John just sent me this to post "stat." So here it is.

Chicago White Sox Top 20 Prospects for 2008

All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.

I was about to post this when word of the Oakland trade came through. As you can see, this trade guts the top levels of the White Sox system.

1. Gio Gonzalez, LHP, Grade B+ (ranks second on Oakland list)
   
2. Fautino De Los Santos, RHP, Grade B+ (ranks third on Oakland list)
   
3. Aaron Poreda, LHP, Grade B+
   
4. Jack Egbert, RHP, Grade B-  (A major sleeper)
   
5. Ryan Sweeney, OF, Grade C+ (I don't think his power is going to develop. Ranks 12th on Oakland list)
   
6. Lance Broadway, RHP, Grade C+
   
7. Nevin Griffith, RHP, Grade C+ (great ceiling, needs polish)
   
8. John Ely, RHP, Grade C+
   
9. Kyle McCulloch, RHP, Grade C+
   
10. Charlie Haeger, RHP, Grade C+
    
11. John Shelby, 2B, Grade C+
    
12. Jimmy Gallagher, OF, Grade C+
    
13. Jose Martinez, OF, Grade C+
    
14. Fernando Hernandez, RHP, Grade C+
    
15. Oneli Perez, RHP, Grade C+
    
16. Brian Omogrosso, RHP, Grade C+
    
17. Ehren Wasserman, RHP, Grade C (solid role pitcher)
    
18. Christian Marrero, 1B, Grade C
    
19. Clayton Richard, LHP, Grade C
    
20. Leroy Hunt, RHP, Grade C

Other Grade C guys include Dewon Day, Lydon Estill, Maurice Gartrell, Archie Gilbert, Francisco Hernandez, Nathan Jones, Johnnie Lowe, Donny Lucy, Sergio Miranda, Heath Phillips, Adam Russell, Salvador Sanchez, Micah Schnurstein, and Kaneoka Texeira.

Basically the Sox took a mediocre farm system and lopped the three of the top five players off the list with one trade. There isn't much depth, and position players are especially weak.

Again, don't get all pissy about exact placement on this list. The grades are more important than someone being ranked 15th instead of 13th.

Of course, full statistics and reports on over 1,000 other players will be in the 2008 Baseball Prospect Book, now available for pre-order. Ships the first Monday in February!