Neither team made progress through this trade

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - There are good trades in major-league baseball. There are bad ones. And there are trades that don't work out too well for either side.

So far, the Nov. 6 deal that brought Mark Teahen to the White Sox and sent Chris Getz and Josh Fields to the Royals has fit the third profile.

Teahen has been on the disabled list since June 1 with a fractured finger, and the third baseman struggled in his first two months with the Sox, batting .255 with 3 home runs and 14 RBI while making 8 errors in 45 games.

Just when Teahen started hitting the ball - he was 8-for-20 with 1 home run and 6 RBI over a six-game stretch before breaking his right middle finger during a May 20 game at Tampa Bay - he landed on the DL.

A frustrated Teahen is just hoping to return to the White Sox as soon as possible after the all-star break.

"I'm doing everything I can physically outside of moving the finger," Teahen said. "The pins are still in there and they probably have to be in there this week and one more at least. It's been a long process. I just fractured the tip but it kind of affected the joint. I'm trying to prepare myself so that as soon as the pins come out I can try to get back on the field as quickly as possible."

Teahen said it's actually been easier being idle during the White Sox' recent surge back into contention compared to when they were scuffling at the beginning of June.

"It's never easy to sit there and not be able to help," Teahen said. "But in some ways, when the team's playing really great it makes the time go a little bit quicker because you're not beating yourself up about not being able to help."

Getz made his first start of the series for the Royals on Wednesday. He came in batting .222 and has been platooning at second base with Mike Aviles.

Fields had surgery in late April to repair a labrum in his right hip. He is expected to be out for the season.

Wilson Betemit, designated for assignment by the Sox last June to open a roster spot for Gordon Beckham, started at third base for Kansas City on Wednesday and came in batting .480 (12-for-25).

Another former White Sox, Scott Podsednik, is the Royals' leadoff hitter.