Rowand for Thome
 

From ESPN

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Phillies reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday to send Jim Thome and cash to the World Series champion Chicago White Sox for center fielder Aaron Rowand.

The deal, first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, is subject to the players passing physicals, the Phillies said.

Thome, an oft-injured first baseman, is owed $43.5 million in the final three seasons of his contract. He hit .207 with seven homers and 30 RBI in just 193 at-bats last season and became expendable after the emergence of Ryan Howard, who won the NL Rookie of the Year award.

Thome, 35, is due about $12.5 million in 2006 and $14 million in each of the final two seasons of his six-year contract. The Phillies have a club option for 2009, and he has a no-trade clause. Rowand, 28, set career highs in 2004 by hitting .310 with 38 doubles, 24 homers and 69 RBI.

He became eligible for salary arbitration for the first time after making $340,000 in 2004, and signed a new contract with the White Sox in January.

He earned $2 million in 2005 and is expected to receive $3.25 million in 2006. Chicago has a club option for 2007 at $5 million and Rowand holds a player option for 2007 at $3.25 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

does this NOT make sense to anyone else?!?!? [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

Is this a good deal for the Phillies? I don't watch nearly enough baseball to know.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

That is an asinine trade on Chicago's part no matter how much cash they get.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

I'm confused [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]. I don't like this trade for the Phillies. I think it is really bad for the White Sox. I'm just at a loss for an opinion.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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I'm confused [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]. I don't like this trade for the Phillies. I think it is really bad for the White Sox. I'm just at a loss for an opinion.

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Huh? They traded their back up first baseman and his albatross of a contract for a CF with and OPS of .800 or so last year. Nice work Phils, we'll be headed to another tough season in the NL East.
-James

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

I assume Thome will be primarily DHing with Frank Thomas not being resigned. So, he should be able to stay healthy on the Sox.

Rowand's future on the Sox was limited with minor league Brian Andreson on the way. If he wasn't traded this off-season, he was definitely gone next off-season. The Sox could get a one-year fill-in if Anderson isn't ready to go in 2006.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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I'm confused [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]. I don't like this trade for the Phillies. I think it is really bad for the White Sox. I'm just at a loss for an opinion.

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Huh? They traded their back up first baseman and his albatross of a contract for a CF with and OPS of .800 or so last year. Nice work Phils, we'll be headed to another tough season in the NL East.
-James

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Quite a big difference between .736 and ".800 or so"

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

Rowand is not much of a player. He was once a great prospect. But, now he's a 28 year old who never reached his potential.

Thome is a far better hitter. If he's healthy, the White Sox will get much more production out of this trade in 2006.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

Thome is clearly the better of the two players.

Rowand will save the Phillies $9 million a year yet give them a legitimate starting center fielder.

Once the Phillies go out and spend that $9M on a closer, this deal will make a lot more sense.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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I'm confused [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]. I don't like this trade for the Phillies. I think it is really bad for the White Sox. I'm just at a loss for an opinion.

[/ QUOTE ]

Huh? They traded their back up first baseman and his albatross of a contract for a CF with and OPS of .800 or so last year. Nice work Phils, we'll be headed to another tough season in the NL East.
-James

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Quite a big difference between .736 and ".800 or so"

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That is true. I was working from memory. Regardless, he is an upgrade for the Phillies in center field and they gave up a backup player with a huge contract.
-James

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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I'm confused [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]. I don't like this trade for the Phillies. I think it is really bad for the White Sox. I'm just at a loss for an opinion.

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I like Aaron, but I like this trade. Look for the Sox to land another center fielder. And they definitely needed some consistent LH power, which Thome brings. Playing DH will hopefully keep him healthy.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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Rowand is not much of a player. He was once a great prospect. But, now he's a 28 year old who never reached his potential.

Thome is a far better hitter. If he's healthy, the White Sox will get much more production out of this trade in 2006.

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Precisely. The time was right to trade Rowand -- his '04 is still fresh in everybody's mind, while I believe that his '05 season is probably closer to the truth for him. He's a nice player, but not a difference maker.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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I assume Thome will be primarily DHing with Frank Thomas not being resigned. So, he should be able to stay healthy on the Sox.

Rowand's future on the Sox was limited with minor league Brian Andreson on the way. If he wasn't traded this off-season, he was definitely gone next off-season. The Sox could get a one-year fill-in if Anderson isn't ready to go in 2006.

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The Sox will be paying about $8 million per year of Thome's contract for the duration. This means that Everett and Thomas will definitely not be re-signed, which will save the Sox about $4 million a year on a payroll that will already be expanding. Look for them to trade for a CF (Juan Pierre?) to add more speed to the lineup, and bring Konerko back for 4 years.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

At first I was real pissed about this trade. But then I remembered that Rowand, apart from 1 break-out year, just isn't that good a hitter. He's average. As long as Thome can stay healthy (good chance of it at DH), then I like it.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

Also, you Sox fans won't ever have to hear Prodigy again. I'm pretty sure it's worth it just for that.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

I dig this trade for the Phils. Jim Thome? who needs him. Ryan Howard is a player.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

Nobody thinks Thome's power/injuries was steriod induced? Not saying yes or no, just wondering if anyone thinks it might have been.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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Nobody thinks Thome's power/injuries was steriod induced? Not saying yes or no, just wondering if anyone thinks it might have been.

