Richard eager to help Padres
On May 21, Clayton Richard was relieved when Jake Peavy nixed a trade.
Richard was involved in the deal, and as much as he was flattered by the San Diego Padres' interest, he has Midwestern roots and wanted to remain with the White Sox.
On Friday, when the Sox finally did acquire Peavy, Richard was realistic.
"I'm excited about the opportunity," Richard said. "It's kind of hard leaving here. I came up through here. I'm really appreciative of the opportunities Chicago has given me.
"I'm nothing but happy with the playoffs last year, just being a part of it, and making the team this year. That was all a lot of fun. I'm ready to move on. It'll be fun."
Richard, a Lafayette, Ind., native and former two-sport athlete at the University of Michigan, heads for San Diego this morning.
The 25-year-old lefty was 4-3 with a 4.65 ERA in 26 games (14 starts) for the Sox this season.
Also heading to the Padres are Aaron Poreda, who was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 10 relief appearances with the White Sox earlier in the season, Adam Russell, 2-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 34 relief outings with Class AAA Charlotte and Dexter Carter, 6-2 with a 3.13 ERA and 143 strikeouts (in 118 innings) as a starter for Class A Kannapolis.
"It's definitely nice to go in and know that some of the teammates I've known before, they'll be there," Richard said.
Central strength: Not only did the White Sox beef up before Friday's nonwaiver trade deadline with Jake Peavy, the Detroit Tigers landed Seattle starter Jarrod Washburn and the Minnesota Twins acquired Orlando Cabrera, who played shortstop for the Sox last season.
"Good for them," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "They got better. So did we. I think the Minnesota Twins are going to be way better with Cabrera out there and Washburn will help those guys a lot. "
Sick bay: Closer Bobby Jenks said he passed one kidney stone Thursday and was waiting to pass one more.
Jenks isn't expected to be available until Sunday at the earliest.
Manager Ozzie Guillen was hoping to have shortstop Alexei Ramirez (sprained right ankle) back by Sunday, but it now looks like Tuesday, when the White Sox open a three-game series against the Angels.
Hole in the rotation: D.J. Carrasco stepped in and started for the departed Clayton Richard Friday, and the Sox probably need to fill the rotation void three more times before Jake Peavy is ready to pitch.
Manager Ozzie Guillen said Carlos Torres is a possibility. Torres came up from Class AAA Charlotte on July 22 and started against Tampa Bay, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits over 6 innings.