Yumcha

The Big Hurt's career with the ChiSox appears to be over...Too bad...Great player and definitely a loss to Chicago.

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White Sox cut ties with Big Hurt
December 7, 2005

Associated Press


DALLAS -- The Chicago White Sox cut ties with slugger Frank Thomas, refusing Wednesday to offer salary arbitration to the two-time American League MVP.

The World Series champions also declined to offer arbitration to designated hitter Carl Everett and backup catcher Raul Casanova. Players who became free agents and weren't offered arbitration can't re-sign with their former clubs until May 1.

Players offered arbitration have until Dec. 19 to accept and can re-sign through Jan. 8.

Chicago's decision to let Thomas go was not a surprise. The White Sox re-signed first baseman Paul Konerko, agreeing last week to a $60 million, five-year contract, and acquired Jim Thome, who figures to become the designated hitter, in a swap with Philadelphia for center fielder Aaron Rowand.

Hobbled by leg injuries for the second straight season, the 37-year-old Thomas hit .219 with 12 homers and 26 RBIs in 34 games. He started the season on the disabled list following surgery, played for the first time on May 31, then went back on the DL on July 21 with another left ankle fracture. He did not play again.

A five-time All-Star, he has a .307 career average with 448 homers and 1,465 RBIs. He won consecutive MVP awards in 1993 and 1994.

Everett hit .251 with 23 homers and 87 RBIs last season. Casanova got into just six games with Chicago this year, going 1-for-5. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Charlotte.

gocubsgo55

i dont understand it; 1 second people hate hendry for not doing the job, then they criticise who he trades away/ how much he pays. just got into an argument with my friend about how Mitre is not that big of a sacrifice. also, this year the supply is definately not meeting demand. For example, Burnett getting what he got was rediculous; overpaying is needed this year. my 2 cents.

Yumcha

Meh. People are never going to be happy. Look at your hated ChiSox and what Williams did to build that team...do you recall the ridicule and venom he got when he traded Lee to the Brewers...? Or when he gave up his "promising" OF prospect Reed for Freddy Garcia?

I think the trade was a good one. A good tablesetter is priceless (ask the ChiSox and their glee with Pods).

Overpaying during the offseason is always a given. However, there still needs to be a rhyme and reason. The signing of Ryan and Furcal for their prices was stupidity given what they do. Burnett's deal is at least palatable as he is young and has shown ability (abeit inconsistent and drama queen-like)...

gocubsgo55

crazy ass off-season; the NATIONALS are picking up Soriano.

Yumcha

Alfonso Soriano was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night for Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge and a minor league pitcher.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

gocubsgo55

[reached an agreement with some buddies not to speak AT ALL about the Cubs offseason until a deal is made, then that deal can be discussed]

..but i gotta throw this in; this deal could be good news for the RF-needy Cubs. I hope I didn't jinx or curse or billy goat anything. jeez

Yumcha

What are you off about?

Doom878

Dang I thought we were keeping Jeff Conine to be a veteran OF but we refused arbitration on him and Damion Easley.

We actually resigned someone. Brian Moehler re-upped for one year. He'll probably the #2 starter. He showed flashes but at times got hit. If he had better run support he might have been more known this year.

CL Platano

I cant believe that Soriano trade, the Rangers are just like the Marlins except the Marlins actually win games. They get great players and then trade them away for nothing. I still miss Soriano in NY..how many Japanese speaking Dominicans can there actually be in baseball I would love Frank Thomas to pick up his 500th homer before he retires but that looks highly unlikely.

GIBSON6594

Can you believe Bernie might be crossing the pond???

Bernie

CL Platano

I dont think Bernie would play at all for the Mets. If I were him I would stay in the American League atleast he can be used as a DH and get some at bats.

GIBSON6594

He would pinch hit and get an occasional day in center field if Beltran needs a day off.

I don't know how many AL teams are jumping at the chance to pick him up

michimonster

o's let surhoff go and sent kline and his attitude problem to the giants

Scottman111

These are just rumors I heard on the news last night, so don't take my word for it...

The Reds were talking about shipping Dunn to the O's for a starting pitcher, I think a prospect. (sorry I don't remember which, but he's pretty highly regarded) I think that deal was falling through though because it didn't sound like the O's wanted to let him go.

And they were talking about sending Kearns to the Cubs for some pitching prospects...


And speaking of the Cubs, now that they have Pierre, what will happen to Patterson?? Are they just giving up on him and making him his backup or what?

Doom878

WTF. I thought we had the Reds figured out but they're breaking up the OF.

I'm sure Bernie would rather play everyday but I guess interest is low right now.

I just read the paper and there were TONS of activity yesterday:

- Clemens will not be an Astro next year. Will he really retire after his monster year?

- Lyle Overbay to Toronto. Toronto is really going to be a squad next year.

- Mark Loretta to the Red Sox. Average year last year but batted .335 and .314 the 2 years prior. Sox fans should be happy.

- Johnny Estrada to the DBacks. Atlanta has lost Farnsworth, Furcal, and now Estrada. Will the Mets take the division? DBacks looking good.

