The Chicago White Sox have completed most of their holiday shopping for the 2011 season. However, there may be one item Kenny Williams desires before he feels his stocking is full.
Has the bullpen situation been fully addressed?
I think the White Sox are at least a piece or two short in the relief corps. Right now, I see the following guys in the bullpen on opening day:
Tony Pena, RHP-our spot starter/long relief man.
Jesse Crain, RHP-7th/8th inning setup man.
Sergio Santos, RHP-6th/7th inning short relief.
Matt Thornton, LHP-setup/closer
Chris Sale, LHP-setup/closer
This is assuming that:
1. The Sox get Pena signed or get an arbitration number they like.
2. Sale doesn't get put in the starting rotation this spring.
If the Sox had either Bobby Jenks or J.J. Putz in the closer's role for 2011, I'd feel pretty good about our bullpen. As it is, this unit lacks an experienced closer.
The White Sox could go by committee in the ninth inning with Crain, Sale, Thornton, and Santos. Of course, the organization tried to do that with the DH spot last season. The result? Adam Dunn in the spot this year.
The Sox have a lot of guys that can and have filled the set up role, but no solid, established closer to get the final three outs. There don't seem to be funds to go out and buy that closer, so Williams needs to solve the problem another way.
Chicago took a risk in signing Putz and was rewarded with a solid season from a guy coming back from injury. Can Williams roll the dice again and come up with a winner?
You could throw a guy like Gregory Infante into the relief mix and go with a younger crew, but that situation could quickly go south. I don't think the pocketbook can bring in a name-type closer, so I think Williams has three choices.
Option One
Let Thornton pitch for a big payday next season as the closer, and add Infante to the pen. Thornton is 34, but has been healthy and could earn a big contract from someone if he proves he can get the job done in the ninth. That carrot in front of Thornton could benefit the White Sox in 2011. Crain and Sale set up Thornton, and you hope that Thornton has developed the mindset to finish games.
Option Two
Pick up a rehabbing arm, or a cheaper-type reliever. Take a chance on a guy like, say, Kyle Farnsworth/Arthur Rhodes/Aging Reliever X, on the cheap and hope for the best.
Option Three
Trade for a steady closer, using Carlos Quentin as the bait, and let Crain and Thornton stay in their familiar roles.
I don't think the White Sox bullpen is a finished work by any means. Kenny Williams has a lot of options to solidify the late innings for his club.
How he does it is unknown to us at this point, but it's safe to say that the wheels are turning as we speak.
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