Wasting No Time: Central Teams Already Making Moves

So the offseason began less than 48 hours ago and already the AL Central has seen a flurry of activity.

The White Sox completed a deal with Kansas City to bring in Mark Teahen in exchange for Chris Getz and Josh Fields.  Teahen will apparently slot into the Sox lineup at third base, and the plan is to move Gordon Beckham to second.  With the loss of Jim Thome, the Sox needed to add a LH bat, and Teahen still has the potential to become a strong hitter.  The move to homer-happy US Celluar Field should help as well.

On the Royals’ end of the deal, Fields is an interesting pickup.  Fields had a monster season a couple years back but really regressed since then.  He can play either corner infield spot, so it’s possible Alex Gordon could be shifted to third.  Billy Butler figures to DH, so the move likely means that Mike Jacobs will be non-tendered.

Getz is a much better defender than incumbent second baseman Alberto Callaspo, so he figures to get the chance to play.  Callaspo was one of the better hitters on the past two Royals clubs, though, so a move to the outfield may be in his future.  I like this deal a whole lot for Kansas City, especially long term if Fields can rediscover his swing.

Not to be outdone, the Twins pulled the trigger on a trade today with Milwaukee, bringing in shortstop J.J. Hardy.  Hardy’s acquisition means the end of the line for Orlando Cabrera in Minnesota, which is just fine by me.  Hardy should slot into the lower half of the order and provide some extra thump into an already powerful Twins order.

The Brewers took back CF Carlos Gomez in the deal, which likely means the Mike Cameron’s days in Milwaukee are done.  Gomez can fly and is an excellent defender, but has yet to develop with the bat.  Short term win for Minnesota, but Gomez has a ton of potential.

As for Detroit, no major moves as of yet.  Minnesota had been rumored to be interested in Placido Polanco, but the Hardy trade might just clear out any excess cash they would have needed to sign Polly.  If that proves true, I’ll be thrilled.  Whether or not Polanco returns to Detroit, it would have been tough to watch him play with the Twins.