What are the Sox doing?
Since the Cubs have been pretty much sitting on their hands these last few weeks, I thought I'd take a look at what the South Siders have been up to this winter. Turns out, quite a bit. In chronological order...
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Re-signed Jose Uribe to a one-year, $4.5 million dollar deal. Uribe is kind of an enigma for Sox fans. He's got some pop, and his numbers defensively are pretty solid. It's just every single Sox fan I know hates his guts. Kind of like Jacque Jones on the Cubs last year. Sure, the 20 HRs and 70 RBIs look great from a Shortstop, but all the strikeouts and other braindead plays in the field are just too much to take. It seems most people would sacrifice 15 homers and 30 RBIs for a few less strikeouts and some smart baserunning. Which leads me to the Sox' next move.
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Traded Jon Garland for Orlando Cabrera. I don't get this move at all. Garland is a better-than-average 28-year-old pitcher that's made 32+ starts six years in a row. He's no Johan Santana or anything, but he would be a perfect #3 or #4 on a championship club. In fact, he was. I suppose I could understand trading Garland for some prospects if they didn't want to sign him to a long term deal. But 33-year-old Orlando Cabrera coming off a career year? When the ink on Uribe's contract isn't even dry? Sure, this move looks better if Cabrera manages to repeat last season the next two or three years on the South Side. But if he falls back from his career year? You might as well have stuck with Uribe. Cabrera was worth about five more wins than Uribe this season. That's a lot. But Cabrera back at his old level? One more win at most. Not enough of a haul for Garland. And what position is that $4.5 million going to start at this year, anyways. Second? Third? You think his bat looks bad at short? You should see it elsewhere on the diamond.
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Whiffed on Torii Hunter. I think the Angels gave Hunter too much money at $90 million over five years. Still, he would have looked pretty good for the first few years of that deal. (Like Soriano and his bloated contract on the North Side.) Who's going to play Center now? Is Brian Anderson going to get another shot? Are they going to try to re-sign Erstad or some other re-re-retread? Yuk.
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And Last and well, Least, signed Scott Linebrink for four years, $19 million. This one might be pound-for-pound the worst move by Kenny this offseason. I watch a lot of National League ball and let me tell you, the dude looked washed up this year. Shingo Takatsu washed up. He couldn't get anybody out to save his life in July and August. His previous four years did look pretty good, but it was an admittedly inferior league and he's turning 32 this year. Not the type of guy you want to sign for four years, to say the least.
And that's about it. While I sit here and criticize the Sox I'm reminded of a line by Psycho Steve Lyons, of all people. No, not the racist one. He's making moves! While the Cubs have done nothing to improve their team, at least the Sox are doing something. Not that making moves for the sake of making moves is a good strategy, it sure beats the Status Quo. Going into 2008 with the team that stank up 2007 is a recipe for disaster, even if he is 0-for-4 in my book.