The White Sox have all the fun. Assembled in Las Vegas for their annual organizational meetings, the team’s power brokers are faced with a handful of important and difficult decisions.
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Now that it appears that Jim Leyland is staying put, at whom should they make a managerial run? Should they put together a major trade for a shortstop? Should they double down on a pair of 10s?
Then there are the Cubs. The White Sox change directions. The Cubs change calendars.
As the White Sox continue their yearlong search for someone with a clue and a personality (you didn’t think I’d count last season’s Terry Bevington Farewell Tour, did you?), the Cubs enter the winter months with many of the same boring questions of a year ago.
You know them by heart.
– Is there a power-hitting left-fielder in the house?
– What are the chances of finding a nice, dependable shortstop?
– Who’s the No. 1 starter?
– Who’s the No. 1 closer?
– Is there a power-hitting left-fielder in the house?
These are the old faithfuls. But how about adding a new twist to the Cubs’ 1998 cluster headache? Something like Mark Grace: Love him or dump him?
Grace will be 33 on Opening Day. More important, he’ll be a 5-and-10 guy, meaning he can veto any trade proposal. If the Cubs don’t deal him before the designation kicks in, they might not get another chance.
The Dump Him faction says it’s time to pull the plug. He only hit 13 home runs last season, only drove in 78 runs. For this he got $4.3 million and will earn another $4 million guaranteed in 1998 and $4.1 in 1999 if the Cubs pick up his option.
The Dump Hims figure Grace would make wonderful trade bait. Maybe get a couple of young pitchers and a power hitter in return. Perfect.
If that doesn’t work, they figure the Cubs can deal him for at least a prospect or two and then put his salary toward the purchase of a very expensive Andres Galarraga, or a less pricey John Olerud and Darren Daulton, or even something in the David Segui variety. And if a trade falls through, just leave Grace unprotected for the upcoming expansion draft. Somebody will take him.
Galarraga is the guy, they say. He hits for average, plays Gold Glove-caliber defense and usually has 13 homers and 78 RBIs by the All-Star break. No Wrigleyville windows would be safe.
Of course, the Dump Hims are on some sort of Dr. Timothy Leary trip. Barring any drastic change in Cubs philosophy, Grace will end his career listening to the daily Harry Caray serenade. Grace is valuable, but also nearly untradable.
About 15 of the existing 28 teams won’t touch him because of his salary, his lack of power at a position that historically requires it . . . or both. Another 10 teams won’t touch him because they already have stars at first base. That leaves about three existing teams and two expansion franchises to consider Grace. So much for supply and demand.
Truth is, the market for Grace is limited. Possibly a move to the West. Otherwise, it’s the Cubs.
This isn’t a bad thing. Grace still plays did-you-see-that? defense. He hits for average (.310 lifetime) and since 1990 he leads the major leagues in doubles and is third in hits, trailing only Paul Molitor and Tony Gwynn. That has to count for something.
I like him because he can fill a notebook, but also because he gets on base (his .409 percentage was 14th best in the majors), doesn’t strike out (45 Ks in 555 at-bats) and doesn’t embarrass the uniform. You could do a lot worse.
Instead of moving Grace, the Cubs would be better off concentrating on the original wish list. Remember? Find a power-hitting left-fielder, someone who can give the Bleacher Bums whiplash.
Anaheim Angels outfielder Jim Edmonds wouldn’t be a bad place to start. Two other conversion possibilities: Dean Palmer and Chili Davis.
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After that the Cubs should work their way to shortstop and second base. Mike Lansing would look wonderful in pinstripes, but it’s going to cost the Cubs some players, maybe even Kerry Wood. Don’t do it.
Instead, settle for two professional, dependable middle infielders. Nothing fancy. A No. 2 hitter. A No. 8 hitter. Then hope for the best.
Forget the idea of a premier starting pitcher. Isn’t going to happen. But a premier reliever? Depends. Randy Myers is available and the Cubs could be interested.
OK, so none of this is as interesting as the White Sox’s search for a manager. But old questions deserve answers. The Cubs have the questions. Soon we’ll know if they have the solutions.