The Spotlight Now Belongs To De Aza And Viciedo

No matter what you thought of the trade that sent Carlos Quentin to the San Diego Padres on Friday, it made one thing abundantly clear: the White Sox are ready to see what Alejandro De Aza and Dayan Viciedo can do over the course of a full season.

Which means that the success of the White Sox offense in 2012 will be largely dependent on two players who have 607 Major League plate appearances between them. That's not a terribly low amount, but it's not exactly the largest of sample sizes either.

Carlos Quentin Shipped To San Diego

Farewell, angry one

It was a move that I think we all knew was coming, even if the timing of the trade came when we least expected it. With only a few hours remaining in 2011 the White Sox announced that they had traded Carlos Quentin to the San Diego Padres for minor leaguer pitchers Simon Castro and Pedro Hernandez.

On the surface it's a trade that doesn't exactly blow you away, and, judging by reactions I've seen on Twitter, leaves more than a few White Sox fans with a bad taste in their mouths. Although considering the situation, I'm not sure what else the Sox really could have gotten for Quentin.

Rebuilding Does Not Mean What Kenny Williams Thinks It Means

This is what Kenny Williams said after he traded Sergio Santos to the Toronto Blue Jays for Nestor Molina. Pay attention to a word that begins with the letter "R" and ends with "ebuilding."

Well So Much For That Theory

Ever since the news broke that the White Sox had signed John Danks to a contract extension, there's been a part of me wondering if Kenny Williams had seen the kind of hauls teams like San Diego had gotten for pitchers who were under team control for a few season and decided the best way to get a big return on Danks in a trade would be to give him an extension.

I don't think I was crazy in thinking that, but it does turn out that I was dead wrong. This deal has nothing to do with Danks' trade value, because it's hard to trade somebody who now has a no-trade clause.

White Sox Officially Announce The Danks Extension

Just in case you were still so surprised by the announcement that the White Sox had signed John Danks to a contract extension that  you thought it was some kind of hoax, it wasn't. The White Sox officially announced the deal on Thursday and it's for the five years and $65 million that had been reported.

The only oddity, and it's not even an oddity, is the way that the deal will be paid out.

Hawk Harrelson Is Super Pissed Off

You know, yesterday on the blog we had an angry rant from NotHawk about the Hall of Fame, so why not have an actual rant from Hawk during a White Sox game in 1991? This was posted over at South Side Sox on Thursday morning, but if you missed it you might as well watch it here.

To set it up, it's a game between the Sox and the Rangers in 1991 in which the Rangers win on a double in the ninth inning. The problem is that there was fan interference on the ground rule double, and the umpires allowed three runs to score instead of just two. This gave the Rangers a win and set Hawk off on a rant pointed at umpire Joe Brinkman.

Where Are My Hall Of Fame Votes?

Over the last few days I've been reading a lot of columns and tweets written by Hall of Fame voters about who they voted for or didn't vote for on their Hall of Fame ballots and why this year. Throughout the process I've noticed a very startling and scary trend.

Nobody has voted for me.

Where are the votes for the Hawkaroo?

Merry Christmas, Inmates

So Christmas is this weekend, which means that there won't be any updates to the blog today or this weekend unless something huge breaks, and I really don't think that's going to happen.

So merry Christmas to all of you who read the blog and celebrate the holiday. Happy Hanukkah to all our non-gentile readers as well. And if you celebrate something else this time of year, be it Kwanzaa or blood orgies, may you enjoy those as well.

We'll see you next week.

Are The White Sox Serious About Cespedes?

Yesterday before the John Danks news broke and blew all our minds, I was still somewhat confused by the news that the White Sox had worked out Yoenis Cespedes. Teams that are rebuilding generally don't show much interest in free agents that are going to create a bidding war.

Well, with the Danks news, we really don't know what kind of rebuild the White Sox are doing, if it's any kind of rebuild in the first place.

So What The Hell Is Going On Around Here?

Well this is the strangest damn rebuild I've ever seen. It's not often that rebuilding projects consist of trading cost-controlled closers, scouting Cuban defectors who will soon be very rich and signing your biggest trade chip to a multi-year extension.

Yet, that's exactly what the White Sox have done so far this winter. So what the hell is going on?

Source: John Danks Has Signed An Extension

Well this certainly goes against everything we've been expecting, doesn't it?

