| Kyle Trompeter. 28th July, 2005 - 1:13 am
 With the trade deadline approaching, many teams are looking for the final pieces to the puzzle to make a run at the playoffs. For the team with the best record in baseball, the Chicago White Sox, that need is a power starting pitcher.
The recent reports have indicated that there has been talks between Sox GM Kenny Williams and the Florida Marlins about the availability of pitcher A.J. Burnett. A potential deal would bring the Florida fireballer to the south side in exchange for top pitching prospect Brandon McCarthy, left handed reliever Damaso Marte, and possibly starter Jose Contreras. Contreras, who has been inconsistent at best this year, sports a 6-6 record with a 4.36 earned run average this year.
In addition to Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, and Freddy Garcia, Burnett would round out a rotation that would pose as one of the more dominant group of starters in the big leagues. On the season, Burnett has a 7-6 record with a 3.48 era.
The same effect would occur if the White Sox go a different route and acquire San Francisco starter Jason Schmidt. The former all star has been battling injuries all season and has a pedestrian numbers (7-5, 4.53). However, unlike Burnett, Schmidt has postseason experience with a 3-1 record and a 3.06 era, and anchored the 2003 Giants rotation that made a serious run in the World Series.
The White Sox will run into one big dilemma with any trade they make for a top of the line starter, and that is having to trade McCarthy. Deemed as the crown jewel of the organization, McCarthy would be hard for any GM to let go of. Williams has to decide whether he wants to part with the future to benefit his team’s chances this year or to hold onto his young stud and play for the long haul.
One fear in this type of deal is that Burnett or Schmidt would become a rent a player and leave when the season is over. Again, is it worth it for Williams to sacrifice a pitcher that might be with the team for several years for one that is with the team for only two or so months? If the White Sox are able to ink the new player into an extension at a reasonable price, and I say reasonable because they will need money for Garland as he is arbitration eligible soon, then the deal will be worthwhile.
It’s been a long time since the White Sox have been in such a great position to make a run at the World Series, and this year is as good as any to push all your chips to the middle of the table and go for broke. It’s an approach that is high risk, high reward. But if you’re serious about winning a championship, you should only focus on the latter part of the saying, high reward. |
