Forced into moving before the trade market for power hitters dried up, White Sox general manager Ken Williams broke up part of the heart of his World Series champion team Wednesday when he traded fan favorite Aaron Rowand to Philadelphia for first baseman-designated hitter Jim Thome.
While it was a risky move, considering Thome missed most of last season with injury and is 35 years old, the move protects the White Sox if free agent Paul Konerko leaves and gives them a much-needed left-handed power bat if Konerko returns.
Although the trade is not official–pending the commissioner’s approval because the White Sox will receive a whopping $22 million in cash to help defray Thome’s $46 million contract over the next three seasons–both the Phillies and White Sox confirmed it. The Sox reportedly also will give up minor-league left-handers Daniel Haigwood and Giovany Gonzalez, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2004.
“If we should make any moves at this stage,” Williams said, careful with his words because the trade has not been approved, “it would not preclude us from continuing to make serious overtures to Paul Konerko. He would still be a very, very big part of our plans.”
If Konerko does return, he would play first base most of the time with Thome replacing Carl Everett as DH. Thome, assuming his back and surgically repaired right elbow are healed, also could play first and give Konerko a “day off” as DH.
The future for Frank Thomas with the White Sox isn’t clear, but he still could return if Konerko signs elsewhere. If Konerko re-signs, Thomas may not have a roster spot unless he agrees to getting at-bats where he can.
“That’s a very difficult question to answer,” Williams said. “We still do not have enough information [on Thomas’ broken foot] to make a smart business decision, despite our personal feelings.”
Thome also has an option for 2009 worth $13 million if he has a certain number of plate appearances.
Rowand, who will make $3.25 million next season, was an integral part of the World Series champion White Sox, revamped with pitching and defense. While playing a Gold Glove-caliber center field, he batted .270 with 13 homers and 69 RBIs.
His vacancy in center field is expected to be filled by rookie Brian Anderson, who spent much of the season’s last two months with the Sox and hit .176. Scott Podsednik, who played center in Milwaukee, likely will remain in left field.
Williams probably is done with major off-season moves, especially if Konerko returns. While manager Ozzie Guillen has said he would like more speed in the lineup, there are few open spots and Williams likes the makeup of the team the way it is now. Giving up Rowand was hard because of his personality, but the offense needed an upgrade.
“If we brought back the same team, it would have been difficult to repeat,” Williams said. “We feel like we need a left-handed presence in the middle of the order.”
Thome, a Peoria native, was limited to 193 at-bats because of chronic back problems and elbow surgery that ended his season Aug. 16. He hit only .207 with seven homers and 30 RBIs after slugging 89 homers in his first two seasons in Philly. He was expendable because of the emergence of NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard.
“When I leave the game of baseball someday, I want people to recognize that I always put my teams first,” Thome told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday night. “That’s what I love about the game: being part of the team. I see in Ryan Howard what someone saw in me when I broke into the big leagues. And now it’s time for both of us to seize the opportunity ahead of us. It’s a win-win situation.”
Thome has 430 career homers, most of them coming in 12 seasons as an antagonist with Cleveland. While he is always among the league leaders in strikeouts, he also has led the league in walks three times.
“It’s always tough to move somebody who’s a professional hitter,” new Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said. “He has hit 400 homers in the big leagues. But it’s a good situation for both clubs.”
During his career, Thome has hit .286 with 18 homers and 50 RBIs in 210 at-bats at U.S. Cellular Field. The only visiting parks where he has hit more homers are Fenway and the Metrodome.
Since the end of the season, Thome had been rehabbing at the Phillies’ spring training site in Clearwater, Fla., and reportedly is in great shape.
In a recent interview with the Inquirer, the 6-foot-4-inch, 250-pound Thome was asked about suspicions he used steroids during his power days.
“Laughable,” Thome told the paper. “I’ve heard all that stuff and people have asked me about it. Here’s what I tell them–go look at my family photo. Everybody in my family is big. If I ever took a steroid, I’d blow up so much I wouldn’t be able to swing a bat. I’ve never even taken a supplement in my life.”
He also was asked about rumors that, at his age, he no longer could turn on fastballs and launch them into the seats.
“I never doubted my ability,” he said. “It was just frustrating that I didn’t have my true ability because I was hurt.”
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dvandyck@tribune.com
