Roberston, Samardzija Acquisitions Signal Sox Mean Business
The Chicago White Sox have been playing second fiddle to the Chicago Cubs in the rebuilding game over the past few years, but on Monday they launched a massive counter-attack as they signed relief pitcher David Robertson to a four-year deal and reportedly agreed to a trade that would send Jeff Samardzija to the south side of Chicago.
Going into this offseason, the Sox had needs at a slew of positions. They needed bullpen help from both sides of the rubber. They needed a powerful left-handed bat to help protect Jose Abreu in the lineup and to take advantage of the hitter-friendly confines of US Cellular Field. They needed a right-handed starter in their rotation to help balance out a rotation that is lefty-dominated with guys like Chris Sale and Jose Quintana.
Now, with the entire baseball world paying attention to where Jon Lester is going to end up, the White Sox threw a massive punch and put a huge dent into their shopping list. Yes, the money on Robertson is big, with $46 million going into his pocket after a 39-save season with the New York Yankees, and yes, there is no guarantee that Samardzija will be around long-term, as he becomes a free agent after the 2015 season. Despite those limitations, the moves that the Sox made on Monday not only make them an instant contender in a winnable AL Central, but it also signals that they mean business when it comes to being the dominant team in Chicago.
Windy City Hardball 