Chisox73
03-08-2006, 10:08 PM
White Sox bolster depth with Cintron
Switch-hitting infielder adds versatility; Bajenaru traded
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060308&content_id=1340064&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/images/2006/02/25/gt8AqtpZ.jpg
Alex Cintron can move around the infield and is a productive switch-hitter. (John Miller/AP)
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Kenny Williams has made a scant few trades over his six years as general manager that left White Sox fans scratching their heads, wondering why the moves were made.
But currently it is the opposing general managers, trying to assemble teams to challenge the White Sox, who must be wondering how Williams continues to pull off transactions that make a talented team even deeper.
The defending World Series champions took yet another bold step toward strengthening their 2006 repeat effort Wednesday, acquiring infielder Alex Cintron from the Diamondbacks in exchange for Minor League reliever Jeff Bajenaru. Cintron, 27, falls into basically the same versatile category as Pablo Ozuna and Rob Mackowiak, in that the switch-hitter can play shortstop, third base and second base.
Cintron batted .273 in 2005 for Arizona, with 19 doubles, eight home runs and 48 RBIs in 122 games, as he played 39 games at shortstop, 32 at third and 23 at second. His addition gives the White Sox a true backup shortstop to starter Juan Uribe, guarding against injuries to not only the free-swinging starter but also Ozuna.
"I'm very excited to go to Chicago," said Cintron, who is playing for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. "It's a great opportunity to win. Arizona is a young team going in another direction."
Williams joked that if Uribe or Ozuna went down last year, the only shortstop options they had were right fielder Jermaine Dye or to activate manager Ozzie Guillen. This particular scenario sounds comical, at best, and for the most part implausible, but it actually played out during an afternoon series finale in Oakland in 2005.
"I don't think we should go there anymore," said Williams with a laugh of Dye filling in at shortstop. "You could file [the trade] under the category of making an acquisition, like we did with Uribe a couple of years ago, before there is a real need for the position. If we lose anyone for an extended period of time in our infield, we feel confident and comfortable that we will keep some continuity both offensively and defensively."
"We don't have a legit shortstop [after Uribe]," added Guillen of the planned role for Cintron, who is a .279 career hitter, with 280 games played at shortstop, 69 at second base and 58 at third. "When I need a shortstop for Uribe, we gamble and put in Ozuna. Then, when Ozuna is in the lineup and we need to pinch-hit, we don't have someone to play. With Cintron, our bench is going to be a lot stronger."
Guillen, who is close friends with the new utility player, said that the White Sox have been after Cintron for three seasons. Despite losing a quality arm in Bajenaru, the manager was thrilled to have Cintron as part of the organization.
The right-handed Bajenaru posted impressive Minor League numbers as a closer for the White Sox, finishing at 4-6 with a 1.41 ERA and 19 saves for Triple-A Charlotte in 2005, striking out 83 in 61 appearances. But Bajenaru could never crack the solid bullpen at the Major League level, dominated by right-handers.
Cintron's addition also brings into sharper focus the reserve role for Mackowiak. Instead of begin considered as a replacement all over the ballpark, from third to first and left to right, Mackowiak will be used primarily in the outfield and as a backup to third baseman Joe Crede. Ozuna also has the ability to play the outfield.
"We will free Mackowiak up for a few days in center, to give Brian [Anderson] some rest and protect him a little bit," Williams said. "One of the things we kept looking at with this whole thing is that every time we got into a situation or a conversation where we wondered, 'What happens if we want to pinch-hit for this guy or give this guy a day off?' Mackowiak kept coming up.
"He can only play one position at a time," said Williams. "Now, we have another guy who we feel just as strong about and just as confident about."
The open roster battles remaining on the 25-man roster appear to be down to two spots, barring injuries. Left-handers Javier Lopez and Armando Almanza will be competing with right-hander Tim Redding for one bullpen opening, while Ross Gload, Joe Borchard and Jerry Owens all are after the final outfield slot behind Mackowiak.
Cintron also is an accomplished pinch-hitter, an area where Gload excels, hitting .304 in 46 at-bats last year in that role. Cintron added three home runs and 12 RBIs as a pinch-hitter, tying for the National League lead among pinch-hitters in home runs and tying for third in RBIs.
"Ultimately, as I have tried to do in the past, I let the coaches dictate who they need the most," said Williams of the final outfield spot. "In the case of Owens, there are also developmental issues we have to discuss, and I will have a greater input in regards to him. But we are just trying to take the best team that gives us the best chance possible."
Since the World Series clinching victory over Houston in late October, Williams has added Jim Thome, Mackowiak, Javier Vazquez and now Cintron to the 2006 White Sox. Although it's hard to believe for a team that won 16 of its final 17 games last year, the South Siders appear to be an even better team on paper.
That fact will leave more than a few opposing teams in a state of wonder as the 2006 season approaches.
"We can go all left-handed or with a predominantly right-handed lineup," Williams said. "And we feel confident with everyone we have out there."
