Sox thinking to trade a pitcher to Cincinnati to get Yonder Alonso?

Phil Rogers:

Can Yonder Alonso become a solid left fielder? That’s the question the White Sox are studying as the Reds shop the left-handed-hitting slugger for pitching. Alonso would be blocked with Paul Konerko at first base and Adam Dunn as designated hitter, although if the Sox really are willing to let Mark Buehrle walk you wonder if they also would approach Konerko about waiving his no-trade clause.

Other White Sox links:

• James looks to the Sox non-tendering Juan Pierre and to Kenny Williams hiring Robin Ventura.
• J.J. says the Sox better stock up on groundballers if they trade for Yonder Alonso.
• colin looks into Chris Sale as he joins the starting rotation.

Kevin Goldstein on Yonder Alonso and Gordon Beckham

The Reds picked Alonso at #7 and Beckham went to the Sox at #8. Here’s Goldstein:

Like the Beckham comment, this isn’t necessarily a bad pick, as Alonso had a solid but unspectacular full-season debut, this is more about what could have been: in the hours leading up to the draft, the Reds were torn between Alonso and University of Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham. Alonso looks like he might be a power/on-base first baseman with problems hitting against left-handers, while Beckham looks like a future star with a chance to be a “face of the franchise”-type of player. So there are no big complaints about what they have, as long as you don’t think about what could have been.