Trade (1 Viewer)

[PatriotJohn]

Per Baseball Digest Daily:

The Oakland A's today traded outfielder Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox for left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez, right-handed pitcher Fautino De Los Santos and outfielder Ryan Sweeney. More information shortly at www.baseballdigestdaily.com.

Baseball Digest Daily, 124 Bishop Lane, Holbrook, NY 11741, USA

 

[Sammy3469]

Per Baseball Digest Daily:

The Oakland A's today traded outfielder Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox for left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez, right-handed pitcher Fautino De Los Santos and outfielder Ryan Sweeney. More information shortly at www.baseballdigestdaily.com.

Baseball Digest Daily, 124 Bishop Lane, Holbrook, NY 11741, USA

Wow...while I like Swisher, he's not worth the White Sox top 2 pitching prospects and Sweeney. A's are going to be brutal this year.

 

[Green94]

Per Baseball Digest Daily:

The Oakland A's today traded outfielder Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox for left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez, right-handed pitcher Fautino De Los Santos and outfielder Ryan Sweeney. More information shortly at www.baseballdigestdaily.com.

Baseball Digest Daily, 124 Bishop Lane, Holbrook, NY 11741, USA

 

[RedRaiders]

Gio Gonzalez moves again! Unreal with that guy.

 

[Limp Ditka]

 

[Eephus]

Good move for Beane in moving Swisher at a time of peak value. The A's will stink this year but are probably looking towards their move. Young pitching always entails risk but both prospects have high upside. Sweeney looks like a AAAA player.

I don't understand the move from Chicago's perspective. They've gutted their farm system which wasn't thant strong to begin with. Swisher will help them now but they're still the fourth best team in their division.

 

[shadyridr]

Can anyone tell me why the White Sox won a WS with speed, pitching, and defense and then the next year they went completely away from that and just focused on power?

 

[Green94]

Can anyone tell me why the White Sox won a WS with speed, pitching, and defense and then the next year they went completely away from that and just focused on power?

No clue.So basically this team next year will be full of below average hitters with a lot of power.

 

[Balco]

Wow, White Sox are a disaster. I actually think Swisher is a solid MLB player (defense notwithstanding), but the Sox are not going to cpmpete with Cleveland and Detroit. And now their farm system is shot.

Gotta love Billy Beane. If you are going to tear it down, do it 100 %. Now the young players will get a chance to show their stuff, and you just know 2 or 3 of those pitching prospects are going to be good. Beane is just a fantastic gm.

 

[Knightro]

Kenny Williams has the early lead for dumbest trade of the 2008 season.

Short-term, good deal. Swisher could hit 40 bombs in US Cellular which aids LH HR hitters by 40% while Oakland was -10%. However, they just gave up their #1, #2 and #4 or 5 prospect in this deal and the 1st two could have been factors later this year and most certainly next year.

 

[Knightro]

Wow, White Sox are a disaster. I actually think Swisher is a solid MLB player (defense notwithstanding), but the Sox are not going to cpmpete with Cleveland and Detroit. And now their farm system is shot.

Detroit's farm system is also completely shot after their deal as well. In that division, the Tribe have the best farm system followed by the Twins.....Royals....................................Tigers, WhiteSox.

 

[Eephus]

Kenny Williams has the early lead for dumbest trade of the 2008 season.

Brian Schneider down?

Short-term, good deal. Swisher could hit 40 bombs in US Cellular which aids LH HR hitters by 40% while Oakland was -10%. However, they just gave up their #1, #2 and #4 or 5 prospect in this deal and the 1st two could have been factors later this year and most certainly next year.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good deal the A's pulled off. But the Sox got the best player in the deal, at least until either DLS or Gio develop into a MLB pitcher. They were top prospects but the Chicago farm system isn't exactly stacked with talent. It's a deal Beane can make because he has job security and the A's planning horizon is in the direction of Fremont.Swisher is a solid all-around player entering his prime years and is locked in contractually through 2012. The problem isn't that's he not good, it's that the rest of the White Sox aren't. Swish may attract a few female fans to the ballpark and on the field may be enough to keep them ahead of the Royals, but the trade doesn't make them a contender.

 

[Wrigley]

I Love this trade.

 

[pettifogger]

I just reupped A's weekend season tix last week. Now it looks like I'm going to be seeing the Sacramento RiverCats trying to compete at the MLB level.

I realise we got three prospects, but Swish is only 27 next year, has 100 walks last year and 35 HRs the year before, controllable for three more years. Those are the kind of guys you try to acquire, not peddle.

I have faith in Billy's evaluation but the next couple of years are going to be brutal for A's fans.

