Move #1

Sergio Santos and Gavin Floyd to the Reds for Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal.

Move #2

Matt Thornton, John Danks and cash to the Yankees for Dellin Betances and Austin Romine

Move #3

Carlos Quentin, Jesse Crain and cash to the Padres for Luke Gregerson and Ernesto Frieri

Move #4

Yonder Alonso and Dellin Betances to Rays for Matt Moore

Move #5

AJ Pierzynski and Cash to the Dodgers for Allen Webster

Move #6

Re-sign Buehrle 3 years $42m

Starting Rotation
Mark Buehrle
Jake Peavy
Matt Moore
Phil Humber
Chris Sale

Bullpen
Jason Frasor
Will Ohman
Luke Gregerson
Ernesto Frieri
Dylan Axelrod
Zach Stewart
Addison Reed

Lineup
LF De Aza
2B Beckham
DH Dunn
1B Konerko
SS Ramirez
CF Rios
RF Viciedo
C Flowers
3B Morel

Bench
Austin Romine
Brent Lillibridge
Ozzie Martinez

Minors
Yasmani Grandal

Overview
We shed about $22m from the payroll and cut ticket prices 10% more.

Tell me how much you love this plan now.

Same thing, different player.

San Francisco Giants (via Grant Brisbee)

He's a free agent after the season, so that would definitely leave out Gary Brown. I'm thinking Heath Hembree and Andres Torres, the latter of whom they're probably just going to non-tender for some inexplicable reason. It's not a huge offer, but I think the Giants are understandably burned on top prospects for rentals.

Cincinnati Reds (via KCGARD2)

Trade ideas involving Quentin have been getting some play in Reds circles, and opinions are pretty mixed. He seems like a pretty clear upgrade to what the Reds have run out in LF the last two or three years (mainly because Jonny Gomes is easy to upgrade), but he's no All-Star with his injury risk and all value not related to hitting being negative value. Offer: Dave Sappelt + B/C pitching prospect (such as Justin Freeman for example). Sappelt is a good defensive OF who could vie for the CF job and push De Aza or replace Juan Pierre in LF/leadoff; be insurance for Viciedo. If it seems underwhelming you have to keep in mind it's one year of Quentin for ~$8 million(?), and that's a lot of team control on the White Sox' end.

Boston Red Sox (via Matt Sullivan)

Quentin makes some sense for Boston, but I would only really see that trade happen if a White Sox pitcher was involved in the deal. For Quentin alone, I would suspect the package would start with either Josh Reddick or Ryan Kalish, both CF/RF's with plus defensive ability. Reddick had a decent year at the plate as a rookie last season and projects to have plus power. The knock on Reddick has always been his plate discipline. He makes up for being a free swinger with good plate coverage and contact ability but he is prone to K's and won't walk much. Kalish caught some eyes in a brief stint in 2010 but was injured most of the 11 season. He has less power potential than Reddick but a better eye. Francona compared him with Trot Nixon which may be a fair comp long term.

Beyond that Jose Iglesias could be on the table. He is a superb fielding SS already, but has struggle to hit in the minors and even the best case scenario has him being a slap singles type. his glove is clearly going to be elite, though and he won't need to be A-Rod at the plate to be a valuable player at short.

Beyond that, it is hard to imagine who a third player might be. The Sox aren't likely to part with an MLB ready pitcher like Felix Doubront for a RF when they can just go with Reddick or Kalish or sign a free agent. Michael Bowden, a right-hander on the fringe between starting and relieving could be moved, but he isn't exactly going to turn any heads. Top prospects like 3B Will Middlebrooks, SP Anthony Ranaudo SS Xander Boergets (sp?) and (OF) Brandon Jacobs are going to be involved in a deal that doesn't net a pitcher. Boston has a deep system, but few other players are close to the majors and it would be hard to find players who could manage to help Chicago in 2012 in our farm system.

