MLBTR is reporting the Angels and White Sox are in talks about a deal for Paul Konerko. Doug Padilla of The Daily Breeze confirms these rumors, saying the Sox are trying to get Chone Figgins and relief help in any trade.
Let's say that, barring a trade with the Angels, Nick Swisher starts the season in left. If this deal happens, Swisher will likely move over to first base and Figgins will probably wind up in left. Can anybody really see the combination of Figgins, Swisher, and a reliever winning more games for us than Swisher and Konerko? As much as we need relief help, we need starting help much, much more. Which is why the only way this deal turns in the Sox favor is if we can structure it so they include a starter, namely Kelvim Escobar or Jered Weaver, or even top prospect Nick Adenhart.
Konerko is the heart of one of the most dangerous 3-4-5 combinations in the Majors, not to mention a fan and clubhouse favorite. So, even if Figgins were a statistic upgrade over Konerko (which he is not, given our reliance on the long ball--no, we are not a small ball team), this deal would disrupt team chemistry and piss off both the players and the fans.
If you are not rebuilding in a given season, and Kenny has so adamantly assured us he is not, any trade you make must put you in a better position to contend that year. It's just common sense. From what is being reported, there is no way getting rid of Konerko is going to make us a better team, though I wouldn't be surprised to see KW sign off on unfavorable terms.
Just for fun, here are two hypothetical trades between the Angels and Sox that could involve Konerko:
1. Konerko for Figgins and Scot Shieldes/Justin Speier - It works for the Angels because they have pitching depth and get their man, and it works for the Sox because they get their ideal leadoff/high-OBP man, as well as a power arm that can actually pitch out of the bullpen. However, this trade doesn't make us any better at the end of the day, namely because it doesn't fill the gaping void of skill caused by Gavin Floyd's presence at the back of the rotation.
2. Konerko and Joe Crede for Figgins and Kelvim Escobar - If you think we get screwed on this trade, remember that Crede is coming back from an injury and Konerko an off-year, so we're going to get about 80 cents on the dollar for both of them. With Fields having proven he can be effective as an everyday player, it is no secret Crede has become expendable (and probably our most logical trade chip). He's under contract for one more year, so the Angels are a perfect trade partner given their contender status. This makes even more sense due to the fact that the Angels lose their starting third baseman in Figgins, and they have a surplus of near-ready pitching talent in their farm system to replace Escobar. Kelvim is a very solid starter who doesn't give up a ton of home runs, a necessity in hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular.
As much as I would love to steal their pitching prospects, KW is clearly only looking for people to contribute immediately, or else he wouldn't have made the Swisher trade. And while I love Paulie, I'd be happy (enough) if KW pulled off this second deal (only because of the position we're now in based on the other deals he's made). Unfortunately, I think it might be a little far-fetched, and Kenny is developing a reputation for getting the short-end of the trade stick.
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