New York Daily News - Members of the White Sox whose contracts are expiring and who therefore may be available as the trade deadline approaches are Mark Buerhle, Paul Konerko and Jose Contreras. Yankees GM Brian Cashman could have interest in acquiring one of these players to help his struggling Yankees team down the stretch.
The Rangers' first baseman Mark Teixeira has also been mentioned often as the subject of trade rumors.
Teams trading with New York will target the Yankees' young arms including Phil Hughes but Cashman will be reluctant to part with his best pitching potential.
In discussions about Buerhle, the White Sox have brought up Huhges and minor league pitching prospects Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy.
I bring up this article more to frame a question on the issue of our team's long term development than to point at a link on the wiretap.
Hypothetically, would you a) rather see us make the playoffs but pull off a trade with some of these young arms, or b) take this season as a development year and prep the kids for next season? Obviously, we still have a chance to make the playoffs without a trade and a chance to miss the playoffs if we make one, but I'm curious to see if we're primarily a win now every year club at whatever the cost or one that is willing to take it's lumps for a season before a return to prominence with more seasoned young talent (ala Boston last season).
There are some names on that list that intrigue me, but guys like Buerhle (who we really don't need, as much as I like his game) and Tex are going to demand a lot more money next season; is a rental worth it? Better yet, is a rental going to get us a ring this year? Considering that the spiral of trading our farm for vets has kept our wheels spinning the last few years, I'm inclined to say we should stick to our guns and try to trade only our lower level or less highly touted prospects on guys that teams look over (possibly like a Dmitri Young), but I'd like to see these kids come up for a little while and develop from within.
