Mark Teahen tries to make a diving catch against the White Sox. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune)
By Mark Gonzales
The White Sox have yet to confirm a New York Daily News report that stated they would receive versatile left-handed hitter Mark Teahen from Kansas City in exchange for second baseman Chris Getz and infielder Josh Fields.
At first glance, the trade makes sense because Teahen, 28, adds more versatility and depth to the Sox's lineup. He also fits the profile of the gap hitter that general manager Ken Williams coveted in a session with reporters near the end of the season.
Teahen could start at third base, with Gordon Beckham moving to second. Or Teahen could take over for Jermaine Dye in right field or play second base.
Kansas City is seeking younger, cheaper players to compensate for its
lack of depth at the Triple-A and Double-A levels. That makes Fields
and Getz, whom each are not arbitration eligible, natural fits.
But there appear to be some potential stumbling blocks. One is that the Royals already have Alberto Callaspo at second base and would be inclined to trade him to get maximum value before finalizing a deal with the Sox.
A trade involving Callaspo would clear the way for Getz, who said he is recovering on schedule from a sports hernia operation on Oct. 2 but has yet to take a physical examination that is normally required before a deal is finalized.
Second, the Sox would assume about $5 million to acquire Teahen, who is arbitration eligible, in exchange for two players whose combined 2010 salaries won't reach $1 million. One scout with knowledge of the Royals' interest in the Sox's players believed the Sox might seek some cash compensation to complete a deal.
With the signing of first baseman-outfielder Mark Kotsay to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, the Sox have earmarked more than $74 million to 12 players for 2010. That doesn't include arbitration eligible players John Danks, Carlos Quentin and Bobby Jenks, who made $5.6 million last year.
Last fall, Kansas City was involved in trade talks with Cleveland involving Teahen, but those discussions fizzled shortly after they became public.
As for Fields, he would provide insurance for Alex Gordon at third base, as well as perhaps take over at first base if the Royals not tender Mike Jacobs a contract and move Billy Butler to designated hitter.
If there are any reservations with this deal, they appear to be with the Royals and not the Sox, who aren't afraid to do business with an American League Central opponent.
But there appear to be some potential stumbling blocks. One is that the Royals already have Alberto Callaspo at second base and would be inclined to trade him to get maximum value before finalizing a deal with the Sox.
"We're in discussions with a lot of clubs about a lot of things,"
Kansas City GM Dayton Moore said in a statement earlier Thursday.
"There is nothing to announce yet, and we won't comment (about trade
rumors) until there is something to announce."
A trade involving Callaspo would clear the way for Getz, who said he is recovering on schedule from a sports hernia operation on Oct. 2 but has yet to take a physical examination that is normally required before a deal is finalized.
Second, the Sox would assume about $5 million to acquire Teahen, who is arbitration eligible, in exchange for two players whose combined 2010 salaries won't reach $1 million. One scout with knowledge of the Royals' interest in the Sox's players believed the Sox might seek some cash compensation to complete a deal.
With the signing of first baseman-outfielder Mark Kotsay to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, the Sox have earmarked more than $74 million to 12 players for 2010. That doesn't include arbitration eligible players John Danks, Carlos Quentin and Bobby Jenks, who made $5.6 million last year.
Last fall, Kansas City was involved in trade talks with Cleveland involving Teahen, but those discussions fizzled shortly after they became public.
As for Fields, he would provide insurance for Alex Gordon at third base, as well as perhaps take over at first base if the Royals not tender Mike Jacobs a contract and move Billy Butler to designated hitter.
If there are any reservations with this deal, they appear to be with the Royals and not the Sox, who aren't afraid to do business with an American League Central opponent.
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I just hate to see them deal Getz. I thought we were supposed to be going to small ball so we deal away a burner with a plodder? Yes, we need left handed bats, but find someone slow to deal. We have plenty of those standing around. Sorry. I normally support Kenny and maybe he's got other deals on the way that will address this, but losing Getz doesn't make sense yet. Correct me if/when I'm wrong. It was fun to see us stealing a base once in a blue moon last year and now, we lose Pods and Getz... This is going to be soooooo boring. It's station to station and wait for the long ball... what the Cubbies used to win with in the old days and lost year after year. When will they ever learn? When will they ev... ver learn?
Getz was the only defensive steady eddie in the whole infield last year. I wager that Teahen and Getz will have almost identical offensive production next year, except for home runs. I would give Teahen the edge there due to the Chicago short fences.
So when we throw in Fields, we get the short end of the stick, and we got what for our World Series MVP?
At least we gave him his freedom...
This is a terrible trade for the Sox. Teahan is an average major league player at best. We're giving up so much upside with Getz. He and Gordon could be fixtures in the infield for the next decade. Really stupid.
Some Sox fans are under the delusion that Getz 26 & Fields 27, are young guys, while teahan 28 is old. What kind of fans are you?
I am waiting for the John Danks for Carl Crawford rumors to begin. Iif he doesn't sign on the line, he could be packing his bags.
