Matthew Cerrone

Buzz: White Sox are Scouting Parnell and Kunz
By Matthew Cerrone - Nov 13, 2008 10:45 am

“Tuesday night, several White Sox officials watched Mets pitching prospects Bobby Parnell and Eddie Kunz pitch in the Arizona Fall League,’ reports Mark Gonzales in the Chicago Tribune.

According to Gonzales, citing two NL scouts, the Sox are scouting players for deals that include OF Jermaine Dye.

Earlier this week, in a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff wrote that the Sox are looking to trade Dye.

…as i wrote earlier in the week, the Sox will likely want a pitcher back in a deal for dye, who they are eager to move, in an effort to get younger and free up some cash

Dye hit .292 with 34 HR, 96 RBI and a .344 OBP in 154 games for the White Sox this season.

He has hit at least 20 home runs during each of the last four seasons, while playing mostly right field.

Dye will earn $11.5 million in 2009, after which he has a mutual option in 2010 for $12 million, or a $1 million buyout that could make him a free agent.

In a report on Tuesday for SI.com, Jon Heyman wrote, “The Mets are trying to swing a deal for White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks before doling out free-agent riches to Brian Fuentes or Francisco Rodriguez.”

Jenks, 27, completed 30 of 34 saves in 2008, with a 2.63 ERA in 61 innings pitched, during which opponents hit .230 against him while striking out 38 times.

Gonzales quotes an NL scout as saying, ‘Jenks remains a bargain despite his expected salary hike to at least $5 million because of his consistency and the dearth of dependable closers.’

Meanwhile, in a report from early November in the Chicago Tribune, Dave van Dyck wrote, ‘The Mets had interest in White Sox RHP Javier Vazquez,’ according to a well-placed source at the GM meetings.

in other words, something must be brewing with the Sox

87 Responses to “Buzz: White Sox are Scouting Parnell and Kunz”

  1. Jammin923 says:

    it would be nice if we could get Dye AND Jenks

  2. kingrw says:

    they couldn’t have been impressed with big eddie. he pitched like a little girl tueday.

    he came into a 5-3 game in the 7th with the bases loaded and two outs…and walked two runs in.

    Then he gave up the go ahead HR in the 8th.

    His era is 10.85. not looking like the closer of the future.

    • stilltheEWM says:

      Another Omar draft delight

      • FlightFromHouston says:

        Hey Kunz, you, you’re not good.

      • matthew says:

        so stilltheEWM, you knew it was a bad draft pick at the time?

        you had done the research, and when it was the Mets turn to choose, you had a better pick from the available guys? you had someone that has since turned out to be a golden boy? someone that would have filled a particular need in the farm system?

        save your breath if you don’t actually have something to add to the conversation. you don’t know what you’re talking about.

        • Gina says:

          Eh, obviously I’m not a professional scout but it’s hard to look at using relatively high pick on a college reliever who got by mostly with one pitch as a good pick. I don’t know if I could have made a better pick but I don’t really see how you can justify that. Unless their intention was to get a quick turn around middle reliever, which wouldn’t be suprising, in which case that’s just a flawed drafting strategy.

        • FlightFromHouston says:

          hey matthew, we are fans, omar is the GM. It’s a Gm’s job to do the scouting, not the fans… and when the GM messes up people are allowed to criticize for not doing his job.

    • The Slider says:

      I tried to tell you guys that during the season when a bunch of bloggers here wanted HIM to be our closer. Gotta give Manuel credit here. He saw that the kid just didn’t have it and that’s why he didn’t pitch.

