Williams not through angling for 'some big fish'
White Sox general manager Kenny Williams isn't going to kick back after acquiring standout shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in a trade for starting pitcher Jon Garland.
"Hopefully, very quickly, other things will start to happen,'' Williams said. "We're not done yet. We're still out there trying to land some big fish.''
Coming off a 72-90 season -- their worst since 1989 -- the Sox are determined to get back to where they were in 2005, when they rolled up 99 wins in the regular season and went on to win the World Series.
"Last year did not sit well with any of us,'' Williams said. "I'll be (darned) if we're going to go through that again. We will aggressively pursue a championship.
"The message I've been giving everyone we have targeted is that we are 100 percent committed to winning a title in 2008.''
By everyone, does that mean free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter?
"I wish I could (say that),'' Williams said. "But the free-agent process is a tricky thing. We have to continue down some inroads we've made. All I can tell you is we'll continue to pound the pavement to make things happen.''
The White Sox did save some money in Monday's trade, since Garland is owed $12 million for 2008 while the Angels are picking up $1.5 million of Cabrera's $9 million contract.
But the Sox still need to find a left fielder, two relief pitchers and possibly a second baseman.
They are likely to trade shortstop Juan Uribe, who is being supplanted by Cabrera, and third baseman Joe Crede, who missed most of the 2007 season (back surgery) and is the lone Sox player represented by Scott Boras.
Adding Cabrera to baseball's worst offense could help the Sox land a center fielder like Hunter or Aaron Rowand, who is also a free agent.
"I don't see how it can hurt," Williams said.
Hunter, who batted .287 with 28 homers and 107 RBI for the Twins this season, reportedly is seeking at least $75 million over five years.
The 32-year-old Gold Glover had dinner at the home of Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks on Monday night, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.
Hunter, who makes his off-season home outside of Dallas, is meeting with the Rangers for the second time.
"This is more of a chance to get to know each other, and then if we move toward an offer, we'd do that quickly," Hicks told the Morning News. "We want to talk about where the Rangers are headed and try to understand more about him as a player to see if we're a good match.''
The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are also interested in Hunter.
With Cabrera expected to step in as the No. 2 hitter, the White Sox are still shopping for a leadoff man and bullpen help. As expected, the latter need is shaping up as a challenge for Williams.
"Relief pitching has been very difficult to rectify,'' Williams said. "But I'm still optimistic.''
With little help available on the free-agent market, the Sox might turn to Japan for bullpen help.
Closer Hitoki Iwase appears to be the best of the Japanese crop of relievers that also includes Kazuo Fukumori, Masahide Kobayashi and Yasuhiko Yabuta.