If you are going to trade young guys for a vet then trade em to Tampa for Carl Crawford, not to KC for Teahen
You keep saying that Curt in KC, but aren't giving any examples other than the Yankees who have finally won a WS after spending a billion dollars and the Royals, who after years of losing still have a lackluster farm system and have let their good players walk.
Really---it comes down to mistakes made by general managers, team owners, bad coaching, bad scouting/development and bad decisions.
Big market teams like the Mets and Cubs are prime examples that money does not matter. Both teams have spent countless dollars trying to win, and in the end they have failed miserably.
If Keith Law likes the deal for the Royals, then the White Sox did well...
Curt from KC. I agree with you. Baseball is the haves and have-nots, and until baseball starts realizing whats good for the game as a whole, it will continue to be that way. Until a hard cap is in place, we'll continue to see the same teams in the playoffs, except for the occasional one year wonders.
Teahan is not really good at anything. If anything, he's Mark Derosa. A guy who can play multiple positions, none of them outstanding, but he helps your team more with his versatility than anything else. The Royals have been waiting on this guy to bust out for a few years, and he hasn't done it. Its a good trade for them, but not a great one.
Ned Reidy on November 5, 2009 3:50 PM
People like XChicagoan are why Sox fans are considered baseballs dumbest. To compare Brock and Sandberg to Getz is bad reputation cement.
Next time, please just shut up and stop embarrassing the fan base.
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Thank you. Everybody is entitled to an opinion. Just make it an informed opinion. Besides this deal has not been finalized so everybody so far is jumping to conclusions. The article mentions the Sox as possibly seeking cash considerations
The Royals trade away their only five tool player. Not great at any of the five, but better than anyone else they have currently playing a position, who isn't hurt constantly or a clubhouse tumor.
They already have a Josh Fields, his name is Mike Jacobs. Getz might be a great prospect, but with this K.C. club he will surely lose that tag quickly. I have been willing to give Dayton Moore some time to improve this team, but his first two years in K.C. just shows that he is David Glass's boy. Go cheap. Give em' hope, not wins.
Chill out Martin...aka "Debbie Downer"...LOL Teahan is a really good left handed bat...and a really good outfielder/3rd baseman....what if the plan is to move Beckham back to SS and Alexi back to 2nd? or maybe Beckham goes to second..who knows..as it is with ALL trades you just have to wait and see...
It may be a trifle bit premature to put Getz in the Brock/Sandberg category. Teahan adds depth and versatility, and he and Jayson Nix will compete at second. But there are logjams at just about every spot. If Beckham plays third, then what about Viciedo? If Dye is cut free and Quentin moves to right, does that mean Rios is in center? And if both are true, then does that mean there's no place to play Figgins if the Sox want to chase him with the money they save on Dye? The key to this whole thing may be Alexi Ramirez. If the Sox move him, then Beckham goes to short, the third base spot opens up, Konerko moves to DH where he belongs and the Sox can pursue Figgins.
Also wasn't this last year all about getting younger ?? I don't why the Sox have a farm system ..They have produced some good players but there seems to be no sense to what their doing .. Good teams lose players and replace them from their farm system ..The Twins for example ..but the Sox instead of building what they don't have just trade for another teams garbage.. players from your farm system should be taught how to play a certain way then when their brought up you wouldn't have a problem like bunting or holding runners on base ...I'am lost on this ...
Teahen struck out 123 times in 09 with 12 homers and a 271 B.A.. He's played 3rd and right field ... I don't get this deal at all ..Fields I understand but Getz seemed to have the speed we needed and he only made 7 errors at 2nd.. and I thought Ozzie liked the guy ..but there has to be more deals on the way ...Although Getz spoke his mind in the clubhouse and the veteran players didn't like it when he said the young guys brought more energy to the club.. and those vets came to play real hard in late august and september it looked like they were going all out ...to them anyway..
At first glance, this trade makes sense? Only if your first glance comes after a night of heavy drinking.
Getz will eventually make a great leadoff man. He can hit at least for average, and he has the speed to make things happen on the basepaths. Stealing 25 bases in 27 attempts, while not in the best of health, is pretty impressive.
Teahan is a good player, but not a great one. He is an average run producer who brings nothing to the Sox offense that they do not have already.
The Cubs traded away Lou Brock for nothing. The Phillies gave up Ryne Sandberg in exchange for an over-the-hill veteran. And now the Sox give Getz away.
Detroit in the 2006 World Series -
You're right. I got the list wrong on that point. My mistake. You're also right, of oourse, that Detroit isn't small market anyway. They have a large payroll and, unlike small market teams, spend a lot signing expensive prospects.
The main point still stands: baseball isn't set up to give small market teams anything close to an equal chance. And it hurts the game.
(I only wrote a third time to admit my mistake although I hate seeing my main post disappear. I wanted all you big market folks to think about how baseball could be improved by leveling the playing field and so maybe be willing to prod the powers that be to do exactly that, along with all of us small market sufferers. And I'm glad to say they have taken some small steps in that direction. Hope they continue.)