The White Sox have signed 28-year old lefty reliever Eric Threets to a minor league deal. Threets pitched in 33 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 3-0 with 1 save, a 1.52 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He only allowed 29 hits in 41 1/3 innings in the minors last season so maybe it’s all starting to come together for him. Threets has pitched in 10 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 0-1 with a 6.57 ERA and a 2.27 WHIP. In never hurt to stockpile lefty depth in the bullpen so I like this signing for the White Sox.

The White Sox have signed 31-year old righty reliever Greg Aquino to a minor league deal. Aquino pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Indians last season and he was 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. He has now pitched in 145 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 3-6 with 17 saves, a 5.31 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Aquino will be a long shot to make the White Sox’ bullpen out of spring training but he has enough of an arm to help them at some point in 2010 if needed.

The White Sox have claimed 26-year old righty reliever Freddy Dolsi off waivers from the division rival Detroit Tigers. Dolsi pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Tigers last season and he was 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. He has now pitched in 48 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 2-5 with 2 saves, a 3.55 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. This was a solid move for the White Sox as Dolsi could help them in middle relief in 2010.

The White Sox have signed 29-year old switch hitting OF/DH Jason Botts to a minor league deal. Botts played in Japan last season. He last played in the majors during the 2008 season with the Texas Rangers. Botts has played in 93 games in his major league career and he is 65 for 282 (.230 avg, .669 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 5 homers and 28 RBIs. Botts will probably start the season in AAA unless he has a huge spring.

The White Sox have acquired 32-year old lefty swinging outfielder Juan Pierre and cash from the Dodgers for two minor league pitchers who have not been named yet. Pierre played in 145 games for the Dodgers last season and he was 117 for 380 (.308 avg, .757 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 31 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Pierre has now played in 1,433 games in his 10 years in the majors and he is 1,663 for 5,533 (.301 avg, .720 OPS) with 804 runs scored, 13 homers, 387 RBIs and 459 stolen bases. Getting Pierre gives the White Sox a tremendous weapon at the top of the line-up as he is a good hitter with speed to burn. If the White Sox are going to use him in LF he will have more range there than anyone in the American League besides Carl Crawford of the Rays. The Dodgers are also more than half of his contract the next two years which means the Pale Hose are getting $10.5 million bucks from them. I will let you know who the pitchers are when they are revealed but this move with definately help the White Sox in 2010 and 2011.

UPDATE I: The White Sox will pay Pierre $8 million bucks over the next two years.

UPDATE II: The White Sox have sent 23-year old righty starting pitcher John Ely and 25-year old righty reliever Jon Link to the Dodgers to complete this trade. John Ely was the White Sox’ #11 ranked prospect heading into the 2009 season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 27 games (all starts) in AA-ball last season and he was 14-2 with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Jon Link was the White Sox’ #22 ranked prospect heading into the 2009 season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 48 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 1-2 with 13 saves, a 3.99 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. As soon as I saw that the Dodgers kicked in $10.5 million bucks to complete this trade I knew they were getting decent prospects back for Pierre but I still like the move for the White Sox.