Spring training site
Tucson, Ariz.
2007 record
72-90, fourth in AL Central, 24 games behind Indians
New faces
SS Orlando Cabrera (trade, Angels); RHP Octavio Dotel (free agent, A's); RHP Scott Linebrink (free agent, Brewers); OF Carlos Quentin (trade, Diamondbacks); IF Alexei Ramirez (free agent, Cuba); 1B Nick Swisher (trade, A's)
Biggest offseason acquisition
Cabrera will get the most attention, and the White Sox made plenty of impact signings, but the biggest in the long-term is probably Swisher, who gets on base, hits for power and is by all accounts a great team player – and he's only 27.
Gone but not forgotten
Jon Garland was dealt to the Angels for Cabrera, and will leave a hole in the rotation that will be filled by youngsters John Danks and Gavin Floyd. Garland won 18 games in 2005 and 2006 (before falling to 10 last year) and threw more than 190 innings for six consecutive seasons. If the White Sox want to contend, one of those two will have to somehow give them the innings.
Spring training battles
Second base is still a wide-open competition between Juan Uribe, Danny Richar (who will begin the season on the DL with a fractured rib), Pablo Ozuna and former Cuban national player Alexei Ramirez. Josh Fields is battling injured incumbent Joe Crede at third base, and Jerry Owens is the leading candidate in center field. And middle relief is also an open competition in a couple of spots.
Projected lineup
- CF Jerry Owens
- SS Orlando Cabrera
- DH Jim Thome
- 1B Paul Konerko
- RF Jermaine Dye
- LF Nick Swisher
- C A.J. Pierzynski
- 3B Joe Crede or Josh Fields
- 2B Juan Uribe, Alexei Ramirez or Pablo Ozuna
Projected starting rotation
- LHP Mark Buehrle
- RHP Javier Vazquez
- LHP John Danks
- RHP Jose Contreras
- RHP Gavin Floyd
Projected bullpen
- RHP Bobby Jenks (closer)
- RHP Scott Linebrink
- RHP Octavio Dotel
- LHP Matt Thornton
- RHP Mike MacDougal
- LHP Boone Logan
- RHP Ehren Wasserman
Biggest strength
Dotel and Linebrink should really solidify the setup role leading to Jenks, who has been one of the top closers in the league for the past two seasons. He saved more than half of Chicago's wins last season and limited opponents to a .198 average.
Glaring weakness
The lineup has some holes in it and the rotation has a few big question marks, as the White Sox remade their roster in a big way after last season's collapse. The White Sox's talent is a lot better than 70 wins, but this is one of the best divisions in baseball, and it's a long way up to match the Indians and Tigers. But this team should be improved.
