The White Sox team president is not happy. He is not content that his White Sox team he build as general manager has flopped like a dying fish on a Lake Michigan schooner.
But the words from the front office continue to state that the White Sox will only need to "reshape" their roster, and not go into a total rebuild mode. This may be a marketing word in order to hold fan interest over a difficult off season.
“People
didn’t see this coming,” Williams told reporters. “How seriously can I take it
when people say I left this organization in a dire situation, but in the
next paragraph it says but their pitching has been solid? These
contracts we were supposedly saddled with, we were able to use them,
which was always our plan if we had a situation such as this, that we
could use what we had and replenish things that way. … Sometimes if
people aren’t in to you they’re just not into you and they’re going to
find a reason to step on you.”
He compares this team to the lackluster 2007 squad. But that team quickly turned around and won in 2008. Williams thinks he needs more left handed bats, better defense and a clubhouse spark. He expects to fill those needs by trade or free agency in the off season. The payroll will be trimmed by nearly $37 million when this off season begins, so there may be some flexibility for new GM Hahn.
But the White Sox are at a major cross roads. The team looks old, except for the pitching staff. It does not play at any speed or urgency. The team is counting on newly acquired outfielder Avisail Garcia to provide an organization "spark" to the fan base. However, fan favorite Paul Konerko is probably at the end of his Sox career.
By trading Alex Rios to Texas and plugging in Garcia in the OF, the White Sox have not upgraded their roster. There are huge question marks at 1B, LF, 3B, SS, 2B and C. Adam Dunn will be in his last season as DH/1B. He has been a disappointment. There are question marks whether Dayan Viciedo will bounce back to have a Carlos Quinten type year. He is only hitting .244, 9 HR, 32 RBI. Sox catchers are way behind AJ Pierzynski's 2012 production: Tyler Flowers is batting .194 and Josh Phegley is at .225. Alexi Ramirez has only produced 35 RBI, and Gordon Beckham only 17 RBI. Third base is haunted by a rotation of journeymen players.
The 2014 team only has a quality pitching staff and CF Alejandro De Aza penciled in. De Aza is hitting .276, 13 HR, 50 RBI. Dunn will be the DH/1B. By default, the unproductive double play combo of Ramirez and Beckham will stay unless they are traded in the offseason. I don't think Hahn is willing to trade his young quality starters to field major league ready position players, but he may have no choice considering that there are six position slots in desperate need of an upgrade.
The White Sox will take a different tact than the Cubs. White Sox ownership will spend in free agency now, and will make multiple trades for immediate impact players. The Cubs have decided that they will not pay big money free agent multimillion dollar contracts. Instead, the Cubs will spend millions on multiple international signees and hope that they can develop one or two impact players in the next six years. The White Sox do not have the luxury of time. Fans expect a competitive team. Ownership expects a competitive team. Management expects a competitive team. It should be an active off season for the White Sox.
