White Sox and Cubs Hope to Find Success in 2011 with Revamped Rosters

Jeff Dutton, staff writer

Baseball’s spring training kicks off in a couple of weeks with pitchers and catchers set to report to camp in the middle of February. Both the White Sox and Cubs have pinned their hopes of bringing home a championship on revamped rosters. 2011 will see new faces both on the mound, and in the field for both ball clubs. Here he is a look at the moves both teams have made this past off season:

White Sox

Kenny Williams and the White Sox began their off season maneuverings with a splash; signing slugging left-handed 1st baseman Adum Dunn and moving quickly thereafter to resign veterans 1B Paul Konerko and C A.J. Pierzynski. Dunn, who will primarily play as the DH, will bring the Sox much needed power from the left side of the plate; having hit at least 38 home runs in each of the last seven seasons while compiling a .381 career on base percentage. While the Sox were relatively quiet on the trade front, their free agent acquisitions didn’t stop there. After having apparently spent his payroll allotment for the 2011 season, Kenny Williams surprised some by signing two solid relievers in right hander Jesse Crain and left hander Will Ohman. The biggest departures from last year’s squad included closer Bobby Jenks and reliever J.J. Putz. Also gone from this last year’s roster OF/DH Andruw Jones, 1B/DH Mark Kotsay, DH Manny Ramirez, LHP Erick Threets, RHP Scott Linebrink (traded to Atlanta), and RHP Freddy Garcia.

2011 Projected White Sox Lineup

1 Jaun Pierre, LF

2 Gordon Beckham, 2B

3 Adam Dunn, DH

4 Paul Konerko, 1B

5 Alex Rios, CF

6 Carlos Quentin, RF

7 A.J. Pierzynski, C

8 Alexi Ramirez, SS

9 Brent Morel, 3B

Cubs

The Cubs kicked off their offseason maneuverings much the same as the White Sox did by signing a power hitting first basemen in Carlos Pena. Pena had a down year last year, batting only .196 with 95 hits and 158 strikeouts, yet he has averaged 36 homeruns and 102 runs batted in over the last four seasons. The other big acquisition for the Cubs was right handed starting pitcher Matt Garza. Garza came over to the Cubs in a trade that sent five prospects to the Tampa Bay Rays for him and minor league center fielder Fernando Perez. They were also able to add to what amounted to a terrible bullpen in 2010 with free agent signings of former fan favorite Kerry Wood and former Cub, Todd Wellemeyer. Jim Hendry rounded out his free agent acquisitions with the signings of journeyman second baseman Augie Ojeda and scrappy left fielder Reed Johnson. While the team said good-bye to some familiar names during the end of last season (Derek Lee, Ryan Theriot, Ted Lilly, Mike Fontenot), the offseason departures of note include 1B Xavier Nady (free agency), LHP Tom Gorzelanny (traded to the Nationals), and frequent minor league call up Sam Fuld (traded to the Rays).

2011 Projected Cubs Lineup

1 Starlin Castro, SS

2 Marlon Byrd, CF

3 Aramis Ramierz, 3B

4 Carlos Pena, 1B

5 Alfonso Soriano, LF

6 Tyler Colvin, RF

7 Geovany Soto, C

8 Blake DeWitt

9 Pitcher