The trade that dragged on yesterday, finally got done today. The White Sox acquired Mark Teahen and cash from the Royals in exhange for Chris Getz and Josh Fields.
With the addition of Teahen and departure of Jermaine Dye, what does this mean for the Sox lineup?
(AP)
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Teahen who hit .271 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI last season, can play the outfield or third base, which gives the Sox options as they move forward in building the 2010 team.
Teahen, 28, could allow the Sox to move Gordon Beckham to second base. Two weeks ago, manager Ozzie Guillen said that he saw Beckham as a future second baseman when asked if Beckham could ever return to his natural position of shortstop.
The two free agents on their radar going into the offseason were Bobby Abreu and Chone Figgins, but those close to Abreu in the Sox organization already knew he and the Angels were in discussions to keep him in Los Angeles, and Abreu promptly signed a two-year deal Thursday. That left Figgins, but he has an expensive bull's-eye on his back.
The Sox had initial talks with Scott Podsednik to re-sign, but that might've been a PR move, allowing the Sox to stall and find out the asking price for Figgins in just over two weeks.
The other option is that the Sox will play Teahen in the outfield, moving Beckham to second and clearing the way for Figgins to be the third baseman.
Jayson Nix also could be in the mix, but Guillen wasn't happy with the at-bats the free-swinging Nix gave away and said he'd need to be more selective if he wanted to make the team next season.
The Sox did announce on Thursday morning that they agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with Mark Kotsay.
The versatile Kotsay gives Guillen a backup first baseman, as well as an outfielder to rotate around. More important, Kotsay emerged as a team leader from Day 1 and was an instant favorite of Guillen's.