- Carl Everett won't be back with the ChiSox.

- Jarrod Washburn won't be back with the Angels. He's a nice pitcher for a team that needs starters.

- Dan Kolb goes back to the Brewers. He sucked last year but was a stud closer 2 years ago with Milwaukee. Nasty bullpen?

Yumcha

Corey Patterson will likely be traded to anyone willing to take his bloated salary, strikeouts and attitude.

As lousy as he is, he is still just recently removed as the "next-can't-miss" phenom and some club may still see him as a project who they can coax superstardom from...

Yumcha

BoSox send Renteria to Atlanta...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2252297

Doom878

So Renteria for Lugo. The Sox save about $5 million per 2005 salaries. They're both the same age but Lugo has more speed and with 30 errors for Renteria, apparently a better glove. Is Marte a beast, Braves fans?

GIBSON6594

from what i've heard, he is the best prospect in the Atlanta system. A system filled with great prospects...

Scottman111

Yeah now you know how I feel being a Reds fan I think it's all speculation, our GM likes to talk shit but he hardly ever produces. Hell he couldn't even dump Aurilia (sp) last year when everybody wanted him. I didn't like Jim Bowden either but I think O'Brien is worse..

I agree with Toronto being good, I also think Pittsburgh will have a good pitching staff if those 2nd year guys are as good as last year (or at least a better staff than they've had for the past, oh, 10 years )

Boston got a deal in Loretta IMO. I can't believe more people didn't want him. He seems like a perfect fit in that lineup...

I guess Kolb is going to be their closer again?? I don't know what happend last year, Atlanta got screwed

Scottman111

so I take it he's your favorite player huh :wink:

I knew he had strikeout problems but I don't remember anything about attitude. I knew he got sent down to AAA. I guess he was bitching about playing time, or what???

Yumcha

Hellllllls no. But, I do like him better than Barry Bonds?

Well, Patterson refused to listen to the coaches when they urged to stop swinging for anything thrown within 25 feet of him.

As well, his demeanor (which is quite Ben Gordon-like a la Bulls) was getting the ire of the fans felt a little fire could've gone a long way for him...

GreenMonster

Yeah, that was a good deal... we've got Kelly Shoppack who nobody wants to use as a backup catcher...

Cora, can move over to short... so Loretta is an improvement at 2nd (looks like Graffinino is gone since he'd want a longterm contract)...

GreenMonster

We (the sox) got Marte....

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...xtras/thebuzz/

Now we've got Lowell, Marte, and Youk at third... But Youk was playing 1st last year in Pawtucket, so he'll move over there (or lowell will)...

We've got some depth on 1st and 3rd now, so Youk might be traded

dom

Looks like I'll have to dust off my Toronto Blue Jay bandwagon.

GreenMonster

If bulldog01 was still posting here, he'd be one happy camper. He's always been a jays fan, thru thick and thin.... those 2 WS in the early 90's must have sucked him in

GIBSON6594

I wouldn't rush into that just yet, that's no easy division

esCarbonie

the jays wont do much

esCarbonie

with the orioles getting ramon hernandez, what happens to Javy Lopez??

Yumcha

THAT'S HIS NAME!

What happened to Bulldog01 anyhoo...I was about to post a comment about some Masshole who was a Jays fan but I could not remember his name...

GIBSON6594

<---was wondering the same thing


trade bait

Doom878

I know you guys got him. But since he was in Atlanta who to know him better than a Braves fan. :wink:

I don't think Kolb will close since he totally sucked last year. Turnbow is the closer anyways.

This just in. What's Dombrowski thinking

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2252575

esCarbonie

thats a lot of cash for that dude

but its detroit you have to overpay to get people to play there

Yumcha

He's good for the first half of the season and then a second half of mediocrity.


That and a hissy-fit personality.

CL Platano

jajajja Kenny Rogers found another sucker to pay him all that money..

Yumcha

Interesting...

ChiSox send Damaso Marte to the Pirates...

michimonster

d/h first base

michimonster

nah. ill put money on it that he wont be traded.
let's just say he was getting tired of catching

GIBSON6594

I really hope thats not the reason


Poor wittle baby who makes millions of dollars to play baseball doesn't wanna catch the bally no more...waaaa

GreenMonster

Hey, you mentioned "So Renteria for Lugo"... that was going it be the deal (a 3 way with the tampa involved) but no one wants to deal with tampa's GM anymore (or that's what the rumor is)...

EDIT... The sox will have a whole new infield next year... Millar is gone (not offered arbitration), Graffinino is gone (offered offered arbitration so we'll get a draft pick when he signs a multiyear deal with someone else), Renteria (traded), andMiller is gone (same deal as Graffinino).

We'll have Youk at first, Loretta at 2nd, Cora at short (or someone else), and Lowell at 3rd (and first w/ Marta at 3rd too).

If Manny gets traded and Damon signs with the yankees, Nixon will be the only outfielder left from the world series team...

It's really messed up... but it looks like we'll have a really different team next year...