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White Sox Tue Sep 01 2009
White Sox Drop 4th In a Row; Trade a Pair of Veterans
The White Sox continued their slide in Minnesota Monday night dropping their fourth straight and sixth overall on the trip. They lose 4-1 in the opener with the Twins, but the bigger news came off the field as they traded a pair of big names to contending teams.
DH Jim Thome was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers who are currently leading the National League's Western Division. The other big name dealt was Jose Contreras. He was sent to the team right behind the Dodgers, the Colorado Rockies, who are currently tied with the San Fransisco Giants for the National League Wild Card lead.
The interesting part of the Thome deal is that he was traded to a National League team. He'll provide a nice bat off the bench, but will be limited in his time at playing first base. Even more interesting is that someone was foolish enough to take Contreras off the Sox hand's. He is having a horrendous year. In 21 games with the Southsiders he posted a 5.42 ERA with a 5-13 record. It will be interesting to see how he fairs in the very hitter friendly Colorado.
This trade resembles that of the "White Flag Trade" in 1997. Before the Sox started off on this road trip they were just three games behind first place Detroit. After going 1-6 on this current trip, they are now six back and in third place. It appears that Sox management is throwing in the towel and looking towards next year.
The Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzalez, the beat reporter for the White Sox discusses what the Sox got in return.
Peavy Watch: After taking a ball off the elbow in his rehab start Saturday, Jake Peavy had an MRI done Monday on said elbow, which revealed no structural damage. This is good news because they will need him healthy if they want to contend in 2010. At this point it is up in the air when he will make his 2009 Sox debut, if at all.
Just two games remain in the Metrodome, which has been a house of horrors for the Southsiders over the years. John Danks (12-8) will take on the Twins Jeff Manship (0-0). Game time is 7:10 p.m. CT.
Andrew / September 1, 2009 9:56 AM
I'm pretty happy with the Contreras trade -- he's been awful every time I've watched him pitch this year. The Thome trade was a bit of a surprise.