Guardado on Sox's radar

[redsrbetter]

Sox Notebook

Guardado may be on Sox's radar

Thursday, August 18, 2005




By Joe Cowley
Staff writer


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White Sox general manager Kenny Williams is fond of "flying under the radar" when it comes to laying the groundwork for trades, and he might be doing just that.
Despite all the talk about the Sox trying to get a deal done with Cincinnati for outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., it could just be the ultimate smoke screen for something else in the works.

Seattle closer Eddie Guardado reportedly has cleared waivers, and according to a source in the Mariners organization, is being mentioned in a potential trade with the Sox.

The lingering back problems of Sox closer Dustin Hermanson have been well-documented, but the situation could be worsening, and not just because Hermanson blew a save opportunity Tuesday night for just the second time this season.

The right-handed reliever's back problems are such that it's leaving the Sox unclear as to his availability on a daily basis.

He was iffy for Wednesday night's series finale against Minnesota, meaning the Sox would have given consideration to either Damaso Marte or Cliff Politte as the closer.

The Sox would like to see rookie Bobby Jenks in that role, but he was unavailable after pitching three innings in Tuesday night's 16-inning marathon.

Jenks hasn't heard from manager Ozzie Guillen about possibly being used as a closer, but the second-year skipper has talked about it publicly.

"We know what's going on down there with Hermanson," Jenks said. "He's taking care of his back and everything that's going on with him.

"He's giving this team a lot, just showing he's going to throw through it. He's becoming a smarter pitcher just by doing it, having to learn how to get guys out without his best stuff. Once he comes back from this and is completely healthy, watch out."

While the addition of Guardado wouldn't necessarily cost Hermanson his closer's job, the Seattle reliever, who has 29 saves this season, would at a minimum serve as a good insurance policy.

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southt...pro/181sd3.htm

[Fishercat]

He actally got through waivers? Why didn't the Red Sox try and claim him? Their pen is in shambles at this point (Timlin's great, Schilling's good, the rest blow) and they can't try for Eddie? Imagine a Timlin-Guarado-Foulke to end the game?

[redsrbetter]

I am not sure why he go through either. He could be a valuable pitcher for a lot of pitchers down the stretch.

[Fishercat]

They got two prospects for Ron Villone and he's wild, why wouldn't the Sox take a chance, or the Yankees for that matter.

[Dam8610]

Seattle's asking WAY too much for their marginal players (they wanted McCarthy for Villone), so unless they've done a 180 on that, no thanks. Still waiting on that Griffey trade, although I think it's not going to happen.

[redsrbetter]

Yeah Dam, I am with you on the Griffey trade not happening now too. John Allen was reported as angry in the media talks throughout this whole thing saying "There's nothing to it." Plus with Griffey supposedly not getting a starting role, he would veto that in a heartbeat.

[Dam8610]

He wouldn't get a starting defensive role, because the Sox already have one of the best defensive CFs in baseball in Aaron Rowand, but does starting on defense mean more to him than potentially winning a championship? He would likely be the everyday DH, and he'd be a huge boost to the offensive side of the ballclub. The main reason I don't think it's going to get done is because I think that if it was going to get done, it'd be done by now, especially since the trade was supposedly as close as the owner of the Reds vetoing the trade to getting done on July 31st.