link PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Phillies reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday to send Jim Thome and cash to the World Series champion Chicago White Sox for center fielder Aaron Rowand.
At first I thought "did Konerko sign elsewhere already?" but then it occured to me that Thome is their new DH but could take over 1B if Konerko ends up leaving.
Chicago also gave up two top left-handed pitching prospects in the deal, but Phillies picked up $22 mil. of what's left on Thome's contract. Good deal for the Phillies. Rowand is a very good center fielder, IMO one of the most underrated outfielders in the game. And Howard now gets to play first base full time. I don't know how much Thome has left, but I suppose the White Sox needed an insurance in case they lose Konerko.
I totally disagree. Rowand is a mediocre run-of-the-mill centerfielder. Last year, he had 13 HRs and and OPS in the low 0.700's. They did get out of Thome's salary and free up a spot for Howard, though, so that's a good trade for them. However, they paid the White Sox $22M. If Thome really was a one-year injury, the Sox got an all-star DH or 1B if Konerko leaves, at a pretty decent price. He was injured last season, but the two years before that, he combined for 89 HRs. If he's healthy, he might be the best 1B in the AL. The big question is if last year was a sudden decline or just a fluke.
Rowand may not be a great bat (although he's definitely above average), but he's a gold glove caliber center fielder. That's what Phillies needed the most -- defense, and they get it in this deal. The White Sox can afford to lose Rowand because they have a few very good outfield prospects ready to step in. The two lefties that the Phillies got are the two top left-handed starters in the White sox farm system. If one of them pans out, this would become a great deal for the Phillies.
In 2004 Rowand's OPS was over .900 and he is still young, so I expect his numbers to return to about 2004 level. Plus, the phillies got two excellent prospects thrown in my the White Sox. And all this for a player they have no use of, now that Ryan Howard has emerged as a star. It's a great trade for the Phillies.
