Levine: White Sox Aim To Keep Focus Amid Trade Rumors
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) The trade winds that are swirling in baseball this week haven't impacted the daily routine of White Sox players or manager Robin Ventura, who was traded twice during his career. That experience gives him some insight as to how his players are looking at the next week, as the non-wavier trade deadline hits July 31 at 3 p.m.
"Our players are aware of it," Ventura said. "You start to see other guys getting traded from other teams.You are aware of it."
Gordon Beckham, Adam Dunn, Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo are the names you hear most often when talking to scouts who come through Chicago. The Seattle Mariners have taken the longest look at Viciedo over the past couple of months. Beckham had numerous clubs -- including the Reds, Blue Jays and Orioles -- interested in his services before his horrendous slump that has taken on a life of its own. Ramirez is an attractive shortstop in a marketplace where few infielders have performed as well as the White Sox All-Star.
Dunn is earning $16 million in the last season of his four-year deal. He can help the right American League team if he's used like he is in Chicago. A club can use Dunn in the DH role most of the time, primarily against right-handed pitching.
Ventura will keep an eye on players who may get distracted by all of the rumors.
"When you do see these other guys get traded, there is a conscious or sub-conscious thing there for everybody," Ventura said. "The names get brought up, that is just part of the game."
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn has said the team has no mandate to move players before the deadline All of that may be true, but there's also good incentive for a middle-market club like the White Sox to save four or five million in cash and add a young player or two.