38-year old lefty swinging DH Jim Thome can still hit homers with the best of them. He played in 149 games for the White Sox last season and he was 123 for 503 (.245 avg, .865 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 34 homers and 90 RBIs. Thome hasn’t started to show his age yet so the White Sox expect another solid season from him as long as his back doesn’t start barking.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: B

It will likely be either 26-year old righty swinging Josh Fields or 20-year old righty swinging rookie Dayan Viciedo as the starting 3B in 2009 for the White Sox. Fields played in 14 games for the White Sox last season and he was 5 for 32 (.156 avg, .417 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs. He also played in 79 games between A+AAA ball last season in which he was 71 for 285 (.249 avg) with 42 runs scored, 10 homers, 36 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. The White Sox are hoping that Fields gets back to where he was in 2007 when he whacked 23 homers in only 100 games for them. He is the favorite to win the starting job.

Dayan Viciedo is a big time talent who is the #2 prospect in the White Sox’ minor league system according to Baseball America. He has already played three seasons of professional ball in Cuba despite being only 20 years old. In those three seasons, Viciedo has played in 233 games in which he is 237 for 801 (.296 avg) with 134 runs scored, 32 homers, 131 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. The White Sox would probably be smart to start him off in the minors but put him on the fast track to the Windy City.

Veteran Wilson Betemit will likely be the backup 3B when the 2009 season begins. He played in 21 games at 3B for the Yankees last season and he made 3 errors while showing poor range. He’s a better defender at 2B or SS but he does have some pop in his bat.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: C

27-year old Alexei Ramirez has tons of upside especially with the bat as he has the same skill set as Alfonso Soriano. He played in 136 games for the White Sox last season and he was 139 for 480 (.290 avg, .792 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 21 homers, 77 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Ramirez might have some growing pains defensively as he showed poor range at shortstop in 16 games there last season for the White Sox, but he only made 1 error. The sky is the limit for Ramirez.

If anything were to happen to Ramirez either Wilson Betemit or Brent Lillibridge would take his spot. Betemit is the better hitter and he was solid for the Yankees at shortstop last season making no errors while showiing good range in 14 games there. Lillibrige showed outstanding range in 23 games at shortstop for the Braves last season but he also made 6 errors.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: B+

The White Sox have four players they will probably consider for the 2B job this spring. Wilson Betemit has the most power, Brent Lillibridge has the most speed, Jayson Nix is probably the best defender but rookie Chris Getz might have the best all-around game of this bunch. The 25-year old lefty swinging Getz played in 10 games for the White Sox last season and he was 2 for 7 (.286 avg, .572 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 RBI and 1 stolen bases. He also played in 112 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 122 for 404 (.302 avg, .814 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 11 homers, 52 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Getz didn’t make any errors in 7 games for the White Sox at 2B last year while showing outstanding range.

26-year old righty swinging Jayson Nix won the starting job at 2B last spring for the Rockies but he lost it quickly due to problems with his bat. Nix played in 22 games for the Rockies last season and he was 7 for 56 (.125 avg, .395 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Nix also played in 67 AAA games last season in which he was 80 for 264 (.303 avg, .964 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 17 homers, 51 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Nix did show outstanding range in 20 error-free games at 2B last year for the Rockies.

25-year old righty swinging Brent Lillibridge is a shortstop by trade but he will throw his hat in the ring at 2B this spring. Lillibridge played in 29 games for the Braves last season and he was 16 for 80 (.200 avg, .576 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He had trouble making contact with the Braves having struck out 23 times that season. Lillibridge also played in 98 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 78 for 355 (.220 avg, .638 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 4 homers, 39 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. Lillibridge will really have to improve his all-around game if he wants to make it with the White Sox in 2009.

The wild card in this derby is 27-year old switch hitting Wilson Betemit. He is far and away the best hitter of this bunch. He played in 87 games for the Yankees last season and he was 50 for 189 (.265 avg, .718 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 6 homers and 25 RBIs. He has played in 496 games in his major league career to date and he has a batting average of .260 with a .762 OPS. Betemit only played 3 games at 2B last season for the Yankees and he made 1 error. You know how much Ozzie Guillen loves offense so Betemit could win either the starting 2B or 3B job this spring.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: D+