Nearing the anniversary...

[Foulke You]

Originally Posted by TDog

The Giants overpaid Rowand, no question, but the decline wasn't all that quick. Rowand was in his third year with the Giants in 2010 and was leading off. He had been an everyday player in his first two seasons, although he didn't have the All-Star season he had in his free agent year in Philadelphia. He actually got off to a great start in 2010, but in a late April game against the Dodgers, he was hit in the face by a Padilla pitch in a 10-8 loss, sidelining him for two weeks. When he came back, he was having trouble making consistent contact, striking out enough that Andres Torres ended up taking his place as the everyday centerfielder and leadoff man, relegating Rowand to the fourth outfielder role, although he did start the clinching game of the World Series against the overmatched Rangers and for the second time in five years was in center in Texas for the last out of the major league baseball season.

Rowand was mostly a fourth outfielder in 2011, although Torres faltered, and was unhappy with his lack of playing time. In an interview with a Chicago newspaper, he said he had been very happy with the White Sox. The interview wasn't taken well in San Francisco, and it seemed to be the final nail in his coffin.

In defense of the Giants releasing him and eating his contract, Rowand never played with another professeional team after the Giants.

Thome provided more offense than Rowand would have for the Sox in 2006. The story is that Konerko re-signed after 2005 because the Sox signed Thome. The problem for the Sox in 2006, though, was the pitching, particularly late in the season.

The real history changer is the Giants offering Rowand so much more than he was worth when it appeared he was going to sign with the Sox after his All-Star season in Philadelphia. Unable to sign Torii Hunter and then Rowand, the Sox traded for Nick Swisher.

Absolutely true. The bullpen was a lot more vulnerable than 2005 and Mark Buehrle had a dreadful second half of the season going 3W-7L with a 6.44 E.R.A.

Also, you make a good point on the Thome trade influencing the Konerko signing. There is a very good chance Paulie ends up in an Angels uniform if the Thome trade didn't occur.

[HomeFish]

It was a good move, but the greatest trade in White Sox history is arguably Carlos Lee to the Brewers.

[LITTLE NELL]

Greatest trades in Sox history:
Sox get Nellie Fox from Philadelphia A's for Joe Tipton.
Sox get Billy Pierce from Tigers for Aaron Robinson.
Sox get Paulie from Reds for Mike Cameron.
Sox get Ozzie from Padres for LaMarr Hoyt.
Sox get Shoeless Joe from the Indians for a couple of no names and 31,000 dollars.
Sox get Pete Ward, Hoyt Wilhelm, Ron Hansen and Dave Nicholson for Luis Aparicio and Al Smith.
The Dick Allen trade gets honorable mention because he only spent 3 years with us.
Not a trade but signing Carlton Fisk in 1981 as a free agent was huge.

Thome trade is not even close.

[KenBerryGrab]

Thome was absolutely on fire at the start. He helped carry the club to one of the best first halves in Sox history.

[Brian26]

Originally Posted by HomeFish

It was a good move, but the greatest trade in White Sox history is arguably Carlos Lee to the Brewers.

That trade was very fair for both teams involved. I wouldn't classify it as a steal for the Sox by any means. It freed-up money and got us a leadoff man who would be productive for two years.

[Brian26]

Originally Posted by Dibbs

I disagree. Frank Thomas had a monster 2006. Frank and Roward is much better than Thome and Brian Anderson. So the net of that trade may have cost us another title. We'll never know.

Agree, we'll never know. A couple of points to consider-

Frank was a risk at that point. Nobody knew if he would ever play baseball productively again.

Brian Anderson hit two homers off Felix Hernandez in Seattle and looked like the Sox star prospect everyone was hoping he would be.

Thome carried the Sox for many stretches. In hindsight, I'd still do the trade. The only negative is that the Sox traded Gio again after they got him back in the Freddy deal.

[Tragg]

Originally Posted by shingo10

Of one of the greatest trades in White Sox history (just in my opinion)

Sent Rowand to Phillie and got future Hall Of Famer Jim Thome. I hated to lose Rowand but this deal was too good to pass up. I don't know if I've ever been as excited to be a fan as I was during that offseason. Coming off the WS Title our 3-4-5 was set up to be Thome, Dye, Konerko...ahh what might have been.

Nevertheless that 2006 team was super fun to watch on offense. Almost hard to believe a White Sox team could score with such ease.

That wasn't a great trade. We gave up Gio as well. Rowand signed a huge contract out of that year in Philly.
The great trade was getting Gio and Floyd for Garcia.

[shingo10]

I just think the discrepancy in talent (with absolutely no offense to Aaron...he was a solid, solid player with us) is what made it so great.

Essentially we traded a decent center fielder for one of the best hitters in the game which once again gave us a killer 3-4-5 combination. While 2006 will always be a major disappointment because of the fade at the end, the fact that we were in a legitimate chance to repeat as world champions was amazing.

[SI1020]

Originally Posted by Domeshot17

The biggest thing people always forget about this trade, had we kept Rowand and Thomas, Konerko signs in LA. He said that, he said he was ready to leave UNTIL the Sox got Thome.

I didn't forget. The Angels really wanted Konerko and he was tempted for several reasons not the least of which was it put him closer to home.

Originally Posted by Noneck

It was the right thing to do at the time but as it all played out, I dont see any reason to celebrate the move.

That about says it all for me too.

[LoveYourSuit]

Originally Posted by Lip Man 1

With no disrespect to Jim, a very good player with the Sox and a class act, this trade changed the dynamic of the team.

They became a station to station home run or nothing club....that didn't turn out very well.

In 2005 the Sox could beat you with a blast, a bloop or a bunt. In 2006 and on that was no longer the case.

Lip

Right, because Frank Thomas and Carl Everett where awesome at going 1st to 3rd on a single.


Shame on Thome for coming in here and replacing those speed demons at DH.

[LoveYourSuit]

Originally Posted by FielderJones

That was a two-sided trade. The left-handed power was awesome. The hole in center field took six years to fill in.

Rowand would have also become part of that "hole in center field" by 2007 or 2008..

[LoveYourSuit]

Originally Posted by HomeFish

It was a good move, but the greatest trade in White Sox history is arguably Carlos Lee to the Brewers.

Not even close.

Freddy Garcia (from Mariners) and Jose Contreras (from Yankees) trades are the biggest trades in constructing that 2005 team.

[Chez]

Aaron Rowand was the highest paid player on the 2012 World Champion SF Giants despite never playing a game for them.

[TaylorStSox]

Originally Posted by LoveYourSuit

Right, because Frank Thomas and Carl Everett where awesome at going 1st to 3rd on a single.


Shame on Thome for coming in here and replacing those speed demons at DH.

Good post. That was a head scratcher from Lip.

[Thome25]

I was a big fan of the trade. Hence my username.