Season Preview: Assembling the Roster

Unlike years past, the 2008 Chicago White Sox will enter spring training with a different outlook. After finishing fourth in the AL Central last season, the climb back to the top of the standings appears much more daunting - due in large part to an Indians team that was one win away from the world series, and a Tigers team that made blockbuster moves to acquire Edgar Renteria, Dontrelle Willis, and Miguel Cabrera. The White Sox, who made a few headline moves as
well this offseason, would be much better served if they were in the inferior NL. Sadly, they are in possibly the best division in baseball, and any aspirations to contend should be put on hold for now. Although it would have been wise to tear down and rebuild, GM Kenny Williams instead decided to try to reload. At a serious cost to the minor league system, Williams added Carlos Quentin, Nick Swisher, and Orlando Cabrera through trades. With a newfound emphasis on financial flexibility and OBP, Williams appears to be on his way to righting the ship. Although it will be a long road back to the top of the division, I expect the White Sox to play reasonably respectable baseball, and finish with anywhere between 78-82 wins. Williams is almost done, but there are still some minor tweaks to be made. Let's assemble the 25 man roster.

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San Francisco Giants: Joe Crede
Chicago White Sox: Fred Lewis
This move is just too obvious. Although recent internet reports have linked the White Sox to guys like Noah Lowry and Matt Cain, that is bunk for opposite reasons. No GM on the face of this earth, not even the god-awful Brian Sabean, best known for his fetish for the old and decrepit players, would trade Cain for anything less than a package that included a young, surefire all-star position player (see: Alex Rios). Lewis is a solid acquisition for a couple different reasons: he fills the void of a true fourth OF on this team and he adds an all around solid player to a bench lacking in any talent. Lewis has no talent that stands out above all others, which prevents him from ever ascending to full-time status. Or as prospect aficionado Kevin Goldstein wrote for BP in 2006:

Lewis lacks that one over-the-top skill to make him an every day player, but he can do so many things that he should carve out a nice career for himself. The Giants have too many outfielders right now for it to start in 2007, however.

He could thrive on the bench and potentially fill a starting role in 2009 or 2010 when Nick Swisher slides over to 1B, Konerko slides to DH, and Thome slides into retirement. Lewis has the capability to play all three OF positions and plays adequate defense at all of them. He is versatile enough to fill the speed role, but has enough punch to pinch-hit at the end of games (which is more than I can say for the current speed guys, Pablo Ozuna and Jerry Owens).
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St. Louis Cardinals: Jerry Owens
Chicago White Sox: Tyler Greene
Forget Owens' ridiculously abnormal and inflated September statistics - a BABIP of .407 aided his line of .340/.396/.371. I didn't even know it was possible to bat .340 and slug .371 - could you imagine what Adam Dunn's line would look like if he had a BABIP of .407? Good God. Owens is not a CF, not even at U.S. Cellular Field. He has no arm and does not take good reads on the ball - his speed makes up for some of his mistakes, and was the driving force behind his good ranking in +/- defensive statistics. I just have no interest in keeping Owens in the organization. Lewis fills his role quite nicely and is literally better at everything - save possibly base stealing. If you give Ozzie Guillen a guy like Owens, you can count on a lot of pine for Carlos Quentin, something that is counterproductive this season and will be for years to come. Carlos needs plate appearances in the majors right now; he is ready to make the jump and translate his talents in a healthy 2008 campaign. So why would the Cardinals do this? Because they're the Cardinals. They build a team of little leaguers around Pujols and hope for the best. They're a poorly run organization from top to bottom, and I would expect them to salivate at the idea of a bantam weight base-stealer at the top. I'm sure they'd have no problem parting with Greene - who would simply be organizational filler for the White Sox. Someone's gotta play shortstop in Charlotte - and I don't want them to sign the immortal Rey Ordonez to fill the void. Might as well try to groom Greene into a solid backup. This also opens up a key spot on the 40-man roster.
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Colorado Rockies: Matt Thornton, Brian Anderson
Chicago White Sox: Ryan Spilborghs
It is an absolute must for the White Sox to clear a spot in the bullpen for a swing-man, and this would be the move to do it. This also shores up the bench quite a bit, as Spilborghs put up a fantastic line last season in Colorado (albeit with pretty severe home/away splits). Anderson is the goat of the organization, and I just can't see what else Kenny would do with him. He is clearly fed up with the way the organization has treated him, and it would be best for both to part ways. Thornton is an average relief pitcher who the Sox could do without, especially with LOOGY personified in Boone Logan becoming a more integral part of the 'pen. Spilborghs can solidify the bench and provide a right handed alternative in CF - a key member of the bench that can allow a shift of Thome to bench, Dye/Konerko to DH, and Swisher to LF/1B against southpaws. Spilborghs adds flexibility to the lineup and clears a spot in the bullpen for a long reliever - something that will be necessary with the horrid back-end of the rotation.
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These are three simple moves that would certainly improve the bench and rid the White Sox of an injured contract (Crede), and curb Ozzie's temptation for speed! speed! speed! at the top of this lineup.

So how would I construct the team?

C: A.J. Pierzynski, Toby Hall
1B: Paul Konerko, Jim Thome
2B: Danny Richar
3B: Josh Fields
SS: Orlando Cabrera, Juan Uribe
OF: Jermaine Dye, Nick Swisher, Carlos Quentin, Ryan Spilborghs, Fred Lewis

SP: Mark Buehrle
SP: Javier Vazquez
SP: Jose Contreras
SP: John Danks
SP: Gavin Floyd

RP: Bobby Jenks
RP: Octavio Dotel
RP: Scott Linebrink
RP: Ehren Wasserman
RP: Boone Logan
RP: Mike MacDougal
RP: Nick Masset

Where's Pablo Ozuna? Also DFA'd. Old + broken leg + no discernable talent/value + no defense + easy replacements = DFA.

Tomorrow: I will dissect my choices pick by pick and then construct lineups vs. RHP/LHP/fat SP/thin SP/intergalactic SP and the like.