  3. pdminarcik says:

    I’m not sure why people aren’t making a bigger push for the Mets to get Sheets. I know he has the potential for problems but has HUGE upside. He’s going to be pretty cheap by Ace standards as well as adding to the possibility of really upgrading the pitching staff behind Santana. Will probably be around the 18 mil a year area. Should be able to sign him for 5 years or so. Hell if the Mets were REALLY ballsy and wanted to run away with the WS could sign CC and Sheets they would bar none have a unhittable pitching staff. As we all know pitching wins baseball. Throw them before Maine and Pelphrey you can get the rest of the bullpen cheap and as long as the team scores 2-3 runs will dominate baseball for the next 5+ years. Would trade Delgado for good prospects, throw Murph at first Delgado’s contract covers Sheets contract trade for Dye for LF with the prospects you get from Delgado and they can just coast for the next few years pulling players up from the farm. Rebuilding from with like they should.

    • ArmandoReynoso says:

      No question Sheets has a ton of talent, but I’d be scared to death of giving that guy any more than 1 year — the guy just can’t stay healthy.

      • Dirtysanchez says:

        agreed…let the yanks take that risk

      • BigWillie says:

        Sheets should be viewed as a must. He was awesome last yr and proved to be what this team needs in a 4th starter. someone who pitches their innings and doesn’t put men on base. Even while being injured - the kid’s career whip is 1.2. He walked less than half the batters perez did, and put up 4 more innings in 3 less starts.

        I think its clear to everyone the effect of pitching too many innings too early in one’s career. That being said, I would be worried about him swinging the bat. Even he has said that he’d like to go to the al

    • therealsince86 says:

      I think Sheets will be one of the last to sign, thus that is why we are not hearing anything. He will wait for a team to get desperate and offer 3+ years. If not he will take a 1 year deal and go at it again.

  4. ArmandoReynoso says:

    Saw a similar story on SI.com, that said the White Sox standard procedure is to get 2 prospects for established major leaguers (like the Freddy Garcia deal a couple years ago)… and that Ken Williams is in AZ scouting National League prospects

  5. hojo20o9 says:

    If you can trade one of the two pitchers and a low level guy for Dye, I’d do it. He keeps LF very warm for F-Mart and you can let him walk after the year and net the 2 picks when he leaves as a type A.

    • oleosmirf says:

      good thinking i didnt even think a bout the type A part.

      Heilman, Evans and Kunz for Dye and a possible first round pick in 2010 or 2011.

      Forget Jenks and if the mets can get vaszquez too we have a 5th starter as well

      • sdubs6583 says:

        Dye and Vazquez end of story (Don’t need to trade more youth when we can sign a closer)

        Trade goes like this:

        Dye + Vazquez - Kunz/Parnell, Evans, Heilman and Castillo.

        Sox dump salary , find a possible 2B option, and get rid of a guy they hate.

        Mets get rid of two guys we hate, eat salary, fill a rotation spot and get a profession RH outfielder.

        Next moves are sign K-Rod at a lower price (since he’s not getting as much as he wants) sign Lowe and pick up two other relievers (Though can’t be Cruz since we already signed two Type A’s). Team is set for 09 and 10.

  6. HitTheSinkerBall says:

    According to the reports the Mets have interest in everyone

  7. altru426 says:

    this all intrigues me…

    i mean it would be a major blockbuster trade but getting dye, jenks, and vasquez would fill 3 needs in 1 move, obviously that would cost a lot of minor leaguers, and whatever else

    but a lineup of Reyes, Murphy, Wright, Dye, Beltran, Delgado, Church, Schnieder is pretty nice with a rotation including santana, maine, pelfrey and vasquez, with jenks as a closer…

    prob not going to happen…but i would do dye + jenks or vasquez, for whatever, as long as they take castillo haha

    dye provides a solid stop gap until fmart is ready

    • ArmandoReynoso says:

      a deal for all 3 is NEVER going to happen. a deal for 2 of them is a million to 1 shot — but I’d do Kunz/Parnell for Dye in a heartbeat. Kunz & Parnell look like average middle relievers right now (you can replace ‘em with FA’s without breaking the bank). And Dye would be a great fit, right handed power in LF.

      • altru426 says:

        completely agree…it’s fun to dream haha

        but yeah, i’d rather give them kunz than parnell, i dunno why but parnell just looks like he has a better makeup and attitude, and parnell i feel like they can do one or the other, make him a starter or reliever

        guess we will see!