How To Choose A Second Team

Fellow White Sox fans, this season is going to suck. You know it. I know it. Everybody knows it. You can choose to fool yourselves with the "Adam Dunn and Alex Rios will bounce back, so will Gordon Beckham and the pitching staff won't miss Buehrle!" all you want, but inside, you know you're full of shit.

None of that is going to happen. What we've got before us is a six month stretch of being kicked in the balls by Jon Jones.

White Sox Worked Out Yoenis Cespedes

If you know who Yoenis Cespedes is, odds are you came across him by seeing the most amazing training video that was every created. It's basically the Citizen Kane of training films.

If you haven't seen it, by all means, watch below. I can wait.

Just In Case You Had Any Confusion About Omar Vizquel's Future In Chicago

Omar was kind enough to confirm what everybody except @Kmart0307 already knew. But just in case you are @Kmart0307 and don't check your mentions on Twitter, here it is again.

And if you are @Kmart0307, do us all a favor and never become general manager of the White Sox.

A Quick AL Central Update

Our newest enemy

Kenny Williams is pretty selfish. While there's plenty of news floating around baseball these days with free agency and trades, there's essentially nothing going on involving the White Sox. Which leaves me without much to write about here, and that's somewhat of a dick move on Williams' part.

If you're gonna say rebuilding, well then get rebuilding. Forget about getting the right deal or doing what you think is right for the franchise, DO THINGS TO GIVE ME SOMETHING TO WRITE ABOUT AND CALL YOU AN IDIOT FOR.

Jake Peavy Loves Everybody, Everything That Happened Was Great

Following a story in the Chicago Sun-Times by Joe Cowley in which Anonymous Pitcher said that Jake Peavy and Don Cooper don't have the best of relationships, Jake Peavy felt it was best he go to the Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales and clear the air.

Peavy told Gonzalez that there was only one time when he was upset with Cooper, and he let him know about it and the two moved on.

Don Cooper And Jake Peavy Aren't Bros

"Pepsi." "Coke." "PEPSI." "COKE." "I HOPE YOU FUCKING DIE!!"

When Ozzie Guillen first left to take over the Miami Marlins, we didn't have to wait long before Ozzie called Don Cooper "Kenny's bitch." Apparently Ozzie wasn't a huge fan of the way Cooper went about getting himself a contract extension last season, and I guess Ozzie wasn't alone in his feelings.

Joe Cowley tracked down another person all too willing to place some blame on Cooper.

John Danks Is Popular Again

As you'd expect given both Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson are now off the market, the interest in John Danks is starting to pick up. Whether or not that means Kenny is ready to lower his asking price, we don't know.

What we do know is that while Sunday was apparently "Ask About Our Carlos Quentin Day" as the Sox reportedly talked to Toronto and Boston about him, it seems it's John Danks' turn in the spotlight once again.

Mark Buehrle: 'I'll Be Back'

Maybe it's the fact that his departure is still so fresh, but I won't pretend I didn't respond like a schoolgirl upon reading what Mark Buehrle told Chuck Garfien on Sunday night.

Garfien was interviewing Buehrle for CSN's "Chicago Baseball Hot Stove" and Buehrle wanted to let Sox fans know that he's not saying "goodbye." He's just going to the gas station for cigarettes.

He'll be back.  He promises. And he'll be a lot richer when he does return.

This Doesn't Seem Like A Rebuild As Much As A Remodel

Are the White Sox rebuilding? Do they plan on contending in 2012? I really don't know because the team is making it somewhat difficult to discern. Yes, Kenny said the Sergio Santos trade was the beginning of a rebuild, but then Jerry Reinsdorf said that he thought the team would contend next season and the only move they've made is moving Santos.

The market for John Danks and Gavin Floyd hasn't been as strong as Williams was hoping, so they're both still White Sox at the moment, and if you're truly rebuilding, then those two are going to go.

Then there's the latest trade rumor involving the White Sox, which is another trade that would not signify rebuilding to me.

Saying Goodbye To Buehrle

Plenty of people have already written wonderful things about Mark Buehrle since the news broke yesterday, particularly Jim over at South Side Sox, but I didn't think it'd be right to not address what his departure actually means to me.

I can't help but feel many of the same things that Jim did in his piece. Though I'm a few years older than he is, Buehrle was the last real attachment to my White Sox "childhood" as well.

Everybody Wants Brent Lillibridge

John Danks, Gavin Floyd, and Carlos Quentin were the names we thought we'd be hearing a lot during the winter meetings. Instead, while there have been those "talks" with interested teams, there's been no movement.

