The White Sox’s latest recruiting pitch to marquee free agent Torii Hunter involved the acquisition of Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera and $1.5 million from the Los Angeles Angels for durable starting pitcher Jon Garland.
“We’re not done yet,” Sox general manager Ken Williams said Monday after announcing the deal. “We’re still trying to land some big fish.”
Hunter and agent Larry Reynolds were scheduled to have dinner Monday night at the home of Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks. Hunter’s off-season home in Prosper, Texas, is about 50 miles from the Rangers’ home in Arlington.
Cabrera, 33, batted .301 last season in addition to scoring a career-high 101 runs, stealing 20 bases and driving in 86 runs while providing quality defense.
Cabrera will bat second for the Sox, but he could hit in the leadoff spot against certain pitchers, Williams said.
Manager Ozzie Guillen was with Cabrera in Montreal in 2001, when Guillen was a coach and Cabrera was the Expos’ shortstop.
The trade means incumbent Juan Uribe, re-signed less than two weeks ago, likely will be dealt to a team seeking a starting shortstop, perhaps Tampa Bay. That could help the Sox save an additional $4.5 million that could be applied to the signing of a high-caliber free agent such as Hunter.
“The message I’ve been giving everyone that we have targeted is we are 100 percent committed to winning a championship in 2008,” Williams said.
“Yes, I always have my eyes set on the future, but I will tell you this: Last year didn’t sit well with any of us. I’ll be damned if we go through that again. We will aggressively pursue a championship.
“This is just a start, and hopefully very quickly things will start to happen.”
Garland, 28, slumped to 10-13 in 2007 after winning 18 games in 2005 and ’06. He has pitched 208 innings or more in four consecutive years and has made at least 32 starts in each of the last six seasons.
“It’s a great opportunity to be able to come home, show the West Coast what my capabilities are, and I’d love to bring a championship back here,” Garland told reporters.
“I didn’t know it was going to happen. It seemed like the White Sox have talked about trading me every year.”
Garland will earn $12 million this year, compared with Cabrera’s $9 million. Both players can become free agents after 2008, but Williams said he acquired Cabrera with the intent to keep him long term.
Williams scoffed at the suggestion he could be “stuck” with a rotation that includes John Danks and Gavin Floyd as the fourth and fifth starters, with youngsters Lance Broadway, left-hander Gio Gonzalez and Jack Egbert (who will be added to the 40-man roster Tuesday) also contending.
“What we’re going to do is give them the most balanced, powerful and diverse offense to support them,” Williams said.
Danny Richar is the leading contender at second base, but the Sox could upgrade as they did at shortstop with Cabrera.
“Every deal we make is a prelude to something else,” Williams said.
Williams acknowledged having difficulty strengthening the bullpen, and published reports indicate that Kansas City is the leading contender to land Japanese reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta.
The Sox have expressed interest in Florida third baseman Miguel Cabrera but must resolve a logjam with veteran Joe Crede and Josh Fields at the position.
In the meantime, Williams will attempt to make the roster more attractive to Hunter.
“All I can tell you is we’ll continue to be out there pounding the pavement, trying to make things happen,” Williams said.
Springing ahead
The White Sox’s 2008 spring training schedule includes a split-squad game with Arizona in Hermosillo, Mexico, and a March 20 game in Phoenix against the Dodgers.
The Sox will play the Cubs at Tucson Electric Park on March 15 and in Mesa on March 22.
Spring training tickets go on sale Jan. 19 at 2007 prices.
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mgonzales@tribune.com
