Should Ken Williams pursue Aaron Rowand

YESSSSSS, of course we should purse ARowand but there’s a simple reason why we won’t….MONEY, the White Sox organization is incredibly cheap, you’re telling me the Texas Rangers have more revenue then us and can make Rowand an offer but we can’t, give me a break….and as far as Coco Crisp goes R U KIDDING ME? He is definitely not the answer, he’s a hair better than Jerry Owens, we mine as well save the money start Ownes and rebuild our pathetic bullpen.

- Pissed off Sox Fan

It's a smart move for the Sox to bring Rowand back and a move that I would be shocked if they didn't make, speaking strictly from an ownership standpoint. A knock against Jerry all these years is that he won't go out and land the big fish free agent or compete against the Yanks, Sox, Angels, Mets, etc...for the $20 million dollar guys. With Rowand, Reindsorf can make the same splash with the fans as if he went out and got one of those marquee free agents, but he gets to do so for about $13,000,000 instead of $18-23,000,000. It's a dream deal for Jerry.....you'd think. From a fan's standpoint, I'd be happy to see Rowand back, but ultimately I want the guy who best fits this team and lineup and can be around for 6 years or so...in this thin market for a CF, I'm not even really sure who that guy is...could be Rowand, so sure, go after him.

Maybe. Before the the Sox pull a trade for CoCo they should explore the possibilty of aquiring Andruw Jones who packs a better bat. The Sox need more punch in their offense that CoCo doesn't bring. Think about it Jones, Kornerko, Thome, Dye and Crede who do you pitch around. I think then the Sox might have enough fire power to match any team in the league.

Either would do. I heard Rowand is out.

Ken Williams should pursue Aaron Rowand but he won't because Reinsdorf is too cheap. The White Sox will never play with the big boys when it comes to deals so we will have to wait another 80 years for a World Series ring unless Reinsdorf does us all a favor and sells the Bulls to someone else.

How about Jim Hendry pursuing Rowand? I would like that!

I would like to see the White Sox bring back Aaron Rowand. He was a very solid outfielder with alot emotion he brought to the club. I feel that past two years the Sox lost that emotional leadership that he gave his 110 percent each and everyday! And some of players on the current team lost sight of that. My second choice if the Sox are looking for speed instead of power my choice will be Coco Crisp the game I seen Coco in he brought that type of element since the White Sox program is built simular to the Red Sox he will be a added addition to this ball club. The key factor will be Joe Crede he is such a great defensive player as well as one of the biggest clutch hitters in the Major League

I'd take A-Row back, but it sounds like he's asking for too much money or too many years. Is he trying to stick it to KW for trading him? And can't we get Carl Crawford away from Tampa Bay with a trade instead of Coco Crisp or Willy Taveras???

I'm not sure how much stock to put in Joe Cowley since he also seems to think the Rockies would somehow entertain a Willie Tavares for Joe Crede deal. Nevermind the fact that Colorado already has Garrett Atkins and top prospect Ian Stewart to play 3rd.

he better get rowand back....after the wiff of hunter, he better bring an impact center fielder in...why not chicago's own hero aaron rowand. The white sox have money to spend, get him now. I wouldn't be them going after coco after we alteady have rowand. that would make for a pretty darn good outfield, not to mention and durable and dangerous lineup.

Willy Taveras would be excellent. This guy can play and he would be perfect for Comiskey. He can hit, run, and field. Houston doesn't make it to the Series in '05 w/o him.

Kenny Williams should go after Cory Patterson, former Cub, he has speed, arm, is cheap, can play centerfield. Just need someone to keep him awake on the basepath.

Lets remember Cowley is the same person to quote a sox source that Torii Hunter would be on the Sox by the end of last week

Roman responds: Yeah, the Sox thought he would be on their team. Joe reported that, so what's the problem?

I said this on another thread, but I would rather see the Sox trade Mc-Doo-gal, Crede and a minor prospect to try and get Andruw Jones and Crisp, and if they could add another player and get Taveras with Jones, even better.

People forget that Jones and Rowand are about the same age 30.

But given Jones recent struggles, he may come just as cheap as Rowand, a la Jermaine Dye.

The difference? Power and defense. Jones has been winning gloves for years and hitting 27 home runs is an off year.

If Dye, Konerko and Thome get back on track, and if Fields takes the next step, they don't need someone who can drive in a ton of runs. But Jones could certainly do that, and so so as a sixth or seventh hitter. Down there, the average doesn't matter.

But even to take it a step further. . . do they really need a "top" CF?