        • HitTheSinkerBall says:

          if we trade for Jenks or sign K-Rod no need for kunz “the closer of the future” … just another hyped up prospect, trade him even though scouts of other teams hate don’t like him much so wont get much for him.

        • Gina says:

          I don’t see Parnell having much, if any, chance of being a starter. But I think he could be a good middle reliever. I just doubt he’d be better than Jenks so it’s kind of a wash.

  8. cval says:

    Trading away useful power bullpen arms hasn’t really worked for us in the recent past.

    • alex242 says:

      i’d sing sheets for 2 years 20 million with a option for a 3rd.. he just can’t saty healthy but when he is.. he’s a horse and top 5 pitcher in the NL..

    • FSMetFan says:

      yeah if you trade them for jason vargas and adam bostick or ben johnson and jon adkins…not if you get a proven middle of the order hitter like dye for them…i wouldnt mind still having lindstrom and bell though

      • gowrightgo says:

        Bell maybe but lindstrom missed all of last year with injury and is now suspended 50 games for his “substance” violation. Hes a bum

        • dsgtrane says:

          Lindstrom finished the year as the Marlins closer. You’re thinking of Henry Owens who was traded in the same deal.

        • cval says:

          You remember lindstrom. He’s the guy with the 97 mph fastball who closed out the game that ended the mets season.

        • Cactus says:

          couldn’t have been a more fitting close to Omar’s tenure as GM. unfortunately instead of getting fired he got a 4 year extension as the wilpons’ stooge.

  9. NickA33 says:

    I wouldn’t count on Jenks or Vasquez but Dye is a definite possibility. I love the idea of having Dye as our LF for next year. The guy hits for power, consistantly. Has a basic average of .275 and plays decent defense. Plus, being in his mid 30’s is a perfect transition, eventually, for FMart.

    I wouldn’t trade for a Closer when we can just sign KRod. Why trade away talent when you can just use money. Trade for Dye and sign KRod, now!!!

    • roman411 says:

      I’ll one up you here…

      Dye & Jenks + Sign K-Rod = Kunz, Parnell, & Heilman.

      THAT I’d do.

      This way you’d have Jenks as your 8th inning guy, K-Rod to close it out, and Dye smacking the heck out of balls.

      • oleosmirf says:

        Kenny Williams would lose his job if he made that move. You’d have to throw in K-Mart or Niese if you want Jenks too

      • NickA33 says:

        I’m not saying I wouldn’t welcome a trade like that, I just don’t think it’ll happen. You’re talking about two mid/top level players here. To expect a trade of any combination involving Dye/Jenks/Vasquez isn’t realisitic.

        We need a bat, the market is thin - trade for one.

        We need a closer, the market is flooded - sign one.

        • FSMetFan says:

          right…ill take dye for parnell and kunz….if you want one of the other ones murphy will prob have to be included along with heilman….so that being said…parnell and kunz for dye if possible then keep murphy and take my chances with signing a guy like lowe and using niese as the fifth and sign k-rod

    • Koko says:

      Because the Wilpon’s aren’t the Steinbrenners.

      Plus they probably need money for other places.

      Imagine them being able to trade for Jenks and Dye.

      All of a sudden that would free up money for a top starter and a 2nd baseman or maybe a 1B (with a Delgado trade).

    • bennyagbayani says:

      You took the words right out of my mouth. Enough of these fantasy trades with dye AND Jenks AND Vasquez.

      If we can trade for Dye, that would make our lineup so solid, and there is absolutely no reason to lose more minor leaguers by trading for a closer when you can buy one, not to mention the fact that we are in a great spot for signing a FA closer, at a reasonable price.

      If they got Dye and signed either Krod or Fuentes, you would have to be happy with this offseason. That would free Omar to be creative as he likes in rebuilding the bullpen, without breaking the farm.

      • gipper82475 says:

        It would be a good start….but, as you say, there is still the rest of the pen, one or two starters, second base, catcher, bench, etc.

