By Dave van DyckThe White Sox may be close to signing 11-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel as a backup infielder on the first day teams are allowed to pick off other team's free agents.
Vizquel, 42, has long been a favorite of manager Ozzie Guillen and GM Kenny Williams and should cost only about $1 million base salary, which is what he was paid in Texas last season.The possible signing was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.
While the Sox have a set starting infield, they are in need of a versatile backup at all positions. Vizquel played third base and second base as well as short last season, when he appeared in 62 games and hit .266.
Photo: Omar Vizquel turns a double play (MCT)
But his value goes deeper than just being an aging backup. He could
be a tutor for not only Alexei Ramirez at short,. but Gordon Beckham as
he learns the second base position.
The Sox also purchased the contracts of outfielder Stefan Gartrell and right-handed pitchers Brandon Hynick, Brian Omogrosso and Sergio Santos from Class AAA Charlotte and right-hander Santo Luis from Class A Winston-Salem.
With the moves, the White Sox 40-man roster is at 37.
The Sox also purchased the contracts of outfielder Stefan Gartrell and right-handed pitchers Brandon Hynick, Brian Omogrosso and Sergio Santos from Class AAA Charlotte and right-hander Santo Luis from Class A Winston-Salem.
With the moves, the White Sox 40-man roster is at 37.
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Your idea it’s written before Web 2.0 hype. Well done.
@ Matt Wilkins
Only a Sox fan could justify a stupid move like signing a guy 20 years past his prime.
Only a Sox fan could think Ozzie Guillen is worth more than Nick Swisher's chew tin
Only a Sox fan could spend their entire existence obsessing on the CUBS (see your post for example)
Fact of the matter is, the Sox 2010 season is already a bust......Put it on the boooard YES
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Nada
A great move by KW. It's obvious he's at the sox as a mentor and to help out the inexperienced infield . You would never see the cubs make a move like this, they're too busy pooring cash down the stinking Wrigley Field drains.
@Kenny Williams: if you're going to call someone "dumb," it helps to use correct grammar and word choice.
WHO?
Jeez, the Sox may be the dumbest organization in baseball. This bum is 42 years old, his best years were when Miley Cyrus was still in Billy Ray's acorns.
Way to go Kenny!
Maybe they can get Ron Kittle out of retirement to play right!!!!
Go CUBS
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Nada
He's going to be a utility infielder, for goodness sake! Vizquel is known for his physical and playing condition. For 1 mil. a nice pickup who will do what a backup is supposed to do.
@Kenny Williams (the pseudonym, not the GM)
When I see "countries dumbest" I can't help point out that it should be "country's dumbest." But, what do I know, I'm a Sox fan.
And eff this move by the way. Why is Kenny (the GM) always getting guys a birthday away from joining AARP?
By whom are Sox fans considered the dumbest in the country? I must have missed that scientific survey.
I seriously doubt Vizquel is taking over for Ramirez, BUT he would be an excellent tutor for Ramirez and maybe Beckham for that matter..Maybe subbing on late inning situations for close games I think he will be more like player/coach for the Sox more than anything.. Although I would not rule out him playing more if the Sox are competitive late into the season this year and if Ramirez looks like he did at the beginning of this season (he did get better as the season progressed).