bd811
07-06-2002, 04:37 PM
Jeff Liefer considers Chicago the greatest city in the country, but the White Sox apparently aren't a reason he finds it so appealing.
Liefer said Thursday that the Sox no longer have anything to offer him and sounded off as the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline approaches.
"I'm hoping to get traded because I'm not playing,'' said Liefer, a backup outfielder and first baseman, who is batting .188 with one home run and three RBI in 29 games. "I want to go somewhere and try to build on what I did last year instead of taking steps backward.''
Last season, Liefer played in a career-high 83 games, batting .256 with 18 home runs and 39 RBI. Before last season, Liefer did not have a major-league home run and had 14 RBI in parts of two seasons (50 games).
"If you're not playing, you're not getting a chance to get better,'' he said.
Two weeks ago, Liefer said he considered the minor leagues a better option than sitting on the bench with the Sox because he wanted to get at-bats. But at that time, he stopped short of saying he wanted to be traded, adding, "I don't know what I want.''
His minor-league request was moot, though, because he is out of options and couldn't be sent to Class AAA Charlotte unless he cleared waivers. The Sox likely could lose him without receiving compensation.
Liefer, 27, said that some of his anxiety over a lack of playing time is he is running out of years to be productive.
Liefer added he doesn't expect to be starting over Carlos Lee or Magglio Ordonez. But with those two entrenched in the Sox lineup, he is just looking for a place where he has a chance to perform.
Doug Padilla
Liefer said Thursday that the Sox no longer have anything to offer him and sounded off as the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline approaches.
"I'm hoping to get traded because I'm not playing,'' said Liefer, a backup outfielder and first baseman, who is batting .188 with one home run and three RBI in 29 games. "I want to go somewhere and try to build on what I did last year instead of taking steps backward.''
Last season, Liefer played in a career-high 83 games, batting .256 with 18 home runs and 39 RBI. Before last season, Liefer did not have a major-league home run and had 14 RBI in parts of two seasons (50 games).
"If you're not playing, you're not getting a chance to get better,'' he said.
Two weeks ago, Liefer said he considered the minor leagues a better option than sitting on the bench with the Sox because he wanted to get at-bats. But at that time, he stopped short of saying he wanted to be traded, adding, "I don't know what I want.''
His minor-league request was moot, though, because he is out of options and couldn't be sent to Class AAA Charlotte unless he cleared waivers. The Sox likely could lose him without receiving compensation.
Liefer, 27, said that some of his anxiety over a lack of playing time is he is running out of years to be productive.
Liefer added he doesn't expect to be starting over Carlos Lee or Magglio Ordonez. But with those two entrenched in the Sox lineup, he is just looking for a place where he has a chance to perform.
Doug Padilla