Sox sign Garcia

This is nice news. It's still rather irrelevant to the trade but Garcia for
8/9/10 million per year over the next three years is not a bad price for
him. Well, assuming that the Garcia of this year is the real Freddy and not
the one of the previous two years. I think that the odds are in our favor.

___________

White Sox and pitcher Freddy Garcia agree to three-year contract extension



CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a three-year,
$27-million contract extension with right-handed pitcher Freddy Garcia.
Under terms of the agreement, Garcia will receive $8 million in 2005, $9
million in 2006 and $10 million in 2007.
Garcia, 28, was acquired by the White Sox from Seattle on June 27 with
catcher Ben Davis and cash considerations in exchange for catcher Miguel
Olivo and minor-leaguers Jeremy Reed and Michael Morse. The 6-4, 240-pounder
is 5-7 with a 3.35 ERA (42 ER/113.0 IP) and 91 strikeouts in 16 combined
starts with the Mariners (15) and Sox (one).

"When we acquired Freddy, our short-term goal was for him to help us reach
the playoffs and beyond," said Ken Williams, White Sox general manager. "But
in planning for the future, we also felt he was a necessary ingredient to
help sustain the long-term success of the organization."

Garcia, who makes his White Sox home debut tonight vs. Anaheim, ranks among
the American League leaders in baserunners per 9.0 IP (5th, 10.99),
strikeouts (T5th), ERA (6th), opponents average (7th, .239),
strikeout-to-walk ratio (8th, 2.84), IP (T8th) and strikeouts per 9.0 IP
(10th, 7.25). He has received just 2.71 runs of support per 9.0 IP, fewest
in the AL. Garcia won his White Sox debut on June 30 at Minnesota, allowing
five runs (four earned) with a season-high tying nine strikeouts over 6.0
IP.

In five-plus major-league seasons with the Mariners (1999-2004) and White
Sox, Garcia has gone 77-50 with a 3.90 ERA (478 ER/1,102.1 IP) and 828
strikeouts in 171 games (170 starts). Since the start of the 2001 season, he
ranks among the AL leaders in IP (3rd, 776.2), games started (4th, 117),
strikeouts (5th, 578), wins (8th, 51) and opponents average (8th, .245).

Garcia, a two-time AL All-Star (2001-2002), owns nine career complete games
and four shutouts. The native of Caracas, Venezuela, enjoyed his best season
in 2001, going 18-6 with a league-leading 3.05 ERA. He also went 17-8 for
Seattle in 1999 and 16-10 in 2002.

"Anthony Giacalone" <agiacalone DeleteThis @wideopenwest.com> wrote in
news:2l0elaF791a1U1@uni-berlin.de:
> This is nice news. It's still rather irrelevant to the trade but
> Garcia for 8/9/10 million per year over the next three years is not a
> bad price for him.

I don't really think it is irrelevant. I suspect the dynamics would have
been much different if the Sox were competing simultaneously with other
bidders after the season ended. I doubt they would end up signing him in
that situation.

I could be wrong, though!