Yet when asked directly about whether certain moves over the past few years didn’t make this team better, Williams again wouldn’t grade on a pass-fail sort of system. It’s not as simple as judging on statistics alone.
Take the 2008 trade of Nick Swisher — who has found a home roaming the outfield at Yankee Stadium — which brought the White Sox two Minor League pitchers in return. Plain and simple, Swisher didn’t fit with the White Sox.
“A lot of times, people don’t necessarily understand it’s not always about the talent you get back,” Williams said. “Sometimes it’s about the monetary relief you get, so that it will allow you to go out and get somebody else that is a better fit. It’s not always about the production of a player or the talent of a player.
Monetary relief? Swisher was 2 years into his contract after 2008 and was due the following: 2009: $5.3M, 2010: $6.75M, 2011:$9M, 2012: $10.25M club option ($1M buyout). That’s dirty cheap!