Instead we were all caught a bit off guard on Tuesday with the Sergio Santos trade, and then had to deal with the news of losing Mark Buehrle on Wednesday. That one was expected, but even Kenny Williams was willing to admit that it sucks.

Mark Buehrle Is A Marlin

This is not an easy post to write. Even though I've known it was coming for weeks now, the fact that it's now official doesn't really feel good.

Mark Buehrle is a Miami Marlin.

White Sox Talking To Boston About Danks And Floyd

So far Kenny's great rebuilding plan has involved trading Sergio Santos and nothing more, though that doesn't mean he hasn't been talking to plenty of people.

There were rumors yesterday that Baltimore was interested in Gavin Floyd and Carlos Quentin, and Kenny also talked to the Red Sox about Quentin on Tuesday though no deal was struck. However, Kenny apparently isn't done talking to the Red Sox.

It Has Begun: White Sox Trade Sergio Santos to Toronto

Kenny Williams said earlier this week that the first move he made this winter would give us all an indication of what the White Sox were planning on doing this offseason, and I guess we all know now.

The White Sox traded Sergio Santos to the Blue Jays for Nestor Molina on Tuesday.

Extra Innings: 12/5/11

Extra Innings is a link dump that will run every weekday evening that features news stories that The Asylum didn't get to that day, or just posts throughout the White Sox blogosphere that are worth your attention.

- Though Ron Santo made the Hall of Fame, Minnie Minoso did not. And I agree with Margalus that this better not be the reason why. [South Side Sox]

- The winter meetings began today and there hasn't been much on the White Sox front of any real consequence. Kenny's still talking about trading Danks and the Marlins are interested in Mark Buehrle. [Chicago Tribune]

- The Sox released their spring training schedule. Just 80 days away from camp! [White Sox]

- The Twins will remain beatable in the late innings next season. [MLB Trade Rumors]

As for the meetings, if anything does happen tonight, I'll be back to write about it. However I don't see it happening.

Kenny Wants All Your Prospects

Seriously, though, this is how the negotiations should start. You want Danks, New York? How bad?

Extra Innings: 12/2/11

Extra Innings is a link dump that will run every weekday evening that features news stories that The Asylum didn't get to that day, or just posts throughout the White Sox blogosphere that are worth your attention.

- Mark Buehrle is willing to sign with the Marlins, but not unless they give him a no-trade clause. [Ken Rosenthal]

- JJ expects Gordon Beckham to bounce back in 2012. Ahh, the optimism of youth. [White Sox Talk]

- Just in case you needed any more reminders about how terrible the Nick Swisher trades worked out. [South Side Sox]

Kenny Actively Shopping Danks, Kinda

As I wrote about when it came to John Danks' contract situation yesterday, it sounds more and more like Danks will not be with the White Sox next season. When reading between the lines of what's being reported and going off what the White Sox have said since the season ended, it just seems more likely Danks is pitching somewhere else next year rather than with the White Sox.

And that perception didn't change after reading Joe Cowley in the Sun-Times on Thursday night.

Extra Innings: 12/1/11

Extra Innings is a link dump that will run every weekday evening that features news stories that The Asylum didn't get to that day, or just posts throughout the White Sox blogosphere that are worth your attention.

- Shocking news: Robin Ventura would like to keep Gavin Floyd, John Danks, and Carlos Quentin. If possible he'd also like 1993 Frank Thomas to return. [White Sox]

- Ventura also said that he's giving Adam Dunn space this offseason. Which Dunn is more than capable of filling on his own. [ESPN Chicago]

- Chris Jaffe doesn't like Minnie Minoso's Hall of Fame chances. [Hardball Times]

- Hater Keith Law is hating. [South Side Sox]

- Paul Konerko, Sergio Santos, Matt Thornton and Alexei Ramirez will all be at Soxfest. Presuming they aren't all traded by then. [Chicago Tribune]

John Danks Contract Talks At A Stalemate

At this point we just don't know whether or not John Danks will still be with the White Sox by the time spring training begins. What we do know is that there are teams interested in him and that Kenny is willing to listen to offers for him.

We also know that Danks has one year of arbitration remaining before he can become a free agent after 2012, which is one reason Williams is considering moving him via trade. Then there's the possibility that the White Sox will lock Danks up with a contract extension, which they've tried in the past.

Well, it doesn't seem like that's going to work right now either.