 

[Keys Myaths]

Can anyone tell me why the White Sox won a WS with speed, pitching, and defense and then the next year they went completely away from that and just focused on power?

Because they didn't win a WS with speed, pitching and defense.They won with great pitching and good power.

 

[Wrigley]

Can anyone tell me why the White Sox won a WS with speed, pitching, and defense and then the next year they went completely away from that and just focused on power?

Because they didn't win a WS with speed, pitching and defense.They won with great pitching and good power.

I don't remember that as one of the"grinder" rules.

 

[wilked]

White Sox won because the planets aligned...damn near all the players had career years, and they found a star closer out of nowhere.

This trade is brutal for the Pale Hose. Beane is really stocking this team to be strong in 3 years time

 

[ack34]

I never realized how bleak the White Sox farm system was.

Personally, I don't think Gonzalez is going to amount to much and Sweeney is another 4th OF. De Los Santos is real young...let's see if he pans out.

Swisher makes the current White Sox much better and gives them a young enough bat that can beat you a number of ways. I don't think he's worth selling your system for, but then again, the White Sox system isn't worth all that much.

 

[MrPhoenix]

Personally, I don't think Gonzalez is going to amount to much

Check out his 2007 stats in AA and tell me he's not going to amount to muchThe guy is gonna be absolute nails if you ask me.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Keith Law at ESPN and other sabemetric types love the trade. Swisher doesn't hit for high average but he is a great OBP guy who is known for running deep pitch counts.

A friend of mine is a big White Sox and he told me that about ten years or so ago the White Sox had three highly regarded young pitchers that they refused to trade unless for a king's ransom. One was named Scott Ruffcorn (I forget the other two), and they had tremendous upside.

The Sox held onto them--all three proved to be the suck. And the Sox got zilco for them when they could have gotten a lot.

 

[TitusIII]

I'll take the 26 year-old Swisher and his .380+ OBP and 30+ homers any day of the week. Gio Gonzales dominated AA, but the guy is tiny, and has been swapped three times in his short career. Who knows what the DeLosSantos kid will be. I'm not sure what the Sox plan on doing in '08, but I'll be surprised if the Sox "lose" this trade.

 

[wilked]

I'll take the 26 year-old Swisher and his .380+ OBP and 30+ homers any day of the week. Gio Gonzales dominated AA, but the guy is tiny, and has been swapped three times in his short career. Who knows what the DeLosSantos kid will be. I'm not sure what the Sox plan on doing in '08, but I'll be surprised if the Sox "lose" this trade.

Wow, you really have no idea how shallow the White Sox pitching staff is right nowAre you really going to justify this trade by saying 'have no idea how such and such minor leaguer will be'. Of course, that is why they are a prospect. But when said prospect strikes out 1 out of every 3 batters he faces, people start to pay attention. Now imagine it is not one pitcher like that, but two. Add in an OF who looked great until he had an off-year last year and you start to see what a bad trade this was for the White Sox.White Sox will be lucky to finish higher then 4th in their division, and certainly won't finish in the top 2. Why exactly are they literally selling the farm? They have arguably one of the 3 worst farm systems in all of baseball now

 

[Bobcat10]

I'll take the 26 year-old Swisher and his .380+ OBP and 30+ homers any day of the week. Gio Gonzales dominated AA, but the guy is tiny, and has been swapped three times in his short career. Who knows what the DeLosSantos kid will be. I'm not sure what the Sox plan on doing in '08, but I'll be surprised if the Sox "lose" this trade.

Wow, you really have no idea how shallow the White Sox pitching staff is right nowAre you really going to justify this trade by saying 'have no idea how such and such minor leaguer will be'. Of course, that is why they are a prospect. But when said prospect strikes out 1 out of every 3 batters he faces, people start to pay attention. Now imagine it is not one pitcher like that, but two. Add in an OF who looked great until he had an off-year last year and you start to see what a bad trade this was for the White Sox.White Sox will be lucky to finish higher then 4th in their division, and certainly won't finish in the top 2. Why exactly are they literally selling the farm? They have arguably one of the 3 worst farm systems in all of baseball now

Maybe the stars will allign for them once again.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Maybe the stars will allign for them once again.

They will at least 11 times vs the Tigers this year who can't figure that team out because it pisses me off.

 

[TitusIII]

I'll take the 26 year-old Swisher and his .380+ OBP and 30+ homers any day of the week. Gio Gonzales dominated AA, but the guy is tiny, and has been swapped three times in his short career. Who knows what the DeLosSantos kid will be. I'm not sure what the Sox plan on doing in '08, but I'll be surprised if the Sox "lose" this trade.