        Damn…this team has more holes than Amsterdam has brothels.

        • FSMetFan says:

          yeah…ideally ill take dye and then sign krod and lowe that i would be happy with…but then again the rest of the pen has to be addressed and we can’t have both castillo and schneider in this lineup next year…so dump castillo and put murphy there eventho hell prob break a record for errors made by a 2b

  10. bbhkf78 says:

    I would try to get Vazquez and Dye. Maybe trade Parnell/Kunz and maybe either Murphy or Evans if need be, oh yah, also throw in Shoenweis, or Castillo or heck even Heilman, one of the guys. Vazquez can be a very useful pitcher for us. Then we can sign a closer, and also sign Derek Lowe, to fill out our rotation.

    • metinDC23 says:

      I wonder what it would cost for Vasquez and Dye…

      Kunz/Parnell, Evans (the Dye part), Castillo, Hielman and Gee/Stoner (Vasquez)?

      They really really seem to hate Vasquez over there which is why I think they would take back Castillio and meh prospects for him. Gee/Stoner is basically a Bannister type prospect, Heilman has real upside and since they’re getting rid of a high-paid-hated player we get to get rid of one too.

  11. oleosmirf says:

    Dye is a must sign and all accounts say he can be had for mid level prospects.

    If I were the Mets i’d get Dye in a second.

  12. stickguy says:

    more I think about it, Dye for a modest package would be a great pick up. And a certain sign that F Mart will be kept and groomed to take over LF.

    That, and giving Murphy 2B, takes care of the lineup (unless Omar can manage to upgrade C too!)

    Sing K rod, and the time is already vastly improved in 3 areas, without giving up much in the way of prospects.

    Trading Delgado remains an optin (especially if somehow Teix comes into play). Or just keep him.

    After that, find the back end SPs and the rest of the middle pen guys (from the retained prospects, either use or trade) and the off season is done.

    • cgio07 says:

      What catchers are available that would be an upgrade from Schneider? I mean, he’s good enough defensively and I dont really think Castro is terrible either…there arent any good free agent catchers that i would rather have than schneider. Plus, the mets have $30 million to spend..$15m going to Krod and another 10-12 for lowe is most of the money they can spend already….

  13. kingrw says:

    i would steer clear of dye. just seems like the kind of player that would get off to a slow start and hate NY.

    he’ll be 35 in january.

    i like the idea of getting jenks.

  14. shudderWINGS says:

    With the way that the Mets organization fawns over the oft-injured LF prospect, he better be the next coming of Mickey Mantle out there when LF is “finally” ready to turn over to him.

  15. HitTheSinkerBall says:

    If the Mets sign K-Rod do you think they will have the K-Rod Bobble head night? Cant wait for that, a K-Rod bobble head with those sweet goggles he wears.

  16. Zarkin620 says:

    Please check the comment board from like almost 2 months ago when I suggested that Dye would be a perfect fit for the Mets in terms of return and cost…

    Oh it feels good to be so right

  17. therealsince86 says:

    To me SP is much more of a hole than LF. I would get Vasquez 1st then look later at guys like Dye.

    • therealsince86 says:

      Also, I just don’t see the Mets giving Murphy 2B so then he is without a position and we still need 2 starters.

  18. oleosmirf says:

    another guy we could look at is Brad Penny, had a bad year but was nasty in 07.

    if we could give him a 1 year incentive-laden deal we might get a steal

  19. therealsince86 says:

    What makes us think that we won’t get the 2007 Dye who hit .254?

    • mark4212 says:

      the 2007 dye still parked 28 Homers. I’d say if the Mets did get dye expect about a .280 25 HR and 90 RBI as production from him. Plus solid outfield play and he still has a pretty decent arm as I recall.

      I’m all for trading Kunz. He looks like he has nothing.

      • therealsince86 says:

        I am just saying that if the same prospects could get Vasquez, we need him more. Dye is the same thing we always do. How do you think it would go over if he hit .250 with 25 HR’s? Remember Delgado’s 2007?