**Added 11/30/2011 4:00PM EST**

Colorado Rockies (via Andrew Fisher)

Three things need to be considered in this match. 1) With the trade of Ubaldo Jimenez, the Rockies have a frighteningly young unproven rotation, and 2012 isn't viewed as a legitimate contending year, even with an additional wild card. That means acquiring a one-year outfielder is unlikely, especially at the $7+mil he will get in arbitration. 2) The Rockies have a glut of MLB-level outfielders in Fowler, CarGo, Smith, Blackmon and Wheeler. None hit RH. So Quentin is a nice fit to provide a RH bat, but one of those OF would probably need to go, in a deal for Quentin or otherwise. 3) O'Dowd doesn't deal top 10 prospects. Ever. In his dozen years as Rockies' GM, the best prospect he's traded might be Chone Figgins (who wasn't as highly regarded then), or maybe Chris Balcom-Miller. Wheeler/Blackmon are both top 10 prospects, and Smith would be an overpay for one year of Quentin. Wheeler/Blackmon might be dealt for someone, but it wouldn't be for an ill-advised rental. So I am quite doubtful O'Dowd would even consider Quentin. The only way I see it happening is if Smith, Blackmon or Wheeler are dealt for a better player (Prado perhaps), then Quentin is acquired for a prospect outside the system's top 15. (See PuRPs list at Purple Row). That might not seem like a good return, but despite being a RH OF with power, Quentin doesn't seem like the kind of player O'Dowd would pursue, especially with his defense and salary.

I wanted the other bloggers on SB Nation to play GM, so I wrote them and asked them what they'd give in return for certain White Sox players. Thanks to Dan, Patrick, Adam and Kris for playing along. First up, John Danks. I only got a few replies but here they are. They include some scouting reports.

Arizona Diamondbacks (via Dan Strittmatter)

An interesting trade chip here is the aforementioned Corbin, a polished lefty who led the Double-A Southern League in strikeouts this year (though he didn't have a particularly prolific K%) and projects as a solid mid-to-back-end starter as soon as next year, something you mentioned that you wanted in a return package. He's currently one of the names being mentioned as a possibility for a D-backs Opening Day rotation spot, but if Victor Wang's surplus value calculations are to be believed, his ~$7MM surplus value provides a nice starting point for a Danks package.

Corbin is still very thin and might have a bit of velocity left in him, but is very athletic and currently ranges his fastball anywhere from the upper-80's to 92, 93 mph, able to reach back for even a bit more when necessary. The D-backs like Corbin's changeup as a possible plus out-pitch offering, but most other reports I've seen label Corbin as a three-pitch average-to-above-average guy, with a fastball, changeup, breaking ball (a bit slurvy) combo. He gets by on superb control and command, and was named by Baseball America as possessing the best control in the SL in 2011, which means he actually managed to be supposedly better than Matt Moore at something.

However, Corbin alone probably isn't quite enough to seal the deal. Arizona doesn't have much in the realm of position player depth on the farm, but with all of the upper-end pitching around that should provide a couple of established big-league starters by 2013 - which makes the one year of control of Danks strangely ideal, I might add - Arizona can probably afford to give up a pair of arms in a deal for Danks. Perhaps something like Corbin and fellow southpaw Patrick Schuster (highly projectable with a quality slider but currently just upper-to-mid-80's with an arm slot that might put him in the 'pen)? Corbin and Jesse Darrah (low-90's, good changeup, work-in-progress breaking ball), an eighth-round pick from the '11 draft? Corbin and hard-throwing Double-A relief prospect Yonata Ortega (throws hard, lots of walks... you know the story)? Basically, any combination of Corbin and one or two C/C+ grade guys could make this deal work very well for both sides. Quite a few possibilities here if you ask me, with Arizona's dancing plethora of cheap minor-league arms matching up with the White Sox's desire for cheap pitching, while the solid one year of control of Danks works well with Arizona's short-term desire for another rotation anchor.

Cincinnati Reds (via KCGARD2)

Another option getting some attention in Reds circles. He'd be a definite upgrade in our rotation, though not the true top-line starter we covet. Also, he seems to be getting a lot of love from other teams so his asking price might be rather high for Jocketty's tastes. As for my tastes, I'd offer Travis Wood (good minor league numbers as lefty starter, good rookie debut, rougher sophomore season, still young at 25 next year), Sappelt, and Matt Klinker (minor league pitcher probably a relief arm at MLB level with upside). I'd probably have to include another prospect. I might go so far as to include Homer Bailey, but payroll becomes an issue for the Reds if a lot of current MLB players are included.

Texas Rangers (via Adam J. Morris)

Mike Olt, Roman Mendez and Leury Garcia for John Danks.

