Originally posted by Daily Herald
Whether rumor or reality, trade for Chavez would do wonders
By Scot Gregor
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Thursday, June 02, 2005
A trade rumor usually is a joke. Laugh it off, and then wait for the next one to start circulating.
Last season, the White Sox were the focus of some real juicy trade rumors.
They were going to get Randy Johnson. They were going to get Carlos Delgado. They were going to get Cliff Floyd.
Well, the Sox wound up getting Carl Everett and Robbie Alomar — again — so that tells you about all you need to know about the rumor mill.
With that in mind, take this latest rumor with as many grains of salt as necessary. But don’t deny it has some serious bite.
The White Sox trade starting third baseman Joe Crede and top pitching prospect Brandon McCarthy to the Oakland Athletics for power-hitting, Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez.
There’s another rumor indicating the A’s also want minor-league outfielder Brian Anderson, but that’s not going to happen. So let’s just focus on the initial rumor.
If it’s true — and that’s a huge if — I’d make it today.
Chavez is having a terrible season; he was batting .218 with 4 home runs and 23 RBI heading into Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Devil Rays.
But the 27-year-old infielder is a proven performer. Entering the season, Chavez had a career .277 batting average, 163 home runs and 543 RBI in six years with Oakland. He also has won four straight Gold Gloves.
Want more?
Chavez missed 33 games last season with a broken bone in his right hand. He suffered the injury getting hit by a pitch from White Sox reliever Damaso Marte on June 1. Chavez wound up playing in 125 games and batted .276 with 29 HR and 77 RBI.
From 2001-03, when he established himself as one of the best third basemen in the game, Chavez averaged 32 home runs and 108 RBI while batting .282. He also hit the third-longest home run in U.S. Cellular Field history, a 490-foot shot off Gary Glover in 2001.
As for his character, which is almost as important as performance for the White Sox these days, Chavez is as solid as they come. He’d be a great fit in an already tight clubhouse.
Crede is a homegrown talent and still has the potential to blossom into an all-star caliber player. But the 27-year-old is off to another sluggish start and is simply not in the same league as Chavez.
As for McCarthy, the 21-year-old starter has been compared to Jack McDowell and Mark Prior. He has the raw stuff, poise and desire, but McCarthy has been serving up home run balls at a pretty alarming rate. He allowed 5 in 2 starts (10º innings) with the Sox and has given up 9 homers in 47¿ innings at Class AAA Charlotte.
There’s a good chance McCarthy will continue developing and one day achieve ace status.
But there’s a reason why this trade rumor is so appealing.
Simply put, general manager Kenny Williams is obsessed with getting the White Sox their first World Series championship since 1917. He is not interested in waiting for talent to maximize ability.
With Oakland already buried in the AL West basement, Chavez is there for the taking. And he wants out of Oakland so bad that he’s the one who apparently is fueling the trade rumor to the Sox.
Of course, there is one big catch. Chavez is only in the second season of a six-year, $66 million contract. But if the White Sox continue winning, the fans are going to be packing the Cell this summer.
And if Chavez is in the starting lineup, they’re going to watching a team that should be favored to win the World Series.
By Scot Gregor
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Thursday, June 02, 2005
A trade rumor usually is a joke. Laugh it off, and then wait for the next one to start circulating.
Last season, the White Sox were the focus of some real juicy trade rumors.
They were going to get Randy Johnson. They were going to get Carlos Delgado. They were going to get Cliff Floyd.
Well, the Sox wound up getting Carl Everett and Robbie Alomar — again — so that tells you about all you need to know about the rumor mill.
With that in mind, take this latest rumor with as many grains of salt as necessary. But don’t deny it has some serious bite.
The White Sox trade starting third baseman Joe Crede and top pitching prospect Brandon McCarthy to the Oakland Athletics for power-hitting, Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez.
There’s another rumor indicating the A’s also want minor-league outfielder Brian Anderson, but that’s not going to happen. So let’s just focus on the initial rumor.
If it’s true — and that’s a huge if — I’d make it today.
Chavez is having a terrible season; he was batting .218 with 4 home runs and 23 RBI heading into Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Devil Rays.
But the 27-year-old infielder is a proven performer. Entering the season, Chavez had a career .277 batting average, 163 home runs and 543 RBI in six years with Oakland. He also has won four straight Gold Gloves.
Want more?
Chavez missed 33 games last season with a broken bone in his right hand. He suffered the injury getting hit by a pitch from White Sox reliever Damaso Marte on June 1. Chavez wound up playing in 125 games and batted .276 with 29 HR and 77 RBI.
From 2001-03, when he established himself as one of the best third basemen in the game, Chavez averaged 32 home runs and 108 RBI while batting .282. He also hit the third-longest home run in U.S. Cellular Field history, a 490-foot shot off Gary Glover in 2001.
As for his character, which is almost as important as performance for the White Sox these days, Chavez is as solid as they come. He’d be a great fit in an already tight clubhouse.
Crede is a homegrown talent and still has the potential to blossom into an all-star caliber player. But the 27-year-old is off to another sluggish start and is simply not in the same league as Chavez.
As for McCarthy, the 21-year-old starter has been compared to Jack McDowell and Mark Prior. He has the raw stuff, poise and desire, but McCarthy has been serving up home run balls at a pretty alarming rate. He allowed 5 in 2 starts (10º innings) with the Sox and has given up 9 homers in 47¿ innings at Class AAA Charlotte.
There’s a good chance McCarthy will continue developing and one day achieve ace status.
But there’s a reason why this trade rumor is so appealing.
Simply put, general manager Kenny Williams is obsessed with getting the White Sox their first World Series championship since 1917. He is not interested in waiting for talent to maximize ability.
With Oakland already buried in the AL West basement, Chavez is there for the taking. And he wants out of Oakland so bad that he’s the one who apparently is fueling the trade rumor to the Sox.
Of course, there is one big catch. Chavez is only in the second season of a six-year, $66 million contract. But if the White Sox continue winning, the fans are going to be packing the Cell this summer.
And if Chavez is in the starting lineup, they’re going to watching a team that should be favored to win the World Series.
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