Not sure how much he'll help the Chisox, but it doesn't appear the Twins are getting anything particularly special out of the deal, either. A roll of the dice for both teams.

Knowing Don Cooper, Liriano will pitch lights out down the stretch and parlay this into a nice contract.

Since returning to the rotation in late May, Liriano has 11 starts with an ERA of 3.68 and 79 strikeouts in 68 IP.

For a team with a much-maligned system, the White Sox sure make it work for them. They've traded for Liriano, Myers, Youkilis. Their closer is a rookie. They have a rookie starting pitcher whose done well for them. Two-thirds of their outfield joined the big league squad last year. There's Chris Sale ..... .

Imagine what Kenny Williams could do with it if it was a well-regarded farm system!

Kenny Williams is on fire! He gets Youkilis, Myers, and Liriano, will pay the three a TOTAL of of about ~4 million in 2012 (the Red Sox and Astros are picking up big chunks, though the White Sox may have to spend 1 million of Youkilis' buyout in the offseason) and gives up:

Brent Lillibridge
Zach Stewart
A couple of A-ball relievers
Eduardo Escobar
and Pedro Hernandez.

The A-ball relievers are A-ball relievers, they're lotto tickets. Hernandez is a future loogy. Stewart and Lillibridge suck. And Escobar is a glove first backup.

This is unreal. Then again, it's been a buyers market this year. Hanley Ramirez didn't fetch much (a LOT more than this, though).

To recap:

White Sox give up:
Brent Lillibridge
Zach Stewart
A couple of A-ball relievers
Eduardo Escobar
and Pedro Hernandez.

White Sox get:
Kevin Youkilis
Brett Myers
Francisco Liriano
All but 1 M of Youkilis's salary from the Red Sox (the White sox will cover his 1 M buyout)
All but 1 M of Myers salary and his buyout covered by the Astros.

Edited to add: Youkilis' OPS since the trade=888, w/ boston=692
Myers with the Sox=2.1 scoreless innings.

This is a team that could be dangerous, especially if Danks comes back.

All signs are pointing to Danks being out for a while... possibly the rest of the season.

Imagine what Kenny Williams could do with it if it was a well-regarded farm system!

The problem with Williams remains that although he does lots of interesting things, sometimes has strange moves turn out unexpectedly, and will get productive players for little like he has this year......the White Sox still aren't that successful under him. Yeah, their overall win total isn't bad but playoff appearances have been few despite a fairly weak division. The White Sox really have just had the one year worth noting under him; it was a really great year obviously and the flag flies forever but other than that it's just two quick playoff exits and a whole lot of seasons going home before October.

Yup. But they're never really awful, either. They've never really had to do a rebuild for the last couple of decades. It's been a lot of moderate success.

Wikipedia says Williams joined the sox in 1992 as a scout. Obviously, he didn't have a whole lot of input into those early teams, but the Sox's record over the 20 years--nice round number--that he's been with the team has been .523, which works out to about an 85 win season.

Modest success and one great year is a pretty solid record to run on. Yes, Kenny Williams will make you crazy, but he also pretty regularly pulls rabbits out of hats.

He also seems to do his best work when his back is to the wall and he has to get creative. Give him dollars, and he blows them on Dunn and Rios. Give him a tough situation, he gets Jose Quintana and Juan Uribe. Or Gavin Floyd, Carlos Quentin, Jermaine Dye, Alexei Ramirez, Alejandro De Aza, Matt Thorton, Jose Contreras, Esteban Loiaza, ehh I'm sure the list goes on.

That pattern doesn't fit every transaction, obviously. All of Buehrle's big $ extensions worked out. But as a general rule Kenny Williams is best when dumpster diving or giving players second chances.

It will be very interesting to see who got the most production from their trade deadline deals - White Sox (Liriano, Youk, Myers) or Detroit (Infante, Sanchez). I thinking the White Sox will.

Imagine what Kenny Williams could do with it if it was a well-regarded farm system!

Trade for a starter with an ERA under 5?

Love this tweet:

Hawk Harrelson ?@NotHawk:

FRANCISCO CAN TEACH US ALL MINNESOTA'S SECRETS. THOSE SECRETS BEING BUNTS AND CONCUSSIONS.

Hawk tweets in all caps? That's about the least surprising news ever.

It's kind of disingenuous to talk about getting Myers on the cheap. Myers is cheap in part because he's a wife-beating #######, and most people don't want to be associated with him. I have a hard time giving Williams credit for being an exception there.

the White Sox still aren't that successful under him. Yeah, their overall win total isn't bad but playoff appearances have been few despite a fairly weak division. The White Sox really have just had the one year worth noting under him; it was a really great year obviously and the flag flies forever but other than that it's just two quick playoff exits and a whole lot of seasons going home before October.

You just described the greatest run by a Chicago baseball team in my lifetime. I'll take it

If Liriano had been the Liriano of his early days, that would have been a much larger haul. Of course, if Liriano had remained the Liriano of the early days, the Twins might not have been in this situation.

The problem with Williams remains that although he does lots of interesting things, sometimes has strange moves turn out unexpectedly, and will get productive players for little like he has this year......the White Sox still aren't that successful under him. Yeah, their overall win total isn't bad but playoff appearances have been few despite a fairly weak division. The White Sox really have just had the one year worth noting under him; it was a really great year obviously and the flag flies forever but other than that it's just two quick playoff exits and a whole lot of seasons going home before October.

A world championship and 9 out of 12 winning seasons? I think most every fanbase except the Yankees, Red Sox and Cardinals would take that.

It's kind of disingenuous to talk about getting Myers on the cheap. Myers is cheap in part because he's a wife-beating #######, and most people don't want to be associated with him. I have a hard time giving Williams credit for being an exception there.

I seriously doubt that had was part of the equation at all. Teams didn't want Myers because he's expensive and very "meh."

Most fans like the team they're a fan of to actually make the playoffs though. Williams isn't much different from JP Ricciardi, just in a weaker division and he did pull off that one year where everything came together. 85 wins isn't much better than 75 when it still results in no October baseball.

The White Sox are a much more likeable team now that Guillen is gone at least.

I seriously doubt that had was part of the equation at all. Teams didn't want Myers because he's expensive and very "meh."

Yeah. I seriously doubt that most baseball fans even KNOW about Myers' history at this point.

It's kind of disingenuous to talk about getting Myers on the cheap. Myers is cheap in part because he's a wife-beating #######, and most people don't want to be associated with him. I have a hard time giving Williams credit for being an exception there.

And Bobby Cox is going to the Hall of Fame

Yeah. I seriously doubt that most baseball fans even KNOW about Myers' history at this point.

I remember the Myers thing because it was in public in Boston before a Fox game etc. But I am sure there are (sadly) a bunch of other people who have done the same nastiness.

Can anyone recall other (current) players?

Can anyone recall other (current) players?

Miguel Cabrera
Everth Cabrera
Alberto Callaspo
Derek Lowe

Are Manny Ramirez and Milton Bradley considered current?

Can anyone recall other (current) players?

Is Elijah Dukes still around?

You just described the greatest run by a Chicago baseball team in my lifetime

He just described the greatest run by a Chicago baseball team in HW's lifetime.