Hot Stove League begins: White Sox get Teahan from Royals
The World Series isn’t even 24 hours old, yet baseball’s Hot Stove League is well underway, with the Chicago White Sox acquiring the versatile Mark Teahan from the Kansas City Royals.
The White Sox gave up Josh Fields, a former top prospect in the system, and Chris Getz.
Teahen, who is arbitration eligible, batted 271 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs; in 77 games lifetime against the White Sox he has batted .277 with 12 homers and 41 RBIs.
He can play all over the field but is expected to settle in right field in Chicago, thus all but ensuring that the White Sox won’t re-sign free agent Jermaine Dye. Teahen, a left-handed hitter, made one error in 32 games in right field last season. This gives the White Sox a starting outfield of Teahan, Alex Rios in center and Carlos Quentin in left.
Teahen made $3.575 million this year and certainly will earn more in arbitration.
Teahen, who came to the Royals from the A’s as a third baseman in the 2004 three-team Carlos Beltran trade, shifted to right field in 2007. Ironically, he tied Dye’s Royals record of 17 outfield assists, set in 1999, that season.
Getz, 26, batted .261 as the Sox’s starting second baseman. He also stole 25 bases in 27 attempts. Fields batted .222 in 79 games and lost his starting third base job to Gordon Beckham. Chicago now is certainly in the market for a second baseman – the Angels’ Chone Figgins has been mentioned as a possible target. Although it’s possible Teahan moves to third base and Beckham goes to second, which would again leave a hole in the Chicago outfield.
The Royals get two fairly young players on cheap contracts, with Getz a likely starter at second. Fields was worth the risk but has never been the same player he was in 2007 when he 23 homers and had 67 RBIs in place of an injured Joe Crede.
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