Wow, you really have no idea how shallow the White Sox pitching staff is right nowAre you really going to justify this trade by saying 'have no idea how such and such minor leaguer will be'. Of course, that is why they are a prospect. But when said prospect strikes out 1 out of every 3 batters he faces, people start to pay attention. Now imagine it is not one pitcher like that, but two. Add in an OF who looked great until he had an off-year last year and you start to see what a bad trade this was for the White Sox.White Sox will be lucky to finish higher then 4th in their division, and certainly won't finish in the top 2. Why exactly are they literally selling the farm? They have arguably one of the 3 worst farm systems in all of baseball now

I don't see the Sox having a shallow pitching staff, Burls/Vazquez/Danks/Jenks is pretty solid. Of course, Gio could win the Cy down the road, but in all likelyhood he will be out of baseball in 5 years. Time will tell, but I'll take the proven 26 year-olf talent...and the Sox OBP was piss-poor last season, this trade in theory makes the 2008 team better...

 

[Green94]

White Sox won because the planets aligned...

Any team but the Red Sox winning the World Series requires this I'm assuming?

 

[Green94]

I don't see the Sox having a shallow pitching staff, Burls/Vazquez/Danks/Jenks is pretty solid.

Buerhle and Vazquez are your only reliable starters here... after that it's a crapshoot. They are in big trouble.

 

[MrPhoenix]

I'll take the 26 year-old Swisher and his .380+ OBP and 30+ homers any day of the week. Gio Gonzales dominated AA, but the guy is tiny, and has been swapped three times in his short career. Who knows what the DeLosSantos kid will be. I'm not sure what the Sox plan on doing in '08, but I'll be surprised if the Sox "lose" this trade.

Wow, you really have no idea how shallow the White Sox pitching staff is right nowAre you really going to justify this trade by saying 'have no idea how such and such minor leaguer will be'. Of course, that is why they are a prospect. But when said prospect strikes out 1 out of every 3 batters he faces, people start to pay attention. Now imagine it is not one pitcher like that, but two. Add in an OF who looked great until he had an off-year last year and you start to see what a bad trade this was for the White Sox.

White Sox will be lucky to finish higher then 4th in their division, and certainly won't finish in the top 2. Why exactly are they literally selling the farm? They have arguably one of the 3 worst farm systems in all of baseball now

I don't see the Sox having a shallow pitching staff, Burls/Vazquez/Danks/Jenks is pretty solid. Of course, Gio could win the Cy down the road, but in all likelyhood he will be out of baseball in 5 years. Time will tell, but I'll take the proven 26 year-olf talent...and the Sox OBP was piss-poor last season, this trade in theory makes the 2008 team better...

You do realize that Jenks is a closer, right?

 

[wilked]

White Sox won because the planets aligned...

Any team but the Red Sox winning the World Series requires this I'm assuming?

Yes, that is the only logical conclusion. Fact is, White Sox have not had any success other than that year. It was a fluky thing that they managed to have everything work out for them in that one year. It is not that they built a team designed to sustain success for a couple of years, they more or less struck gold in multiple places all at once. That is not to take away from their championship, but frankly the team management is not very good, from manager on up. The Marlins are another team that won a championship and quickly settled into mediocrity, but they did so for a very real reason - i.e. they blew the team up to save money. Chicago kept most of the team intact, but career years are called as much for good reason. That is why it is so puzzling that they would trade away their future for a player who, while very good, is not enough to help the team compete. They have no real shot at playoffs this year.Also, lol at whoever cited their Top 3 starters and a closer as showing that they had pitching depth. Guess what - depth starts after that, and the well is now dry.I am suprised that the White Sox fans are not more pissed about this offseason, frankly.

 

[Eephus]

I am suprised that the White Sox fans are not more pissed about this offseason, frankly.

The Sox gutted their weak farm system for Swisher, Carlos Quentin and Danny Richar. None of these three are pitchers but they all will contribute at the big league level. CWS management makes for an easy target but it's possible these moves could turn out well, at least in the short term. I don't think they're enough to make them into a contender but they probably won't finish 24 games out again this year.

 

[Knightro]

Have no fear Sox fans, Jack Egbert will save you!

 

[wilked]

I am suprised that the White Sox fans are not more pissed about this offseason, frankly.

The Sox gutted their weak farm system for Swisher, Carlos Quentin and Danny Richar. None of these three are pitchers but they all will contribute at the big league level. CWS management makes for an easy target but it's possible these moves could turn out well, at least in the short term. I don't think they're enough to make them into a contender but they probably won't finish 24 games out again this year.

