Oh, what high hopes White Sox fans had for Swisher. Look at this guy! He plays with grit and energy! He has crazy facial hair! He’s intense! He also hit .219 this year. And Ozzie benched him in favor of Ken Griffey Jr. for much of the last part of the season. Billy Beane 1, Kenny Williams 0.

So who did the Sox get in return? Minor league pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez as well as infielder Wilson Betemit. The Sox also unloaded minor league pitcher Kanekoa Texeira in the deal. I’m surprised Kenny Williams gave up on him so quick. After all, it was but one year. Swisher is a patient hitter, who is known to take a lot of walks. That’s grinderball to the MAXX. But he’s gone. Nice to know ya and your blond facial hair.

As far as the Cubbies are concerned today, they picked up Kevin Gregg from the Marlins in exchange for Double-A prospect Jose Ceda. In doing so, with Gregg perchance taking over a closer’s role, Kerry Wood is done with the Cubs after 14 years with the organization.

Cubs GM Jim Hendry is on 670 The Score here in Chicago now and said it was tough letting go of Wood, because they’ve been good friends. He said Wood will always be a Cub, and when his playing days are over he’ll be invited back to be an employee or consultant for however long he wants. Awww. Isn’t that special.

If Kerry Wood’s magnificent 20-strikeout performance against the Astros in only his fifth-ever MLB start in 1998 was still up on YouTube, I’ll throw it in here. Alas, it is not. Either way, the movement on his ball during that game still blows my mind all these years later.