June 2005 - Chicago White Sox Wiretap

With the signing of Jon Garland on Tuesday, the White Sox now have five starting pitchers in the fold through 2007 -- with their best starter in the second half of last season facing the reality that his days with the team might be numbered. Jose Contreras is the only one of six potential starters who doesn't have a contract with the Sox beyond the 2006 season. While he is expected to be with the club in the upcoming season, the possibility remains that he could be traded if the Sox receive a flattering offer. General manager Ken Williams said Tuesday that the Sox' payroll stands at $95 million for next season, up from $75 million in 2005. ''If somebody wants to present an offer, we'll listen to overtures,'' Williams said. ''But at this point, where we are at, $95 million, is higher than we want it to be. But speaking to [chairman Jerry Reinsdorf], the only edict has been to win it again. Fortunately, he's allowed us some flexibility to try to do some things to do that.''

Pitcher Jon Garland agreed to a three-year, $29 million contract Wednesday with the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox. Garland, who was eligible to become a free agent after the 2006 season, will receive $7 million next year, $10 million in 2007 and $12 million in 2008, the White Sox said in a statement. The right-hander went 18-10 with a 3.50 ERA and led the American League in shutouts last season. He pitched three complete games and had 115 strikeouts in 32 starts. Garland, who made the AL All-Star team last season, went 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two postseason starts, including a complete-game victory against Los Angeles in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series. Garland is 64-61 with a 4.42 ERA in 181 career games over six major league seasons, all with the White Sox. Joe Crede and Rob Mackowiak are the only White Sox players eligible for salary arbitration.

The Mets, hopeful of upgrading their starting rotation this winter, missed out on one of their top targets yesterday. According to a major league executive, the Chicago White Sox have an agreement in principle to acquire Javier Vazquez from the Arizona Diamondbacks. In return for Vazquez and money, the White Sox are sending former Yankee Orlando Hernandez, righthanded reliever Luis Vizcaino and outfield prospect Chris Young. The deal is contingent on the players passing physicals. With this move, the World Series champs have upgraded their rotation for next season. Vazquez, 29, had formally demanded a trade from Arizona -- as was his collectively bargained right, as a veteran traded in the middle of a long-term contract. The Yankees, after signing him to a four-year, $45-million extension in January 2004, dealt him and others to Arizona for Randy Johnson this past Jan. 11. The Yankees acquired Vazquez from the Montreal Expos in December 2003, because Omar Minaya, the Expos' general manager at the time, needed to clear Vazquez for payroll purposes. Now with the big-market Mets, Minaya had been working to get Vazquez back under his employ. In return for Vazquez, the Diamondbacks wanted a package featuring Mets reliever Aaron Heilman, whom the Mets refused to surrender. Vazquez went 11-15 with a 4.42 ERA for the Diamondbacks in 2005.

The Chicago White Sox cut ties with slugger Frank Thomas, refusing Wednesday to offer salary arbitration to the two-time American League MVP. The World Series champions also declined to offer arbitration to designated hitter Carl Everett and backup catcher Raul Casanova. Players who became free agents and weren't offered arbitration can't re-sign with their former clubs until May 1. Players offered arbitration have until Dec. 19 to accept and can re-sign through Jan. 8.