Trade for Teahen part of White Sox makeover

By FROM NEWS SERVICES

Last update: November 7, 2009 - 9:16 AM

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The acquisition of Mark Teahen and move of Gordon Beckham from third base to second base is just the start of a busy offseason for the Chicago White Sox.

White Sox General Manager Ken Williams said Friday that resurgent leadoff batter Scott Podsednik is not likely to return based on his salary demands. The team also declined a $12 million mutual option on right fielder Jermaine Dye, who was given a $950,000 buyout. Dye hit 164 home runs in five seasons with Chicago and was the 2005 World Series MVP, but the team is expected to seek another corner outfielder.

Williams said the trade for Teahen from the Kansas City Royals for second baseman Chris Getz and infielder Josh Fields needed approval from the commissioner's office before an announcement could be made. The White Sox also received a reported $1 million from the Royals.

But that money won't go toward a marquee free-agent signing. "Money's tight all over the world, certainly on the South Side," Williams said. "Whatever the break-even numbers are, we'll spend whatever we have that's available. But it's not much."

The Royals figure to net some $3 million from the trade, as neither Getz nor Fields are eligible for arbitration. "We're in a time in baseball where the economics are very important," Kansas City GM Dayton Moore said. "I would not discount that as a part of the equation."

The White Sox believe the lefthanded-hitting Teahen will improve their lineup as well as their defense. Beckham will make his second position switch in as many seasons; he was drafted as a shortstop and moved to third as a big-league rookie in 2009.

"I came up in the minors as a third baseman," said Teahen, who has played several positions the last three seasons. "That's my comfort position. I can handle the outfield, but third base is my No. 1 position."

The White Sox plan to keep Teahen at third, where he excelled in 2006 when he batted .290 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI in only 109 games.

Industry estimates suggest Teahen's salary should rise from $3.575 million to roughly $5 million through arbitration after batting .271 with 12 homers and 50 RBI in 144 games.

Fields and Getz, both 26, should each make less than $500,000 for Kansas City. Getz could make a lot less if he fails to crack the big-league roster; he has options remaining and can be sent to the minors. Fields is out of options.

That points to the deal's other interesting aspect from the Royals' perspective: Neither Fields nor Getz project as starting players as the club's roster is currently constituted.

"Our motivation behind this deal — and any deal that we make this winter," Moore acknowledged, "is to acquire as many zero-to-three service-time players as we can. That was certainly what we did here."

• The Royals also saved money Friday by declining options on three players -- center fielder Coco Crisp ($8 million), catcher Miguel Olivo ($3.3 million) and reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta ($4 million).

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