Analysis of a baseball trade generally centers around assessing the winner and loser in a particular swap. But with the White Sox shipping Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan to the Braves for prospects, both teams look like they'll come out ahead.
The Sox get an infusion of young talent, including a top-tier prospect in Tyler Flowers, for a player they didn't really want to keep around.
Meanwhile the Braves get a pitcher who, while disappointing fans, coaches and front offices alike during his many stops, is still capable of pitching near the front of their rotation for two seasons at a reasonable price.
Sox fans have to be doubly happy that GM Kenny Williams got value back for Vazquez. Typically when Williams feels like he has to ship a player out of town, he sells him off for 25 cents on the dollar (SEE: Nick Swisher).
Still uncertain is what the bigger picture for the Sox's offseason will be. Vazquez and Swisher have been traded. Orlando Cabrera, Joe Crede, Juan Uribe, Ken Griffey Jr. and Toby Hall will all depart via free agency. But this is still a veteran team.
Williams could opt for a total rebuild by dealing Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome and trying to talk Paul Konerko into waiving his no-trade clause.
That's never been Williams' style. Every year since he's been GM, the Sox have made a play to be contenders even in years when few thought they'd be able to pull it off. That includes last year when the Sox won a division title, and another season in which the Sox defied expectations and went on to win the World Series.
Then again, just because Williams has never done it before, doesn't mean he won't do it now. Williams is unpredictable, and that might be the defining characteristic of his tenure.
Maybe it's just Williams' way of keeping the offseason as exciting as a pennant race. In any event we'll just have to keep watching and waiting.
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