Does the signing of Kirk McCaskill mean one of the present White Sox starters could go in a trade?
Maybe, said Sox General Manager Ron Schueler, but not now.
If the season were to start this week, Schueler said Saturday, a five-man rotation would include McCaskill, Jack McDowell, Charlie Hough, Alex Fernandez and Greg Hibbard. Odd man out would be Wilson Alvarez, and Schueler is comfortable with that.
”I just felt last year we put a lot of pressure on the kids to fill in,” Schueler said. ”I think if we would`ve had this type of pitcher
(McCaskill), we would`ve won it last year. I`m awfully excited about getting him.”
And what of Alvarez, having a sensational winter-ball season in Venezuela?
”If he comes to camp throwing the way (he`s thrown in Venezuela), that`s going to make it tough on us,” Schueler said. ”But I think it would be better for his future and the future of the White Sox if he could go down and start the season in Triple-A and have a big year there.”
That could change.
– McCaskill was in Chicago last week for a tour of the city. Among the stops: the Stadium for a Blackhawks game. That might have clinched it. McCaskill, a native Canadian, was one of the nation`s top college hockey players while at the University of Vermont before choosing baseball over hockey.
– Big dates: Baseball`s salary arbitration filing period begins Saturday and continues through Jan. 14; results of the Hall of Fame voting will be announced at 9 p.m. Jan. 7; and on Jan. 18, the Chicago baseball writers`
annual Diamond Dinner will be held at the Palmer House. For tickets, at $60 apiece, write Lois Gerber at the Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill., 60611.