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Switch-hitting infielder adds versatility; Bajenaru traded
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060308&content_id=1340064&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/images/2006/02/25/gt8AqtpZ.jpg
Alex Cintron can move around the infield and is a productive switch-hitter. (John Miller/AP)
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Kenny Williams has made a scant few trades over his six years as general manager that left White Sox fans scratching their heads, wondering why the moves were made.
But currently it is the opposing general managers, trying to assemble teams to challenge the White Sox, who must be wondering how Williams continues to pull off transactions that make a talented team even deeper.
The defending World Series champions took yet another bold step toward strengthening their 2006 repeat effort Wednesday, acquiring infielder Alex Cintron from the Diamondbacks in exchange for Minor League reliever Jeff Bajenaru. Cintron, 27, falls into basically the same versatile category as Pablo Ozuna and Rob Mackowiak, in that the switch-hitter can play shortstop, third base and second base.
Cintron batted .273 in 2005 for Arizona, with 19 doubles, eight home runs and 48 RBIs in 122 games, as he played 39 games at shortstop, 32 at third and 23 at second. His addition gives the White Sox a true backup shortstop to starter Juan Uribe, guarding against injuries to not only the free-swinging starter but also Ozuna.
"I'm very excited to go to Chicago," said Cintron, who is playing for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. "It's a great opportunity to win. Arizona is a young team going in another direction."
Williams joked that if Uribe or Ozuna went down last year, the only shortstop options they had were right fielder Jermaine Dye or to activate manager Ozzie Guillen. This particular scenario sounds comical, at best, and for the most part implausible, but it actually played out during an afternoon series finale in Oakland in 2005.
"I don't think we should go there anymore," said Williams with a laugh of Dye filling in at shortstop. "You could file [the trade] under the category of making an acquisition, like we did with Uribe a couple of years ago, before there is a real need for the position. If we lose anyone for an extended period of time in our infield, we feel confident and comfortable that we will keep some continuity both offensively and defensively."
"We don't have a legit shortstop [after Uribe]," added Guillen of the planned role for Cintron, who is a .279 career hitter, with 280 games played at shortstop, 69 at second base and 58 at third. "When I need a shortstop for Uribe, we gamble and put in Ozuna. Then, when Ozuna is in the lineup and we need to pinch-hit, we don't have someone to play. With Cintron, our bench is going to be a lot stronger."
Guillen, who is close friends with the new utility player, said that the White Sox have been after Cintron for three seasons. Despite losing a quality arm in Bajenaru, the manager was thrilled to have Cintron as part of the organization.
The right-handed Bajenaru posted impressive Minor League numbers as a closer for the White Sox, finishing at 4-6 with a 1.41 ERA and 19 saves for Triple-A Charlotte in 2005, striking out 83 in 61 appearances. But Bajenaru could never crack the solid bullpen at the Major League level, dominated by right-handers.
Cintron's addition also brings into sharper focus the reserve role for Mackowiak. Instead of begin considered as a replacement all over the ballpark, from third to first and left to right, Mackowiak will be used primarily in the outfield and as a backup to third baseman Joe Crede. Ozuna also has the ability to play the outfield.
"We will free Mackowiak up for a few days in center, to give Brian [Anderson] some rest and protect him a little bit," Williams said. "One of the things we kept looking at with this whole thing is that every time we got into a situation or a conversation where we wondered, 'What happens if we want to pinch-hit for this guy or give this guy a day off?' Mackowiak kept coming up.
"He can only play one position at a time," said Williams. "Now, we have another guy who we feel just as strong about and just as confident about."
The open roster battles remaining on the 25-man roster appear to be down to two spots, barring injuries. Left-handers Javier Lopez and Armando Almanza will be competing with right-hander Tim Redding for one bullpen opening, while Ross Gload, Joe Borchard and Jerry Owens all are after the final outfield slot behind Mackowiak.
Cintron also is an accomplished pinch-hitter, an area where Gload excels, hitting .304 in 46 at-bats last year in that role. Cintron added three home runs and 12 RBIs as a pinch-hitter, tying for the National League lead among pinch-hitters in home runs and tying for third in RBIs.
"Ultimately, as I have tried to do in the past, I let the coaches dictate who they need the most," said Williams of the final outfield spot. "In the case of Owens, there are also developmental issues we have to discuss, and I will have a greater input in regards to him. But we are just trying to take the best team that gives us the best chance possible."
Since the World Series clinching victory over Houston in late October, Williams has added Jim Thome, Mackowiak, Javier Vazquez and now Cintron to the 2006 White Sox. Although it's hard to believe for a team that won 16 of its final 17 games last year, the South Siders appear to be an even better team on paper.
That fact will leave more than a few opposing teams in a state of wonder as the 2006 season approaches.
"We can go all left-handed or with a predominantly right-handed lineup," Williams said. "And we feel confident with everyone we have out there."
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.