Rumors...

"Paul Wylie" <paul.DeleteThis@teamwylie.removemunged.org> wrote in message
news:clk2j9$2ei$1@reader1.panix.com...
>I don't have an ESPN INsider account, so I can't tell what's what about
> this, but their front page currently shows a link to an INsiders-only
> story:
>
> * Rumors: White Sox to target Unit in offseason
>
> Okay, so first off, are the White Sox convinced that they're one great
> pitcher away from winning the World Series?

What .500ish team =doesn't= think it's a multiple-time Cy Young winner away
from the big prize? The Cubs and Astros both sure did last offseason, and
were widely considered front-runners in their league as a result. Of course,
the Pale Hose have other issues to address this winter (the status of
Magglio Ordoñez, the durability of Frank Thomas, the disasters at 3B and in
the 'pen), but having a 20-25-game winner fronting the rotation can do a lot
to ease Kenny Williams' job worries.

For a while.

> Secondly, what could they
> offer in return that the D-Backs would want?

More than the Yankees and Dodgers (especially with Jayson Werth's recent arm
woes), at least as much as the Marlins, Cardinals or Giants, but probably
not as much as the Angels. Willie Harris, Freddy Garcia and Timo Pérez would
be a decent moderate-pricetag package.

> And finally, is there even a
> remote chance in Hell that Randy Johnson would accept a trade to the White
> Sox?

Depends on a) whether Randy believes the DBacks are capable of improving
enough to be competitive if he remains, and b) what options with which Randy
is presented as far as potential destinations are concerned. If he has to
decide between Chicago and, say, replacing Pedro Martinez in Boston, the
cleaner set of Sox might prove more attractive.

> BTW: If Johnson had somehow gotten traded to the Cardinals, this WS might
> have featured a Johnson vs. Schilling matchup. That would have been
> fascinating to watch.

Johnson woulda bunted every time up.
--
_____

"[T]here now seems to be a Screen Actors Guild contract clause that prevents
members from speaking in public about voting unless they say something
absolutely embarrassing."

-- Catherine Seipp, Opinion Journal, "The Other Campaign", 15 Oct 04.
<http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110005760>
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