Sox whiff on getting Brewers’ Greinke
When the White Sox are competitive, general manager Kenny Williams always aims high as the July 31 nonwaiver deadline approaches.
Having already landed third baseman Kevin Youkilis in a June 24 deal with the Red Sox and veteran relief pitcher Brett Myers from the Astros last Saturday, Williams was a solid 2-for-2.
If you believe the rumor mill, Williams swung and missed on Brewers ace Zack Greinke, who was traded to the Angels on Friday night.
Even though the Angels know Greinke can walk away as a free agent at the end of the season, they paid a steep price for the right-hander, sending three of their Top 10 prospects to Milwaukee — including shortstop Jean Segura.
Earlier rumors indicated the Sox were making a big push to land Greinke, but the Brewers were apparently asking for impressive rookie starter Jose Quintana, rookie closer Addison Reed and top prospect Jared Mitchell.
There was no way that was going to happen, but the White Sox still need another starter if they want to continue their playoff push.
As it stands now, the Sox have Chris Sale, Jake Peavy, Quintana, Gavin Floyd and Philip Humber in their rotation.
That’s a pretty solid group, even though Sale wasn’t overly sharp for the second straight outing Friday night at Texas.
The bigger concerns are Humber and John Danks, who is still on the disabled list with a sore throwing (left shoulder).
Humber, who starts Saturday night against the Rangers, is 3-5 with a 7.55 ERA in 12 starts since throwing a perfect game at Seattle on April 21.
The White Sox could plug Danks into the rotation and move Humber to the bullpen or minor leagues, but they are running out of time.
Out since May 20, Danks threw on the side again before Friday night’s game at Texas.
According to reports, Danks is going to exclusively throw off the mound and scrap long tossing in order to expedite his return.
Considering he has already missed over two months, it is looking more and more like Danks won’t be ready until September, if at all this season.
“It’s getting to that point where it’s going to have happen pretty fast for him to be able to go down and have a rehab assignment and feel strong enough where he can come in here and pitch,” Sox manager Robin Ventura told reporters. “It’s getting closer and closer to that time, and if not, you kind of look toward next year.”
If the White Sox feel Danks is not going to be ready and they don’t want to keep running Humber out to the mound, Williams could try trading for one of three other available starting pitchers — the Marlins’ Josh Johnson, the Cubs’ Ryan Dempster or the Rays’ James Shields.
ŸCatcher A.J. Pierzynski missed his third straight game Friday with a mild right oblique strain.
Manager Robin Ventura told reporters Pierzynski could be back for Sunday night’s game against the Rangers.
sgregor@dailyherald.com