If the big four hit, along with Cabrera, like they are capable of doing, they don't need anyone special. In fact, a speed guy like Crisp or Tavares may be a better fit in the lineup. You could put him one or two, then drop the big boys from 3-6 respectively. After A.J. at seven, it really wouldn't matter much, so long as the guys can play D.

Heck, with that lineup . . . especially if they can get Tavares, they could get away with Uribe at 9th and a "who's hot" platoon of Anderson/Owens/Sweeney.

And if they could get BOTH Tavares and Crisp, I think they would be set.

Not sure if Ken Williams will bring Rowand back because that decision would indicate that Williams was wrong to trade him in the first place. Lots of folks like Thome, I do too, but Rowand was always more than just another player on the Sox. He seemed to have a helluva presence in the clubhouse. Could Williams have missed that factor -- when it seemed so obvious? Can he admit he made a mistake? Don't know. Would take a strong -- and I mean a strong -- GM to admit that glaring of a mistake. Not sure KW is up to the task. Reinsdorf being cheap will be a convenient excuse for KW's inability to sign Rowand if that comes to pass.

Cleveland Walker - good post! I like Jones!!!! Hitting was a MAJOR concern last year!!!

Matt..exactly. Cowley was also the one who, during the Sirotka/damaged goods trade for David Wells, incorectly referenced a set of names Toronto wanted from the Sox to make up for the trade, when it was in fact the list of names the Sox provided to Toronto as the "hands-off" list (Crede, Borchardt, etc).

Sox would be dumb to offer anything near the $80M that Rowand supposedly wants. Why not take a shot a Andruw Jones...even if he's suspended for roids, that's only 25 games for first time offense right?

NOOOOOOO! Forget Rowand, he's coming off a career year and wants too much money. He'll go back to hitting 15-20 HR's a year. He's worth 7-8 million, NOT 12-14! That's ridiculous. Reinsdorf was willing to shell out the big bucks for Torii, so you can't call him cheap. They should go after Andrew Jones, who will have a huge bounce back season at the Cell.

Here's Kenny's problem ..

seasonal avg's
$90/5 32 yr old Hunter 590AB, 88R, 93RBI, .793OPS
$??/5 30 yr old Rowand 508AB, 80R, 66RBI, .805OPS

Rowand's coming off a season w 612AB, 89RBI.

Kenny needs to get creative & hope Rowand would rather play in Chicago. Offer him a base of $60/5 & bonus incentives worth $15/5: ($1mil for 550AB, $1mil for 90RBI, $1mil for 90R).

As for the leadoff guy it's got to be Owens. The kid stole 32 bases w a .324 OBP in 356AB. That projects out to over 50SB for a full season. Even if he has to live day to day with Ozzie this off-season the Sox have to do all they can to make him better.

I think his biggest hurdle is mental prep.

His first time up his OBP is .302, but his 2nd-4th time's up his OBP rises to an avg of .348.

The Sox shouldn't give up on this kid.

Aaron may not hit the long ball like Jones or Hunter. He may not put up the same numbers as he did in that minor league ballpark in Philly, but there is one thing that neither Jones or Hunter can provide, and that is a locker room presence. Aaron delivers as much off of the field as he does on the field. This is why Aaron would be such a key pick up.

With all the hype the White Sox made in their supposed interest for Hunter the same is going to happen with Rowand. Chairman Jerry lets spend the money and get Rowand back NOW! I do not believe last year was a career year - the best is yet to come! Rowand would bring back the passion to the south side and fans will support this team. If Reinsdorf can not support the fans by acting like a major market team I say don't renew your season tickets. My sick of the team I love creating their own destiny by refusing to go out on a limb. If they cant afford to go all out for one year to "GO FOR IT" than sell the damn team Jerry. Comcast is waiting in the wings.

Rowand was the energy of the 05 champions. Not to resign him would be huge considering Hunter no longer available. Crisp or Taveras very average at best . Crisp was so bad he was warming the bench in final games in playoffs.Taveras not exactly that great either but has more upside than Crisp. Good move dumping Podsednik & Cintron..those two made a new meaning of a punch & judi hitter (mostly judi).

I have to admit I was excited about the trade for Thome and approved it 100%. But, looking back it was a mistake! Aaron Rowand was our Center fielder on our World Series team and we thought he was easily replaceable. Aaron is still on the upside of his career and was a key piece to the Chicago White Sox leadership! He is one of the premier Center fielders in all of baseball! We should appreciate the fact he would want to return to the team and city he loves given the fact we got rid of him within a few months of winning the World Series! I was at the ring ceremony and he received the biggest ovation there! Let's get this deal done and beat the heck out of the Angels and Torri Hunter can enjoy his time at the beach!

