White Sox - Acquired Mackowiak

Chicago White Sox - Acquired UT Rob Mackowiak from the Pittsburgh Pirates for P Damaso Marte.

This is a terrific trade for both teams.  Marte’s a good reliever, but Mackowiak is one of the best supersubs around - he’s not much defensively, but he can fill in with his bat anywhere in a pinch.  The bullpen still consists of some combination of Jenks, Cotts, Vizcaino, Hermansen, Politte, maybe Bajenaru, and the rotation odd-man-out unless someone else is traded.  I don’t want Mackowiak as a starter, something the Pirates would try to do at times, but he won’t be a starter with the White Sox.

The Pirates on the other hand, have all sorts of guys without set positions, fumbling around without a plan, so the need for a player like Mackowiak is left.  Marte’s a solid reliever most years and if the Pirates keep him, he’ll serve them well.

2006 ZiPS Projection - Rob Mackowiak
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 AB   R    H  2B 3B  HR RBI  BB  SO  SB    BA   OBP   SLG  
————————————————————————————-

469  62  122  19  3  15  68  47 102   9  .260  .331  .409

2006 ZiPS Projection - Damaso Marte
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 W   L   G  GS   IP    H   ER  HR  BB  SO   ERA
———————————————————————-

 5   3  70   0   63   49   26   4  34  72  3.71

As a side note, the White Sox quietly sent Gio Gonzalez to the Phillies as the player to be named, which isn’t good.