However, GM Jim Hendry should prioritize re-signing Kerry Wood. He wants a three-year deal and since he's been loyal to this franchise since Day 1, he deserves it. You give him a blank check for a two-year deal with a mutual option for a third year.

Does $10 MM over three years sound right? It does to me. But it's easier said than done.

As for Ryan Dempster, thanks for a great year. The chances of a repeat are slim, so I'd take the two draft picks that would come the Cubs' way to help rebuild the farm system.

Dempster would likely command a $14 MM per year salary and if that is the case then the Cubs should try to acquire Jake Peavy.

That would likely cost the Cubs a majority of their farm system, but a talent like Peavy is worth it. The Cubs could try to throw Derrek Lee in a deal that would also bring the left-handed power-hitting first baseman the Cub lineup really needs - Adrian Gonzalez.

The NorthSide Nine (as of right now) are the NorthSide Eight with the recent news that K-Fuk will be moving to center field as a part of a platoon with Reed Johnson.

That mean s right field is available for the following people: Bobby Abreu, Ken Griffey Jr., Raul Ibanez, Milton Bradley, Adam Dunn or even Manny Ramirez.

Abreu fits perfectly because he will likely only demand a three year deal and not too much money (which is an odd statement to make seeing that these guys are multi-millionaires.) He plays strong defense, has adequate power (career .498 SLG), speed (22 SBs in '08) and is patient (career OBP of .405) so he sounds like a perfect choice as a No. 3 hitter.

The Cubs could also put Mark DeRosa in right field if the Cubs are able to add (dare I say?) Brian Roberts at second base? The Cubs could also move Ryan Theriot and add free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.

Coming Monday. My "dream" team and my projected team.

Because Cubs fans can dream, but fans like me are realists. Unlike the guy who wrote these grand ideas.