Baseball-Intellect reviews its White Sox prospects list

Eisenberg:

7. Trayce Thompson | OF | Age – 19 | Grade – C+

Numbers don’t completely reflect it, but he’s made a lot of progress since last year. Upside remains huge, but as big as his upside is, he’s just as raw.

Washington wants Dan Hudson and a top prospect for Adam Dunn

Levine:

Washington Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn could be dealt to the White Sox if Chicago is willing to sweeten the pot and add a second substantial minor league player in return.

Any deal for Dunn would have to include Daniel Hudson, the White Sox’s top pitching prospect. The Nationals also want one of three White Sox prospects: catcher Tyler Flowers, outfielder Jordan Danks or injured infielder Brent Morel, according to a major league source.

The White Sox turned down a Washington request for a Dunn-for-Gordon Beckham deal straight up, according to the source. …

FutureSox’ Midseason Top 25 Prospects

Cassidy:

Rank	Player	Points	Previous	Change
1	Dan Hudson	179	1	unch
2	Dayan Viciedo	172	4	+2
3	Chris Sale	168	n/a	NEW
4	Tyler Flowers	161	2	-2
5	Jared Mitchell	156	5	unch

…

I’d rank them in this order: Hudson, Sale, Flowers, Mitchell, Viciedo.

SoxMachine’s midseason prospect progress report

Jim @ SM:

Jose Martinez

.333/.392/.486 in 72 ABs; 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 BB, 10 K.

It feels like he’s pushing 30, but Martinez will turn only 22 later this month.  He’s been out of baseball for two full years, but the Sox aren’t shying away from testing him.  He played just 39 games at Kannapolis before his knee injury, but he’s succeeding in Winston-Salem.

That could be a factor of the apparently friendly hitting environment at BB&T Ballpark, but if Martinez can finish the year healthy and hitting like this, the Sox have a genuine outfield prospect in the fold.

Martinez’ stats @ FI.

More prospects reports at the link.

Jordan Danks on track to be a MLB outfielder?

Phil Rogers:

Looking at Jordan Danks’ raw numbers from 2010 — .240-6-31 with 14 stolen bases and a .306 on-base percentage — it would seem like he could be easily included in a deal. But Danks’ standing with the Sox actually has increased with his performance at Triple-A. He has shown a lot of toughness in playing through injuries and remains very much on track to crack Guillen’s roster the next time there’s an opening for an outfielder (Juan Pierre, Alex Rios and Carlos Quentin are all under control for 2011).

Take a look on his AA and beyond numbers Phil.

John Danks to Jordan Danks: Less strikeouts, more bunts

Ryan Wood @ CO:

He [John] tells Jordan what the coaches say he needs to improve – from striking out less to bunting more.

“John’s been here to help me out along the way, which he has for my whole career,” Jordan says. “Coming into professional baseball, there were no secrets. I knew exactly what to expect just because I’d seen him go through the process.” …

Jordan Danks statistics: not good after the jump to AA.

Dayan Viciedo hits it out of the park (video)

Big dude…

more videos:

Texas Rangers interested in A.J. Pierzynski

Gonzales:

The most urgent decision involves catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who attracted interest from Texas recently. Pierzynski can become a free agent after this season, and the Sox would certainly like some compensation if they don’t re-sign him. Pieryznski, 33, can gain full trade veto rights on June 14 by virtue of his 10th anniversary as a major league player and spending at least the past five seasons with the same team. Pierzynski currently has a limited no-trade clause. … And then there are financial considerations. A source familiar with Texas’ murky ownership situation said it’s uncertain whether the Rangers could accept the balance of Pierzysnki’s $6.7 million salary because of a snag in the sale of the team.

Gonzales, also, touches on Mark Buehrle, Paul Konerko, Jake Peavy, Tyler Flowers, Jordan Danks, and  Dayan Viciedo.

Back to A.J. How about 1B/OF Mitchell Moreland (stats)?

Sox interested in Lance Berkman? [UPDATE]

Levine:

The Houston Astros may be ready to start moving some of their veteran players, according to major-league sources. Switch-hitting first baseman Lance Berkman has caught the interest of the Chicago White Sox.