So the question then becomes, is it worth gutting the farm system to be mildly competitive, but not truly competitive?Take Oakland and Chicago. Both were involved in the trade. The teams are not that dissimilar. However, one team decided it can win now, and one team decided it is rebuilding and is setting itself up to be a strong contender in 3 years. Guess which team is being honest with itself, and making smart decisions to that end...

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

I just reupped A's weekend season tix last week. Now it looks like I'm going to be seeing the Sacramento RiverCats trying to compete at the MLB level. I realise we got three prospects, but Swish is only 27 next year, has 100 walks last year and 35 HRs the year before, controllable for three more years. Those are the kind of guys you try to acquire, not peddle. I have faith in Billy's evaluation but the next couple of years are going to be brutal for A's fans.

I'm glad I didn't pull the trigger on season tix. It's going to be a long season at the Coliseum.

 

[Eephus]

I am suprised that the White Sox fans are not more pissed about this offseason, frankly.

The Sox gutted their weak farm system for Swisher, Carlos Quentin and Danny Richar. None of these three are pitchers but they all will contribute at the big league level. CWS management makes for an easy target but it's possible these moves could turn out well, at least in the short term. I don't think they're enough to make them into a contender but they probably won't finish 24 games out again this year.

So the question then becomes, is it worth gutting the farm system to be mildly competitive, but not truly competitive?Take Oakland and Chicago. Both were involved in the trade. The teams are not that dissimilar. However, one team decided it can win now, and one team decided it is rebuilding and is setting itself up to be a strong contender in 3 years. Guess which team is being honest with itself, and making smart decisions to that end...

We'll see in three years. It's not inconceivable that the Sox can squeeze a playoff run out of their current lineup and the A's prospects fizzle out down on the farm. Swisher may very well still be the best player in the deal in three years time.The A's are in a unique position because Beane has as much job security as any GM in baseball, and the team is clearly focused on their future. While I wouldn't say they're not trying in 2008, they are literally looking down the road toward Fremont. Dealing Swish and Haren (and Blanton/Chavez/Street) will save them a lot of money until then.The Sox are dealing with some different circumstances. They're have aging lineup and a much higher payroll than Oakland. When you have a team without a lot of tradeable assets, it's easier to try to improve incrementally than to tear it all down and start over. I still think Beane made the smart move here, but I don't think the trade is as one sided as some are making it out to be.

 

[No. 16]

Sad day as an A's fan.

I'm sick of losing players, but that's the reality of the A's until we get that ball park built.

Swish was one of my favorite players and that fact that he is young and locked up for relatively cheap hurts... but in Billy Beane I trust.

The young A's performed above expectations in '06 in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, but riding Frank Thomas, Milton Bradley, and the young kids playing all out they reached the 2nd round. Then in '07 Billy tried to recapture that magic and counted on improvement form the young guys, but it just didn't work out.

 

[Your Mother]

Can anyone tell me why the White Sox won a WS with speed, pitching, and defense and then the next year they went completely away from that and just focused on power?

Speed didn't have much to do with it. Pitching and defense do, but their offense was mediocre that year.

 

[Statorama]

Swish was one of my favorite players and that fact that he is young and locked up for relatively cheap hurts... but in Billy Beane I trust.

If the A's ever get tired of him being their GM, Beane will be unemployed for about 15 seconds.

 

[Statorama]

Does this trade have anything to do with the Konerko to Angels rumors? (edit to add: just saw the rumors have Howie Kendrick and Ervin Santana coming to the White Sox. Yes, I laughed.)

And I thought Kenny Williams and Billy Beane hated each other. Good to see them put aside any differences they had over 'Moneyball'.

 

[Keys Myaths]

Swish was one of my favorite players and that fact that he is young and locked up for relatively cheap hurts... but in Billy Beane I trust.

If the A's ever get tired of him being their GM, Beane will be unemployed for about 15 seconds.

Yep.The Yankees would hire him for 10 million per year, and then we all go home. That much money in the hands of someone who knows how to use it?

Game over.

 

[wilked]

Swish was one of my favorite players and that fact that he is young and locked up for relatively cheap hurts... but in Billy Beane I trust.

If the A's ever get tired of him being their GM, Beane will be unemployed for about 15 seconds.

Yep.The Yankees would hire him for 10 million per year, and then we all go home. That much money in the hands of someone who knows how to use it?

Game over.

I think you severely underestimate Cashman, who has done a pretty good job

 

[Keys Myaths]

Swish was one of my favorite players and that fact that he is young and locked up for relatively cheap hurts... but in Billy Beane I trust.

If the A's ever get tired of him being their GM, Beane will be unemployed for about 15 seconds.

