Chicago White Sox Hot Stove Tracker - Update #1

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The player listing that follows was pulled from the White Sox 40 man roster as it appeared on White Sox.com on October 30, 2006. Transactions, rumors, and other assorted data is complied from the news sources attributed below.


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Pitchers
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56 Mark Buehrle
Chicago Tribune, 10/30/06: 2007 option picked up; Buehrle will make $9.5 million in 2007

52 Jose Contreras

46 Neal Cotts
Chicago Tribune, 10/29/06: "MacDougal and Neal Cotts are in line for big raises..."

34 Freddy Garcia
20 Jon Garland
40 Charlie Haeger

32 Dustin Hermanson
Chicago Tribune, 10/30/06: $3.65 million option declined; contract bought out for $500,000

45 Bobby Jenks
57 Boone Logan

47 Mike MacDougal
Chicago Tribune, 10/29/06: "MacDougal and Neal Cotts are in line for big raises..."

55 Brandon McCarthy
43 Jeff Nelson
61 Paulino Reynoso

54 David Riske
Chicago Tribune, 10/29/06: "...the Sox are likely to seek a cheaper alternative to free agent David Riske, who made $1.8 million last season."

Edwardo Sierra
37 Matt Thornton
50 Sean Tracey

33 Javier Vazquez
Chicago Tribune, 10/29/06: Will earn $12.5 million in 2007

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Catchers
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26 Sandy Alomar
12 A.J. Pierzynski
39 Chris Stewart


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Infielders
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8 Alex Cintron

24 Joe Crede
Chicago Tribune, 10/29/06: "Third baseman Joe Crede is the most expensive of the Sox's seven arbitration-eligible players, and whether he has minor back surgery could dictate whether he's offered a multiyear deal. Prospect Josh Fields is believed to be ready, but he's not Crede in the field."

27 Josh Fields
17 Ross Gload

15 Tadahito Iguchi
Chicago Tribune, 10/30/06: 2007 option picked up -- 2007 salary is $3.25 million

14 Paul Konerko
62 Pedro Lopez
38 Pablo Ozuna
63 Casey Rogowski
25 Jim Thome

5 Juan Uribe
Chicago Tribune, 10/30/06: "...the Sox remain hopeful that Uribe will be cleared of involvement in the Oct. 13 shooting of two men in the Dominican Republic as the case enters its third week."


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Outfielders
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44 Brian Anderson

23 Jermaine Dye
Chicago Tribune, 10/30/06: 2007 option picked up -- "The 2007 option on Dye is worth $6.75 million, but it increases to $7 million if he finishes among the top 10 in American League Most Valuable Player voting, which will be announced on Nov. 21. That's pretty much a foregone conclusion with Dye, 32, coming off a career-best season in which he batted .315 with 44 home runs and 120 RBIs. Dye was considered one of the front-runners for the MVP award before he tailed off slightly at the end of the season. Still, $7 million is a bargain for those numbers."

10 Rob Mackowiak
7 Jerry Owens

22 Scott Podsednik
Chicago Tribune, 10/29/06: "...Podsednik could be non-tendered if he's not dealt before Dec. 12."

36 Ryan Sweeney


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Names in the News
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Gary Matthews Jr.
Chicago Tribune, 11/2/06: "But the Cubs and Sox are only two of several teams that are attractive to Matthews, 32, who batted .313 with a .371 on-base percentage, 44 doubles, six triples, 19 home runs and 102 runs in 2006...The Angels, who would rather sign free agents than trade for talent, also are expected to pursue Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez as well as Matthews, who could triple the $2.49 million he made in salary and incentives last season...The Rangers have exclusive negotiating rights to Matthews until Nov. 12—when general managers convene for their annual meetings in Naples, Fla."

Dave Roberts
Chicago Tribune, 10/29/06: "With the nucleus intact, the pursuit of a leadoff batter will come under the most scrutiny after Scott Podsednik's disappointing season. The agent for Dave Roberts has described his client as a good fit for the Sox, and the Padres' free agent might not be as expensive as fellow free-agent leadoff batters Juan Pierre and Gary Matthews Jr. Roberts, 34, is dependable at the plate and can play center field as well as left."

Alex Rodriguez
Boston Herald, 10/29/06: "There is sincere interest in A-Rod from at least three clubs - the White Sox, Angels and Cubs - and the Yankees will be gauging all potential trades in the coming weeks."
Chicago Sun-Times, 10/24/06: " 'Every time you mention [Rodriguez's] name, it seems like our name also comes up,' Guillen said in a phone interview. 'This kid is one of the best in the game. I don't know the exact direction we're going at this point because we're not sure about the [Joe] Crede situation...' 'Obviously, [Williams] might shop for him,' Guillen said of A-Rod. 'If he's going to make this team better, we'll try and do it.' "


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Notes
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2007 Payroll
Chicago Tribune, 10/29/06: "The Sox will have earmarked about $99 million to 12 players for 2007...Williams wouldn't divulge whether the payroll would go up, but these appear to be lucrative times for the Sox after the latest collective-bargaining agreement and the transformation of the press box into club seats that could bring in an additional $5 million."

Beyond 2007
Chicago Tribune, 10/30/06: "Sluggers Paul Konerko and Jim Thome, pitchers Jose Contreras and Jon Garland and catcher A.J. Pierzynski are the only Sox players with guaranteed contracts beyond 2007."


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