Paul Konerko has had his bags packed to head to the Los Angeles Angels on more than one occasion.
Now, however, it seems as though Konerko could actually be getting on the plane.
With Kendry Morales celebrating a walk-off grand slam by breaking his leg, the Angels could use another first baseman.
With the White Sox “grinder”/Ozzie ball/don’t score runs and have awful defense experiment putting the team in a battle for third place in the American League Central division, it could be time for the White Sox to look toward 2011…or maybe 2012.
Konerko is currently batting .262 with 14 home runs, 33 RBI, and a .366 OBP.
What it comes down to is the non-contending White Sox having a 34-year-old soon to be free agent who can still produce and play a solid first base and the contending Angels in the wide-open American League West having a vacant spot at first base.
The White Sox also have prospects Tyler Flowers and Dayan Viciedo waiting in the wings for a chance at first base/DH.
Seems like an easy decision, although the real question is whether or not White Sox fans trust GM Kenny Williams making trades anymore.
Remember Gio Gonzalez? He’s starting in Oakland with a 5-3 record, a 3.54 ERA, and a 1.21 WHIP at the tender age of 25.
At least Williams got Nick Swisher for Gonzalez…for a year.
After a tough season with the White Sox where Swisher led MLB in the non-grinder, boring stat pitches per plate appearance, Swisher was shipped to the Yankees, where he is currently batting .318 with nine home runs, 28 RBI, 34 runs, and a .397 OBP.
But at least Williams was able to steal Wilson Betemit and Jeffrey Marquez from New York for Swisher. A who cares and a who.
Remember John Ely? The 24-year-old is starting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, sitting at 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, striking out 32 batters and walking six in his first 39 innings pitched in the big leagues.
At least Williams got Juan Pierre for Ely. The 33-year-old Pierre has a whopping .245 batting average and a .304 OBP so far this season.
And then there’s Jake Peavy. Peavy, who anyone with eyes could see lived and died by PETCO Park and the National League, is currently sporting a 6.23 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.
Clayton Richard, who wasn’t even the biggest piece of the trade with the San Diego Padres for Peavy, is 4-3 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP in 63 innings as a starter for the Padres at the old age of 27.
Wait until the Padres start using the 23-year-old left-hander Aaron Poreda. Then White Sox fans may realize how much this trade hurt.
Mix these trades with multi-year deals to mediocre players like Mark Teahen, Scott Linebrink, and Tony Pena, and fans may be asking themselves if Williams can be traded instead of Konerko.
For the White Sox, however, it looks as though the team will need to move cornerstones Konerko and Mark Buehrle, who Williams did not acquire, along with Bobby Jenks and the contract of Gavin Floyd, if the team wants a chance to go after someone like Cliff Lee in free agency next year.
But the White Sox will probably just fire Ozzie Guillen and continue trading young talent for mediocre older players instead.
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