… Berkman is in the last year of a $14 million contract with an option year for 2011 or a $2 million buyout. Berkman has played the outfield and first base, but he’s viewed now as a first baseman. Houston mostly likely would want young players back in any for a veteran.

BTW, Berkman is be willing to waive his no-trade clause.

UPDATE: Olney via Twitter:

Rival execs think Oswalt and Berkman would have trade value–only if the Astros are prepared to take secondary prospects and eat a lot of $.

SoxMachine’s Minor-league review [UPDATE]

Here’s the section on Tyler Flowers:

Flowers is clearly in time-biding mode.  If Andruw Jones is ever pressed into full-time outfield duty, whether it’s due to Juan Pierre’s ineptitude or Carlos Quentin’s poor health, Flowers should be the first option to serve as the majority DH and occasional catcher.

Allow me to reiterate that Flowers seems like he’ll be a slow starter at the major-league level due to his K-rate.  For whatever reason — probably because A.J. Pierzynski is a great clubhouse source — there are a lot of people waiting, perhaps even hoping, for Flowers to fail.  But he’s the only hope the Sox have of getting an above-average hitter for the league minimum, so that kind of pressure seems to be counterproductive.

Much more at the link.

UPDATE: Here’s Part II.

Ozzie Guillen on Juan Pierre

Here’s Ozzie:

“I don’t know if he’s putting a lot of pressure on himself or trying to do too much, but I’ll try and give him a breather, [maybe] bat him second, I don’t know. Try and figure out who my leadoff hitter will be. Maybe it will let him relax a little bit.”

How about he can’t do it?

Guillen mentions Mark Teahen and Gordon Beckham as possible leadoff hitter replacements. Scot Gregor wants Jordan Danks. See that K% Scot?

FutureSox Minor-League podcast

Mazzuca:

This month, Anthony Mazzuca talks to Alex Vispoli, Winston-Salem Dash Director of Media Relations and Broadcaster, and Josh Ellis, who holds the same positions with the Kannapolis Intimidators. Dan Santaromita also gives a run down of the recent happenings with the Knights and Barons, as the FutureSox.com Podcast has the White Sox minor league system covered.

Phil Rogers speculates the Sox might trade for Prince Fielder

Rogers:

… the White Sox have the parts to do a deal if they decide they’re not going to re-sign Paul Konerko.

What about Fielder to the White Sox for a package built around pitching and Triple-A first baseman Dayan Viciedo? John Danks certainly would get Melvin’s attention. Gavin Floyd might to a lesser degree and both Daniel Hudson and Sergio Santos have a ton of value. Hudson gives the Sox the flexibility to deal a big-league starter, assuming he doesn’t have to be in the package himself.

It’s hard to see the Sox having the will to keep Fielder long-term, however, which makes it a huge risk to give up young talent for 1 1/2 seasons of his mashing. But what if the Brewers are interested in Alex Rios, who is signed through 2014 at a level just beyond what they have paid Fielder? Trading for a veteran is easier than signing a proven player through free agency.

If Rios went to the Brewers in the deal, the Sox might be able to sign Fielder to a Teixeira/Howard contract long term. After 2010, he would replace Konerko and Rios on the payroll, with Andruw Jones (if the Sox can keep him) or Jordan Danks in center.

Fielder to the White Sox is probably a long shot. But so is Fielder staying put.

First, John Danks isn’t going anywhere. Now, if you think the Brewers will be interested in Dayan Viciedo in a Prince Fielder trade, you are smoking something. Same for Alex Rios.

Can Jordan Danks make it to the show?

FutureSox takes a look.

FutureSox’ Top 25 White Sox prospects

FutureSox:

Rank	Player	Points	Previous	Change
1	Dan Hudson	208	2	1
2	Tyler Flowers	203	1	-1
3	Jordan Danks	194	4	1
4	Dayan Viciedo	186	3	-1
5	Jared Mitchell	184	6	1
6	Brent Morel	178	7	1

…