Sox' Williams admits transition to new core started 2 years ago
Taking over as general manager shortly after the White Sox were swept out of the first round of the 2000 playoffs, Kenny Williams quickly built a reputation for trading prospects for major-league ready talent.
Those days are over, and Williams said the shift toward acquiring young players actually started two years ago, when he acquired Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez from the Philadelphia Phillies for Freddy Garcia.
"We recognized that we had to start an infusion of youth if we were going to have any sort of sustained success," Williams said on Thursday. "That year, combined with last year and adding (Alexei) Ramirez and (Carlos) Quentin to the equation, we just felt we would continue on down that path so as our core starts to get a little mileage on it, we're developing a new core so we can keep the train rolling."
Williams thinks he added four promising pieces from the Braves in the trade that sent veteran starter Javier Vazquez and relief pitcher Boone Logan to Atlanta.
The Sox acquired catcher Tyler Flowers, infielders Jonathan Gilmore and Brent Lillibridge and left-handed pitcher Santos Rodriguez.
With 29 major-league games under his belt, Lillibridge is the veteran of the bunch.
After trading Nick Swisher and the rest of his $22 million salary to the New York Yankees last month, Vazquez and his remaining $21 million are off to Atlanta.
The White Sox have had the fifth-highest payroll in baseball in each of the past two seasons. The way Williams has been dumping payroll this winter, it looks like the Sox are intent on cutting way back.
"I've recognized for some time that we were going to be bumping up against our payroll limits," Williams said. "I'm watching dollars, but this was a deal motivated by a desire to transition into a new core of players. We still have a solid, veteran group, so the young guys can filter in at their own pace."
Williams said the speedy Lillibridge has a chance to make the White Sox' 25-man roster as a utility infielder.
"Lillibridge is a guy that I've been after for a number of years," Williams said. "Like I told him today, just go back to being yourself. Don't worry about the numbers and just play to win."
In limited play with the Braves last season, the 25-year-old Lillibridge batted .200 with 1 home run and 8 RBI. He batted .220 while stealing 23 bases for Class AAA Richmond.
Judging from Williams' lavish praise, Flowers is the key to the trade.
"I think this guy is going to be an all-star catcher," Williams said. "I think this guy's going to be a heck of an offensive catcher and a solid defensive catcher."
A 6-foot-4, 245-pounder, Flowers batted .288 and had 17 home runs and 88 RBI for Class A Myrtle Beach this season. The 22-year-old prospect really caught Williams' eye last month while leading the Arizona Fall League with 12 home runs.
Williams compares Gilmore to a young Joe Crede. The 20-year-old third baseman, who was the 33rd overall pick in the 2007 draft, batted a combined .294 for Advanced Rookie Danville and Class A Rome this season.
Rodriguez, also 20, was 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA and 5 saves for the Gulf Coast League Braves.
As for replacing the workhorse Vazquez in the starting rotation, Williams said minor-leaguer Jeff Marquez, who came over in the Swisher trade, should be up for the challenge.
Williams also indicated left-handers Aaron Poreda and Clayton Richard are positioned to battle for the No. 5 spot.