White Sox close to deal for Royals' Teahen

Sports Network | November 5, 2009

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox are reportedly close to acquiring utility player Mark Teahen from the Kansas City Royals.

According to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times, the White Sox would send infielders Chris Getz and Josh Fields to Kansas City.

Teahen, 28, who has spent his entire five-year career with the Royals, has played every position other than pitcher and catcher. In 2009, he batted. 271 with 12 homers and 50 runs batted in for Kansas City in 144 games.

In 676 career games, Teahen, who was originally dealt to the Royals from Oakland in a three-team deal that sent Carlos Beltran to Houston, has a .269 batting average, 59 homers and 293 RBI. It's possible that Teahen could play right field next year for Chicago, as Jermaine Dye will be a free agent.

Teahen is eligible for arbitration this offseason.

Fields, 26, finished seventh in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2007 after hitting 23 homers and knocking in 67 runs in 100 games, but he has played only 93 games the past two seasons combined. Appearing in 79 contests in 2009, Fields batted just .222 with seven homers and 30 RBI.

The 26-year-old Getz just enjoyed a solid rookie season playing second base for the White Sox, as he batted .261 with two homers and 31 RBI while stealing 25 bases in 27 attempts.