The Biogenesis report and subsequent investigation by Major League Baseball led to 13 players being suspended on August 5. For the Chicago White Sox and general manager Rick Hahn, this could mean an increased interest in some of the current players for a potential trade before the waiver trade deadline on August 31.
Teams still looking to move players can place a player on waivers. If a team claims that player, the team that placed him on waivers can pull said player and negotiate a deal. If the deal falls through, that player can be put back on waivers, but cannot be removed a second time.
Teams like the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers lost multiple or more high-profile players. The Rangers more importantly did not make a move before the non-waiver trade deadline as insurance in the case that their star outfielder Nelson Cruz was suspended. Cruz had been named months ago when the Biogenesis report was released. The Rangers offense has sputtered to 9th in runs scored in the American League, and an addition to the outfield almost seems necessary.
Texas expressed interest in White Sox outfielders Alex Rios and Alejandro De Aza earlier in July, but no deal was done. It would be a surprise to no one if the Rangers and White Sox management have had at least casual talks about a move for either Rios or De Aza, and potentially others.
Hahn has done well to expel a few expiring and larger contracts in his first season as GM, so shedding another deal has to be high on his list still. If a player like Rios is moved, Triple-A talent like Jordan Danks and Blake Tekotte could get more looks at the major league level. Any way to get some big league evaluation of a few of the bright spots on the farm will also help Hahn and company continue to lay out and execute a plan to rebuild one of the worst systems in baseball.
There is no guarantee that move trades are on the horizon on the south side, but a few players’ poor decisions have opened up a handful of spots that could be filled by White Sox personnel. Another trade could be one of the last big things White Sox fans can embrace and talk about as a positive in 2013.
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