You Can Put It On The Board! YES!

So Long My Friend

It is definitely going to be very tough to see the face of the Chicago White Sox organization for the past 16 years to be wearing a different jersey in 2006. But I guess life goes on. Frank Thomas was officially announced by the Oakland A's on Thursday as he agreed to a one year deal filled with incentives. It was a rough day for me to watch one of my favorite players of all time join a different organization. But the time is definitely right. We will all shed a tear for a day and then realize that we are about to embark on something very special. The 2006 season will begin with the White Sox as the favorites to repeat as World Champs! How many times has a season begun like that? I believe not many. Seeing Big Frank leave does hurt, but at the end of the day Sox fans realize how great this team is and that it has gone in a different direction. If the Sox were fielding a second or third place team for the 2006 season, then I believe Frank would have been back. But Kenny Williams is never satisfied which is why I think he the best GM in baseball. He went out and brought guys in here that are hungry to win and to push the guys that are already here. Kenny decided that Jim Thome would be a better fit than Frank Thomas. He could be right and he could be wrong. But you have to tip your hat to him for not being satisfied with just one World Series Championship. Big Frank just didn't fit into the plans for 2006 and I am just glad that we will only face him six times in the up coming season. So as we all shed a tear for the big man leaving town, smiles will be on our faces tomorrow as we know that great things lie ahead for the 2006 Chicago White Sox.

Solid Off Season Moves

What an off season it has been for the Chicago White Sox. The parade, the rally, a trip to Venezuela, Scott Podsednik on SNL and last but not least, Kenny Williams at his best. I just love how the man is never satisfied. He pulls off move after move improving this White Sox team. This team might be even better than last years team which is very scary. But even with all these moves, Kenny Williams will probably get shafted again in the Executive of the Year voting. If you can remember, Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro beat out Kenny 20 1/3 to 18 1/3. How that is possible, I don't know? I guess the other GM's around the league saw something much different than I did. Cleveland had the same team in 2005 that it did in 2004. All they did was play better baseball last year. Kenny Williams restructured the entire team for 2005 making very risky moves putting his job in jeopardy. But I guess that's not good enough. Well, enough of me whining about that, lets get to these great off season moves.

A five year, $60 million deal brought back the heart and sole of this team. Who would have thought it would get better.

It took Aaron Rowand to get Thome but I believe this was a good trade. If healthy, Thome will give Konerko great protection in the lineup.

Rob Mackowiak was a great pick up for the White Sox. He can play just about every position except pitcher and catcher, so he will be a sold utility man for the Sox in '06. He also avoided arbitration by signing a two year deal today. Mackowiak will make $2.25 Mil in 2006, $2.75 Mil in 2007, and has a team option worth $3.25 for 2008 with a buyout of $300,000.

The Sox picked up the $1.2 million option on Cliff Politte.

Chris Widger agreed to terms on a one year, $650,000 contract.

Avoided arbitration by signing a three year, $15 million contract.

Pablo Ozuna signed a one year, $500,000 contract to stay with the Sox.

The best deal of the off season came out making the White Sox having the best rotation in baseball. The Sox acquired Javier Vazquez from Arizona for "El Duque", Luis Vizcaino and top Minor League prospect Chris Young.

Garland avoided arbitration and becoming a free agent after the 2006 season by signing a three year deal worth $29 million. He will make $7 Mil in 2006, $10 Mil in 2007 and $12 Million in 2008.

The only player left that is eligible for arbitration is Joe Crede. His agent is everyone's favorite, Scott Boras.

The payroll will keep increasing over the next couple years but it seems that Jerry Reinsdorf is willing to do whatever it takes to let Kenny Williams improve this team for another Championship run.

Pitchers and Catchers report to spring training in 44 days!



Some news to keep you hanging till next time...Sox proposed Juan Uribe and Brandon McCarthy to the Orioles for Miguel Tejada. Word is the Orioles want more. Should we make the deal sweeter?