Olt was picked by the Rangers in the supplemental first round of the 2010 draft, and has become the most highly regarded of the team's 2010 draft picks. The 22 year old third baseman spent the year at high-A Myrtle Beach, although he missed much of the season after fracturing his collarbone in a home plate collision.

Olt is considered a plus defender at third base, and while he doesn't profile as a high-average hitter, he displays power and good plate discipline. Prior to his injury, Olt was seen as someone who would be appearing on the Top 100 prospect lists, with some folks saying he would have been a top 50 prospect if he'd stayed healthy. Olt figures to start the 2012 season at AA Frisco.

Mendez was acquired from the Boston Red Sox as part of the Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade in 2010, Mendez throws hard but is still figuring out how to pitch. Just 21 years old, Mendez spent all of 2011 with Hickory in the Sally League, with the team continuing to let him develop as a starter, although some think his future is as a reliever. His fastball is in the mid-90s, and he's supposedly hit 99 before, with a slider that is described as having plus potential. He also throws a changeup that is a work in progress.

Garcia is a 20 year old shortstop whose calling cards are speed and defense. He didn't hit much in high-A this year, but then, he was a 20 year old in the Carolina League. He performed well in the Arizona Fall League in 2011. The knock on him is that he's so small (5'7", 153 lbs) and has so little pop that he'll struggle to hit at the higher levels.

Detroit Tigers (via TigerDog1)

Andy Oliver and Casey Crosby. Two young lefty starting pitchers that project to be No 2 or 3 starters. with up to 12 years of club control combined. Dave Dombrowski would not make you this offer, but it's not my money to pay Danks, so I can make it. I'll have to extend him beyond this season to justify it.

Andrew Oliver- second round pick. A lefty starting pitcher that has made his major league debut but didn't stick. Has excellent velocity in the mid 90's and good stuff, now needs command.

Casey Crosby- just added to the roster. One of our top five prospects. A lefty starter with excellent stuff. Has been set back by injuries including Tommy John surgery. The good news is that he had a healthy full season in 2011, and that's what the Tigers wanted to see in his first full year back.

**Added 11/29/2011 8:35AM EST**

New York Yankees (via WilliamNYY) Full Write Up

I'd probably start with an offer like Austin Romine and Hector Noesi or Adam Warren.

The White Sox aren’t going to simply give Danks away, but it isn’t a stretch to think they might be willing to take a package of second tier prospects. Considering how rapidly catching prospect Tyler Flowers has fallen in many evaluator’s estimation, the White Sox might be attracted to an almost major league ready player like Austine Romine. Similarly, pitchers like Hector Noesi or Adam Warren might appeal as cheap options ready to step into the back end of the rotation. Whatever the pieces happen to be, the Yankees have plenty of depth, so they might be able pry Danks away without surrendering a top prospect.

** Added 11/30/2011 3:51PM EST**

Colorado Rockies (Via Andrew Fisher)

The Rockies desperately need an innings eating starter to ease the burden on Jhoulys Chacin, Drew Pomeranz and Alex White. If Danks would sign an extension in Colorado, it would be preferable, but if not, he could be flipped at the deadline, when Pomeranz (innings), Juan Nicasio (neck) and Jorge de la Rosa (Tommy John) figure to be in the rotation for good. I figure Williams would prefer one or two rotation prospects, so I'd try to push two of Edwar Cabrera, Christian Friedrich or Peter Tago. Any higher than that and we are talking Chad Bettis (SP with great 100mph fastball and 90mph slider), who is probably too rich for my blood. Danks would be fabulous in Colorado, but with 2012 likely not a contending year, the SP Colorado is looking for probably has more value in quantity of innings than quality, just to save the young arms. I bet the White Sox could do better than this offer, and if so, Colorado would be happy to find a less shiny innings eater to provide them with wht they need for less.

1. You can post your pre-season standings and champ predictions.
http://www.fan-exchange.com/mlb/standingsp...s.asp?UserID=53
2. You can post predictions for award winners
http://www.fan-exchange.com/mlb/prediction...s.asp?userid=53
3. You can post predictions for offensive stats
http://www.fan-exchange.com/mlb/teamhittin...W&view=view
4. You can post predictions for pitching stats
http://www.fan-exchange.com/mlb/teampitchi...mp;franchid=CHW

I developed this myself so tell me what you think.