Yep.The Yankees would hire him for 10 million per year, and then we all go home. That much money in the hands of someone who knows how to use it?

Game over.

I think you severely underestimate Cashman, who has done a pretty good job

I think with a payroll that was nearly double anyone else's for a long time, Cashman could've done a much better job.There was no reason for some of the contracts he gave out, even at the time.

 

[RedRaiders]

Swish was one of my favorite players and that fact that he is young and locked up for relatively cheap hurts... but in Billy Beane I trust.

If the A's ever get tired of him being their GM, Beane will be unemployed for about 15 seconds.

Yep.The Yankees would hire him for 10 million per year, and then we all go home. That much money in the hands of someone who knows how to use it?

Game over.

Didn't Beane turn down the Red Sox several years ago? Any team could come with boatloads of cash for him if they wanted. I think he really wants to prove he can win with a small payroll/market.

 

[Sammy3469]

Swish was one of my favorite players and that fact that he is young and locked up for relatively cheap hurts... but in Billy Beane I trust.

If the A's ever get tired of him being their GM, Beane will be unemployed for about 15 seconds.

Yep.The Yankees would hire him for 10 million per year, and then we all go home. That much money in the hands of someone who knows how to use it?

Game over.

Didn't Beane turn down the Red Sox several years ago? Any team could come with boatloads of cash for him if they wanted. I think he really wants to prove he can win with a small payroll/market.

He turned down one of the big teams after basically taking the job. I think his rationale was that it wouldn't be much fun to win with pretty much unlimited resources. I think he also likes the West Coast.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

He turned down one of the big teams after basically taking the job.

Red Sox.As for Cashman, the Pavano/Wright madness was all George. The Yanks would be in far worse shape if it weren't for Cashman.

 

[Power Monster]

Kenny!

 

[Wrigley]

Kenny!

Huh?

 

[Statorama]

Swish was one of my favorite players and that fact that he is young and locked up for relatively cheap hurts... but in Billy Beane I trust.

If the A's ever get tired of him being their GM, Beane will be unemployed for about 15 seconds.

Yep.The Yankees would hire him for 10 million per year, and then we all go home. That much money in the hands of someone who knows how to use it?

Game over.

Didn't Beane turn down the Red Sox several years ago? Any team could come with boatloads of cash for him if they wanted. I think he really wants to prove he can win with a small payroll/market.

He turned down one of the big teams after basically taking the job. I think his rationale was that it wouldn't be much fun to win with pretty much unlimited resources. I think he also likes the West Coast.

He played ball for the Dodgers, so I think that might be the one big market club that could sway him.

 

[igbomb]

I am suprised that the White Sox fans are not more pissed about this offseason, frankly.

The Sox gutted their weak farm system for Swisher, Carlos Quentin and Danny Richar. None of these three are pitchers but they all will contribute at the big league level. CWS management makes for an easy target but it's possible these moves could turn out well, at least in the short term. I don't think they're enough to make them into a contender but they probably won't finish 24 games out again this year.

So the question then becomes, is it worth gutting the farm system to be mildly competitive, but not truly competitive?Take Oakland and Chicago. Both were involved in the trade. The teams are not that dissimilar. However, one team decided it can win now, and one team decided it is rebuilding and is setting itself up to be a strong contender in 3 years. Guess which team is being honest with itself, and making smart decisions to that end...

We'll see in three years. It's not inconceivable that the Sox can squeeze a playoff run out of their current lineup ...

Seriously?

 

[Eephus]

Swish was one of my favorite players and that fact that he is young and locked up for relatively cheap hurts... but in Billy Beane I trust.

If the A's ever get tired of him being their GM, Beane will be unemployed for about 15 seconds.

Yep.The Yankees would hire him for 10 million per year, and then we all go home. That much money in the hands of someone who knows how to use it?

Game over.

Didn't Beane turn down the Red Sox several years ago? Any team could come with boatloads of cash for him if they wanted. I think he really wants to prove he can win with a small payroll/market.

He turned down one of the big teams after basically taking the job. I think his rationale was that it wouldn't be much fun to win with pretty much unlimited resources. I think he also likes the West Coast.

He played ball for the Dodgers, so I think that might be the one big market club that could sway him.

Beane's daughter from a previous marriage is in high school in Southern California. Visits with her was one of the reasons given for Beane's refusal of Boston in 2002. He was given a small ownership stake in the A's with his last contract extension. This should appreciate in value when the A's move to Fremont.

 

[Your Mother]

Gio Gonzales dominated AA, but the guy is tiny, and has been swapped three times in his short career.

5'11", 185 lbs?