        • mistermet5757 says:

          the difference is, if you add Delgado and Dye’s 2007 together, you’ve got a combined 50 homers and 180 or so Rbi, compared to just half that. would you rather have Tatis and Murphy in LF who might approach those numbers combined if they are lucky, or Dye who will almost certainly reach those numbers. it’s win win for the mets just as long as Dye doesn’t get hurt (which is always a possibility when talking about the mets).

      • cgio07 says:

        As long as hes not Jeremy No-Hitz i wont mind how horrible he is

    • oleosmirf says:

      by that logic what makes you think he wont be the guy who hit .315 with 44 HR and 120 RBI in 06

      Look we desperately need a RH Bat, Fernando Tatis is not he answer Dye will cost us nothing more than average prospects.

      How anyone can be against this is mindboggling.

  20. BiggieSmalls says:

    Vasquez/Dye looks like a good match.

    Hopefully Omar doesnt do anything stupid and include Murphy in that deal.

    Heilman/Evans and some other minor parts should be in it though

  21. CaseStreet says:

    I’d be very happy with giving up Parnell and Niese for either Vasquez or Dye. Preferably Vasquez. It’d be great if we can throw in Heilman and Castillo to get both.

    • oleosmirf says:

      why would u trade our best pitching prospect for Javier Vasquez????

      • CaseStreet says:

        Meant to say Parnell and KUNZ.

        Even though he’s only a 5th starter, he’s a K machine and consistently pitches over 200 innings. Having a dependable 5th starter is very important because then you won’t have these 6th, 7th, and 8th SP losing games for us.

  22. oleosmirf says:

    Vasquez is nothing more than a 5th starter on this team. He had a 4.67 ERA last season and a career ERA of 4.32

    He doesnt pitch well in big games and he got ran out of town when we was a Yankees and in the prime of his career. What makes you think he’ll be a good pitcher for the Mets?????

  23. matlack says:

    He is Steve Trachsel, nothing more.

    • Chan Ho Parking Lot says:

      Well, if Vazquez got plunked in the leg with a line drive in a playoff game, I’d guess he’d probably elect to stay in the game. If that’s the case, then he’s a little more than Steve Trachsel.

    • The Slider says:

      Vasquez throws in the low to mid 90s, if I recall. Trachsel was lucky to ever get his fastball above 90 mph.

      • fongulalou says:

        Not just that But this guy has never missed a start
        and earlier in his career was a frontline starter.
        Steve Trachsel? I think though that earlier post may
        have been just a joke. Trachel wasn’t even Bobby Jones
        let alone Vasquez. If you can get a package of Dye and Vasquez and not give up a whole lot Omar would be a
        fool not to. This would certainly fill two big holes on this
        team with two very solid veteran (but not overthehill)
        players. We could (and have) done alot worse than
        Having Dye in the 6 hole and Vasquez as a 4th starter.

  24. Gilch says:

    i oringinally wanted no part of DYE when the mets were talking about him earlier .. but his yr end numbers are great, he must have had a very impressive second hallf ..
    also i think its very important OMAR ship out heilmann and Show … even he gets very little in return, like lower level relievers … need to at least change the sceneary out there if he cant upgrade the talent … i can just imagine citi field opening day … great atmosphere as Johan is pitching in the 8th with a 3-1 lead …. gives up a cue shot single and Jerry comes to the mound and calls for Aaron.. imagine the moans and groans as he starts his stomach turning trot in from the penn…

  25. Markiss87 says:

    Sounds good if theres a way we dont give up f-mart and murphy then ill do it. F-mart and Murphy are our future and ive gotten to see F-mart play in spring training, for kid thats looking for his swing still the ball just jumps off his bat and it would be a shame if we trade him.

  26. lklrlolnlilkl says:

    “but his yr end numbers are great, he must have had a very impressive second hallf .”

    Dude. The guy should have been an All-Star, because he tore it up the first half. Nice to see you make a judgment like saying you want no part of a player, when you clearly did not watch him play whatsoever.