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ive heard lots of vehement denials from people close to him... not that that means anything.... i definitely feel like it could be his body breaking down... or something else...

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

For a team that has been as historically cash strapped as the White Sox, getting a player of Thome's caliber while having another team pay a hug chunk of his salary is a major coup.
The simple fact is that the Sox don't draw, and I'm not convinced that winning the World Series is going to change that. Nobody wants to take their family to a night game in the ghetto. Even if you get in and out of the stadium okay, you still have to worry about your kids seeing a fight in the stands, which is far more common at Comiskey than Wrigley.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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Rowand is not much of a player.

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Bull. Rowand is a very good CF and a big reason for the overachieving of the CHW pitching staff.

I'll take a league average hitter with great defense in centerfield anyday.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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Nobody thinks Thome's power/injuries was steriod induced? Not saying yes or no, just wondering if anyone thinks it might have been.

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only if steroids come in steaks. methinks thome is just a big guy, like adam dunn.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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I assume Thome will be primarily DHing with Frank Thomas not being resigned. So, he should be able to stay healthy on the Sox.

Rowand's future on the Sox was limited with minor league Brian Andreson on the way. If he wasn't traded this off-season, he was definitely gone next off-season. The Sox could get a one-year fill-in if Anderson isn't ready to go in 2006.

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The Sox will be paying about $8 million per year of Thome's contract for the duration. This means that Everett and Thomas will definitely not be re-signed, which will save the Sox about $4 million a year on a payroll that will already be expanding. Look for them to trade for a CF (Juan Pierre?) to add more speed to the lineup, and bring Konerko back for 4 years.

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I'll miss rowand, but Kenny Williams continues to impress.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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A source told ESPN Insider's Jerry Crasnick that the Phillies will also receive two minor-league left-handed pitchers, Daniel Haigwood and Gio Gonzalez, a supplemental first-round pick (38th overall) for the White Sox in the 2004 draft.

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lol kenny williams lmao

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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The simple fact is that the Sox don't draw, and I'm not convinced that winning the World Series is going to change that. Nobody wants to take their family to a night game in the ghetto. Even if you get in and out of the stadium okay, you still have to worry about your kids seeing a fight in the stands, which is far more common at Comiskey than Wrigley.

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The stupidity never ends...

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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The simple fact is that the Sox don't draw, and I'm not convinced that winning the World Series is going to change that. Nobody wants to take their family to a night game in the ghetto. Even if you get in and out of the stadium okay, you still have to worry about your kids seeing a fight in the stands, which is far more common at Comiskey than Wrigley.

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The stupidity never ends...

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Care to refute my statement with anything resmbling an argument? The Sox were 17th in attendance last year. When you lead your division the entire season, win the series and still finish in the bottom half of the league in attendance you have a problem. They had some increased attendance down the stretch, and that will probably carry over somewhat this year but unless they are going to win the series again, I wouldn't expect a huge jump in attendance.
If you are disputing that the attendance problems are related to saftey and a family friendly environment, you had better make a good argument. The reality is that you are pretty safe walking from the red line to the park, but most people don't really feel that way about it. Inside the park, you have a pretty good shot at seeing a drunken confrontation, be it a fan attacking an umpire or coach, or an off duty cop and his wife.
I have been to sporting events all over this country, including dozens at Comiskey, and the incidents there are far more common than other places.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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For a team that has been as historically cash strapped as the White Sox, getting a player of Thome's caliber while having another team pay a hug chunk of his salary is a major coup.
The simple fact is that the Sox don't draw, and I'm not convinced that winning the World Series is going to change that. Nobody wants to take their family to a night game in the ghetto. Even if you get in and out of the stadium okay, you still have to worry about your kids seeing a fight in the stands, which is far more common at Comiskey than Wrigley.

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the White Sox increased their average attendance per game by 4,500 this year, going from ~60% capacity in 04, to ~70% capacity in 05. look for this number to jump again this year with all the cubs fans jumping ship.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

He never loked like it/ never heard any real allegations in cleveland. He was always a big farm boy coming up. Its possible of course, but it doesn't seem likely (well, i mean he doesn't seem any more likely than any other baseball player).

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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[ QUOTE ]
For a team that has been as historically cash strapped as the White Sox, getting a player of Thome's caliber while having another team pay a hug chunk of his salary is a major coup.
The simple fact is that the Sox don't draw, and I'm not convinced that winning the World Series is going to change that. Nobody wants to take their family to a night game in the ghetto. Even if you get in and out of the stadium okay, you still have to worry about your kids seeing a fight in the stands, which is far more common at Comiskey than Wrigley.

