Erstad to Chicago to play CF?

by ChrisRef19 on Jan 23, 2007 9:17 PM EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) - The Chicago White Sox moved quickly to plug a potential hole in their lineup. MLB.com reported on Tuesday that the White Sox signed free agent outfielder Darin Erstad to a one-year contract.

What does this mean for the likes of Ryan Sweeny and Brian Anderson? With Podsednik out this also creates an opening in left field. Who is the front runner for the LF job?

I would love to see Sweeny get a shot at CF, if not there, then LF.

Poll

Whos in LF for CWS

R. Sweeny

28 votes

J. Owens

6 votes

R. Mackowiak

11 votes

B. Anderson

18 votes

63 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Sweeney

I certainly don't think a consolidation year in AAA would hurt Sweeney, considering he'll be 22 next year. Maybe Kenny Williams was thinking the same thing.

by Guyute on Jan 23, 2007 9:26 PM EST reply actions

agree

Good point. I too think he needs a little bit of time, but I also like his bat, and think he is ready to hit in the majors.

by ChrisRef19 on Jan 24, 2007 8:39 AM EST up reply actions

sorry, other...

Fields

by mateodh on Jan 23, 2007 11:22 PM EST reply actions

other

Scott Podsednik platooning with Ozuna or Fields.

Not sure where you get the idea Pods is out. If anything, the surgery will restore him to being the player they won with in 2005.

By the way, if the Sox play an outfield of Pods/Anderson/Erstad, as they could possibly do on occasion, that may be the weakest outfield in recent memory.

by BobbyMac on Jan 24, 2007 1:34 AM EST reply actions

Yep

Didnt see the exact time frame on Scotty P.... Fields out there makes sense too, never thought of him.

The move comes on the heels of left fielder Scott Podsednik undergoing groin surgery on Tuesday. He is expected to be out of action for six weeks.

Podsednik has been plagued by groin injuries the past two seasons, although Tuesday's surgery reportedly stems from an ailment he suffered from four years ago with Milwaukee.

by ChrisRef19 on Jan 24, 2007 7:38 AM EST up reply actions

Proven veteran syndrome

Bernie Williams, much?

I know the terms haven't been announced yet, but if it's for more than $1MM or so, this is a waste of money. Erstad is no better than a 700 OPS guy at this point (or what he has done since his "breakout" 2000), and the last time I saw him play CF, he looked awful. Injury prone, slow...why?

Anderson may not have been Beltran last year, but he'll put up similar numbers as Erstad with another year of seasoning. And I ain't the biggest Sweeney fan, but he's still a minimum wage kinda player. Then you have Fields to stick in LF.

No, I don't understand this one in the least. If you have proven to suck, you are not a proven veteran.

by bigfatdrunk on Jan 24, 2007 10:00 AM EST reply actions

+1

Yeah, Brian Jordan may be available too...

I would think any one out of Jerry Owens, Ryan Sweeney, Anderson, Fields could fill in adequately in the OF... at least short term until Pods comes back.

Heck, maybe even Casey Rogowski if he has a hot spring :-)

Erstad... beh!

by RogoRooter on Jan 24, 2007 11:53 AM EST up reply actions