Can White Sox' minor leaguers help next season?
Kenny Williams has already taken out the pruning shears and trimmed $9 million off the payroll by trading Edwin Jackson and Mark Teahen.
Assuming he returns as White Sox general manager, Williams is going to be doing even more salary chopping this winter.
Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has liked very little of what he's seen this season — in the standings and in the stands at U.S. Cellular Field.
Williams had to “twist” Reinsdorf's arm last off-season to procure the money to sign free agents Adam Dunn, Jesse Crain and Will Ohman while also bringing back Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski.
Reinsdorf's annual goal is winning games on the field and breaking even on the financial end.
Wednesday night's 5-4 loss to the Twins at Target Field dropped the Sox' record to 71-70, and they are on pace to draw less than 2 million fans for the first time since 2004, manager Ozzie Guillen's first year in the dugout.
The White Sox are expected to lose millions of dollars this year, so that means no more splashy signings this winter and likely means Mark Buehrle and Juan Pierre are going elsewhere as free agents while Carlos Quentin gets nontendered.
Maybe Williams can find teams willing to take Dunn and Alex Rios and a large chunk of the $82 million they are owed over the next three years.
Don't hold your breath there.
The Sox have to work young talent into the mix, and they've already started with Dayan Viciedo, Alejandro De Aza, Tyler Flowers, Zach Stewart and Addison Reed.
Anything left on the farm?
Here are some names to remember moving forward:
Ÿ Jordan Danks. Williams saw John Danks' younger brother play for Class AAA Charlotte this season and noted a wider stance at the plate.
Jordan Danks had been somewhat of a disappointment with the bat the last two years, but he picked it up this season and hit .257 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI in 133 games.
Danks also showed off his good speed with 6 triples and 18 stolen bases in 22 attempts. Defensively, the center fielder is ready to play in the big leagues.
Ÿ Tyler Kuhn. The former West Virginia star has the bat. Kuhn hit .297 at Charlotte and .341 at AA Birmingham this year.
Kuhn can play all over the infield, but a suspect glove might relegate him to future utility duty with the White Sox.
Ÿ Jared Mitchell. On the bad side, the Sox' first-round draft pick in 2009 hit just .222 and struck out 183 times in 477 at-bats for Class A Winston-Salem.
Mitchell was obviously behind after sitting out the 2010 season with an ankle injury. But on the good side, the former LSU baseball/football standout ranked third in the Carolina League with 8 triples and fourth with 31 doubles and 74 runs scored.
Ÿ Trayce Thompson. Williams raved about the Class A Kannapolis outfielder, calling him a future “monster player.”
A second-round pick in 2009, Thompson batted .241 and ranked among South Atlantic League leaders in home runs (24) and RBI (87).
sgregor@dailyherald.com