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the White Sox increased their average attendance per game by 4,500 this year, going from ~60% capacity in 04, to ~70% capacity in 05. look for this number to jump again this year with all the cubs fans jumping ship.

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Cubs fans aren't jumping ship. Have you ever been to a game at Wrigley? Half the people at a Cubs game have no idea what is going on in the game. You'd be hard pressed to find another pro venue filled with as many people who have no clue what they are watching. I can't begin to estimate the number of times I have heard the fans errupt when Sosa made contact, only to turn in to "awww" a split second later when they realize its an infield fly and not a homer.
The reason that Wrigley is packed is that its an event. People go there to drink beer and call their friends on their cell phones. They don't care if the Cubs win. These kinds of people aren't going to take the red line to 35th because there is nowhere they can hang out and drink before and after the game. Unless there is some major changes in the neighborhood around comiskey, things aren't going to change. Winning will bring in some fans down the stretch, but they aren't going to come anywhere close to filling the stadium on a consistant basis.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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The simple fact is that the Sox don't draw, and I'm not convinced that winning the World Series is going to change that. Nobody wants to take their family to a night game in the ghetto. Even if you get in and out of the stadium okay, you still have to worry about your kids seeing a fight in the stands, which is far more common at Comiskey than Wrigley.

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The stupidity never ends...

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Care to refute my statement with anything resmbling an argument? The Sox were 17th in attendance last year. When you lead your division the entire season, win the series and still finish in the bottom half of the league in attendance you have a problem. They had some increased attendance down the stretch, and that will probably carry over somewhat this year but unless they are going to win the series again, I wouldn't expect a huge jump in attendance.
If you are disputing that the attendance problems are related to saftey and a family friendly environment, you had better make a good argument. The reality is that you are pretty safe walking from the red line to the park, but most people don't really feel that way about it. Inside the park, you have a pretty good shot at seeing a drunken confrontation, be it a fan attacking an umpire or coach, or an off duty cop and his wife.
I have been to sporting events all over this country, including dozens at Comiskey, and the incidents there are far more common than other places.

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The attendance argument is old and played out. Season tickets are up for next year and the White Sox attendance was up big over the previous season. Attendance will increase again in '06.

As far as your "Nobody wants to take their family to a night game in the ghetto" statement, it just doesn't get any more stupid than that. Nobody seemed to have a problem with watching games in the ghetto during the playoffs and world series last year. Or did they bus out all the "undesirables" during October?

I'm a lifelong White Sox fan, and I've been going to games on the South Side for as long as I can remember. I'm still wating to witness one of the "incidents" that seem to happen on a supposed regular basis. Do things happen? Yeah. The story you linked to your post happened two season ago, and the "umpire attacks" happened even longer ago. Things happen everywhere. I've been to fewer games in Wrigleyville than I have on the southside, and seen way more incidents. In fact, I can post links too. I have no problem taking my wife and two kids to games at US Cellular several times a year. But you can go on posting urban legend all you want. Doesn't make it any less dumb.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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Nobody seemed to have a problem with watching games in the ghetto during the playoffs and world series last year. Or did they bus out all the "undesirables" during October?

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Actually they did (not literally a bus though). Link

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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Nobody seemed to have a problem with watching games in the ghetto during the playoffs and world series last year. Or did they bus out all the "undesirables" during October?

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Actually they did (not literally a bus though). Link

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So the City of Chicago and Major League Baseball implemented the type of security measures commonly used in the United States post-9/11, and that's a bad thing? Yeah, I'm sure the security bubble was because of gang-bangers with pipes, and had nothing to do with the fact that major sporting events can be considered prime terrorist targets.

You're not exactly making your point here.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

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Nobody seemed to have a problem with watching games in the ghetto during the playoffs and world series last year. Or did they bus out all the "undesirables" during October?

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Actually they did (not literally a bus though). Link

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So the City of Chicago and Major League Baseball implemented the type of security measures commonly used in the United States post-9/11, and that's a bad thing? Yeah, I'm sure the security bubble was because of gang-bangers with pipes, and had nothing to do with the fact that major sporting events can be considered prime terrorist targets.

You're not exactly making your point here.

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You implied that no one seemed scared to go the world series on the south side, I simply pointed out that it was obviously far more secure than it normally is.
I honestly don't find anything to be concerned about when I go to a sox game, but I know plenty of people who are afraid to go down there. Security is obviously a factor in the sox attendance.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

This trade makes no sense to me if you're a White Sox fan. Thome is clearly starting to break down and you got to wonder what he will give you even if he is healthy. He's in his 30s, injury prone, and the team traded away a solid player in Rowand to get him. Very risky trade if you ask me, the risk/reward ratio doesn't make sense if you're the White Sox.

Re: Rowand for Thome
 

"you got to wonder what he will give you even if he is healthy."

No you don't. When hes healthy you get 35-45 HR, 30 doubles and a .280-.310 BA. When healthy hes a very good hitter. The health itself is a concern.