By Mark Gonzales
Eligible players can file for free agency during a 15-day window starting the day after the end of the World Series.
For the White Sox, this takes on greater meaning with a resolution expected on slugger Jermaine Dye and perhaps resurgent leadoff batter Scott Podsednik.
The Sox maintain exclusive financial negotiating rights to their own free agents until the 15-day window expires. They're expected to re-sign outfielder-first baseman Mark Kotsay, but they've already evaluated potential backup catchers to replace Ramon Castro and won't re-sign reliever Octavio Dotel.
Eligible players can file for free agency during a 15-day window starting the day after the end of the World Series.
For the White Sox, this takes on greater meaning with a resolution expected on slugger Jermaine Dye and perhaps resurgent leadoff batter Scott Podsednik.
The Sox maintain exclusive financial negotiating rights to their own free agents until the 15-day window expires. They're expected to re-sign outfielder-first baseman Mark Kotsay, but they've already evaluated potential backup catchers to replace Ramon Castro and won't re-sign reliever Octavio Dotel.
The Sox are highly likely to decline the $12 million option on Dye, who
then can become a free agent. Two years ago, the Sox were able to
restructure a deal with infielder Juan Uribe, but the stakes are much
higher with Dye, who turns 36 next January.
Dye hit 164 home runs in five seasons with the Sox but batted .179 with only seven home runs in the second half that paralleled the team's decline from contention in the American League Central.
Manager Ozzie Guillen wasn't optimistic at the end of the regular season that Dye would return. Another sudden consideration is the emergence of Jordan Danks in the Arizona Fall League. Danks is batting .379 with two home runs, 14 RBIs and three stolen bases in 16 games for the Peoria Javelinas and was selected to play in the AFL's Rising Stars game Saturday night at Surprise.
Danks, 22, wasn't projected to reach the majors until 2011, but his progress in the AFL caused team officials to consider him as no worse than a potential mid-season call-up. Scouts who have seen Danks this fall are impressed with his skills but are curious to see how he'll adjust to inside pitches.
Rick Hahn and Dan Fabian, two of general manager Ken Williams' most trusted aides, spent last week watching Danks and other Sox players in the AFL.
The Sox don't have to include Danks when 40-man rosters must be finalized on Nov. 20 because Danks has less than four years of professional experience. But he could have played himself into an invitation to major league spring training, as did Gordon Beckham did after an impressive showing in the AFL.
Speaking of spring training, the Sox are expected to announce their spring training schedule later this month, and more night games are projected as an attempt to boost attendance at Camelback Ranch. According to San Francisco's schedule, the Sox will travel to Scottsdale to play the Giants on March 9, with a return game at Camelback Ranch scheduled for March 23.
The status of closer Bobby Jenks remains a hot topic, but the Sox merely need to tender him a contract by Dec. 12 to retain his services unless they elect to trade him sooner.
Dye hit 164 home runs in five seasons with the Sox but batted .179 with only seven home runs in the second half that paralleled the team's decline from contention in the American League Central.
Manager Ozzie Guillen wasn't optimistic at the end of the regular season that Dye would return. Another sudden consideration is the emergence of Jordan Danks in the Arizona Fall League. Danks is batting .379 with two home runs, 14 RBIs and three stolen bases in 16 games for the Peoria Javelinas and was selected to play in the AFL's Rising Stars game Saturday night at Surprise.
Danks, 22, wasn't projected to reach the majors until 2011, but his progress in the AFL caused team officials to consider him as no worse than a potential mid-season call-up. Scouts who have seen Danks this fall are impressed with his skills but are curious to see how he'll adjust to inside pitches.
Rick Hahn and Dan Fabian, two of general manager Ken Williams' most trusted aides, spent last week watching Danks and other Sox players in the AFL.
The Sox don't have to include Danks when 40-man rosters must be finalized on Nov. 20 because Danks has less than four years of professional experience. But he could have played himself into an invitation to major league spring training, as did Gordon Beckham did after an impressive showing in the AFL.
Speaking of spring training, the Sox are expected to announce their spring training schedule later this month, and more night games are projected as an attempt to boost attendance at Camelback Ranch. According to San Francisco's schedule, the Sox will travel to Scottsdale to play the Giants on March 9, with a return game at Camelback Ranch scheduled for March 23.
The status of closer Bobby Jenks remains a hot topic, but the Sox merely need to tender him a contract by Dec. 12 to retain his services unless they elect to trade him sooner.
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I always get a kick out this tea reading process of following minor league prospects every season. Taken in the myopic POV of just the Sox, it tends to blow expectations out of proportion. The Sox haven't really scored well in minor league call ups for awhile, and tend to rely on middle of road active duty major leaguers to play on the team. Today's line up is full of them.
I still think this is all a waste of time. Minor leaguers rarely impact things enough to tilt the team towards big time results.