Matt is right - Forget that nonsense about Willy Tavares for Joe Creede. Willy Tavares for a cheap #3 starter maybe

Of course the sox should go after Rowand. I have heard alot of talk being thrown around about aaron asking for to much, give it to him. As a fan i know what Arron Rowand means to the team. I watched him make some of the most spectacular catches. I watched him go out there with no concern of injury and put his heart out there,you just dont see that kind of effort out of pro athletes these days, for that I think he deserves every penny he is asking for. I know as a fan I would love to see him back in a sox uniform in the spring. Would it be to much to ask for to bring back a player the fans stand behind Mr. Williams?

Aaron Rowand or Andruw Jones and Crisp. Crisp is my last resort. Owens, in my eyes, is an utility player. How'bout Angel Pagan? He's shown good. Trade Linebrink for him.

Aaron Rowand is a class player, a real throwback to the old days.

Clubhouse presence does not drive in the big run....
Clubhouse presence does not bunt over key runners....
Aaron Rowand was an underachiever as a member of the Sox, we all need to remind ourselves of that. A lack of clubhouse presence is not why the Sox fizzled in '06 and stunk it up in '07. Kenny Williams needs to go out and sign the best player for the team, the best fit both financially and baseball talent wise. The Sox already have enough .280 25-30, 75-90, guys who can't bunt and can't steal bases, they need to diversify or else get ready for a return to the 2001-2004 winless wonders who led the league in HRs and nothing else.... ANYONE but sign Rowand, I'd rather see Owens and Jones, Owens Crisp, Owens and Anderson( seriously) then an overpaid "clubhouse leader"

More Rowand vs Hunter: While Hunter avg's about 10 more BB & 5 more IBB a season over Rowand, Rowand avg's that many more HBP than Hunter. It's surprising that when you total up all free passes they are about even.

Rowand has a big edge (30 vs 2) in SH's & Hunter has an edge (30 vs 16) in SF's. While it's true Hunter's a better bunter & steals more bases, don't forget that Rowand stole 33 bases over the 2 yrs he played for Ozzie. He's got decent speed & that helped him win a GG in 2007.

Perhaps the other surprise stat is that Rowand consumes on avg betw 1/3rd & 1/2 more of a pitch/pa than Hunter. That extra pitch at some ab's can turn a game around. Playing for Ozzie, I wouldn't worry about his bunting. If Ozzie wants him to bunt at an ab I'm sure he'll be able to get it down.

For Sox fans hoping Rowand comes back, here's a recent quote from MLB.com:

Rowand: "It would be wonderful to go back to Chicago. I love the city. I love the fans. I love my Bears. It's a great organization. Good coaches. Good ownership. Good everything. Let's see what happens. When the time comes, I'll weigh my options and see what the best fit is for me and my family."

The biggest crime of the Jerry Reinsdorf era has been in the complete and total disaster that is the farm system.
Duane Shaffer was such an incompetent...he should have been fired years ago...the Sox right now have one outfielder and no lead off hitter... You would think if Reinsdorf wants to go cheap he would have created a stream of good inexpensive young talent from the farm system....how can somebody this smart be so dumb and loyal to incompetent front office mopes?

Yes, yes, and yes! By signing Rowand for less than Hunter, the Sox save cash, bring back a solid fan favorite who plays good ball, and will have the option of saving even more money by starting Owens in LF and batting him at leadoff ahead of Cabrera. Owens makes ML minimum, so there shouldn't be a problem there.

Juan, that's a great quote from Rowand, but it is the same thing that Hunter said. Rowand will go to whoever offers the most$$$$$.

Get ROWAND!

I have had it!!!! What all of you are talking about is CHICKEN FEED????? We are talking about LOW_LIFE players when you try to comapre PUDGE__CABRERA___SHEFFIELD_____ DONT YOU IDIOT SOX FANS GET IT???? DETRIOT_CLEVELAND AND MINNESOTA is PACKED!!!!!
The sox have DYE (old injury prone; useless last year) Thome (same) Sox fans do not realize what your up against. Thought you would realize it last year when ya came in last place.

Kansas City will PASS you in the standings because they made deals to beter their team. THE WHITE SOX CAME IN LAST PLACE IN 2007-------HELLO?????? WAKE UP!!!!! Where do you now think they will end up in 2008????

BOYCOTT THE WHITE SOX---dONT SPEND ANY MONEY IN THE Ball Mall!!!!!
TELL OZZIE TO TAKE that BACK TO HIS DICTATOR CHAVEZ IN VENEZUALA!!!!