Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.The 2009 season was not one with which the Chicago White Sox were pleased. They followed their 2008 division title with a third-place finish in the AL Central and a record of 79-83. When you consider that the team's general manager Kenny Williams is never shy on making big moves when the team does well, there's no telling what he's going to do after a disappointing season.
So it's pretty safe to assume that the White Sox team that takes the field in 2010 will look a lot different than the one Sox fans saw in 2009, and we're not just talking about Jake Peavy and Alex Rios. What changes will be made on the South Side? Nobody can be sure, but FanHouse has an idea of what Chicago's "other" team might do.
Who Might Leave
Bobby Jenks, P; Jermaine Dye, OF; Scott Podsednik, OF; Octavio Dotel, P; Paul Konerko, 1B
Shopping List
While just about every team in the majors will be looking to add a frontline pitcher to their starting rotation, the White Sox took care of that last July when they pulled off a last-minute shocker to get Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres for four pitchers. Peavy didn't start for the team until after their playoff hopes were just about gone, but in his three starts for the Sox he went 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 20 innings.
Adding Peavy to a rotation that already features Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd and John Danks for a full season already improves the team greatly.
That means the team can focus on its other needs this winter. First and foremost a leadoff hitter. Scott Podsednik was a big surprise for the White Sox in 2009 but it doesn't seem as though the team is very confident he can repeat the feat in 2010, and it doesn't look like they'll be bringing him back for next season.
Which will of course lead to the speculation that the team will go after Chone Figgins this winter, but with the amount of money they now have locked up in Peavy and Alex Rios, combined with the fact that Jerry Reinsdorf isn't really looking to expand the payroll, such a deal isn't likely to happen.
They may throw their hats in the ring if the Yankees decide to part ways with Johnny Damon, but only if they can sign him to a one- or two-year deal. Another name that hasn't been on the radar but could generate interest in Chicago is outfielder Randy Winn.The other need will be to replace the hole left at DH since the team traded Jim Thome. Oddly enough, Thome is one of the people the team is considering bringing back along with Hideki Matsui and Hank Blalock.
Money Matters
As mentioned above, the Sox really aren't looking to go any higher than the $96 million payroll they had in 2009, which means that they could be dumping some salaries this winter. They've started by bidding farewell to Jermaine Dye, Jose Contreras and Octavio Dotel, but all the money the team saved by trading or letting those players walk has already been spent on Peavy and Rios.
Which means that it's possible they'll be looking to move other players this winter as well. Jenks' name keeps coming up in discussions as the closer is eligible for arbitration this winter and made $5.6 million in 2009. The question is whether or not there will be much of a market for Jenks.
If not, Sox fans may have to get used to the idea of saying goodbye to longtime favorite Paul Konerko. Konerko is in the final year of a deal he signed following the team's 2005 World Series championship and has a full no-trade clause. Teams that he would be willing to go to includes the Los Angeles Angels, who have been toying with the idea of adding Konerko for years, and would like another power bat in the middle of the lineup should they part ways with Vladimir Guerrero.
Offseason Goals
The White Sox believe they already have a team that can win the AL Central in 2010, so any goals this offseason will be to help shore up what was a shaky bullpen for most of last season, maybe shed some payroll, and to get younger and more flexible. If the team does make any moves this winter, it will likely be a lot like the trade that saw them land Mark Teahen for Chris Getz and Josh Fields. The team already believes it has the best starting rotation in their division, and it's hard to argue with them. Of course, when the man pulling the trigger on an organization's decisions is Kenny Williams, you never really can be sure what they'll do next.
