And Now For Some Irrational, Irresponsible, Uninformed Speculation On Bobby Jenks’ Future

With Bobby Jenks going the way of the rest of the 2009 White Sox season - large, slow, injured, finished - the real fun now turns to playing everyone’s favorite game: What’s next?

Jenks has long been the subject of trade rumors (anyone remember when he was headed to the Mets?) but with the star closer due for a raise this winter and the Sox already committing gobs of money elsewhere, history suggests the Good Guys suddenly have to make a very important decision. Never one to shy away from wild guesses and weird ideas, allow me to be your guide into the future:

Scenario A: The Sox just make it easy and give the man his money.

Now this would just make sense, wouldn’t it? Everyone wants to say Matt Thornton could be a closer, but Thornton, a 32-year-old power pitcher, would not be a long-term solution nor would there even be any reason to think his 8th-inning greatness would automatically translate into 9th-inning dominance; this would be like saying that, because he can play left field, Scott Podsednik can also play center. Which he can’t. And because Pods is not a true center fielder, the Sox should therefore offer Jenks a new deal.

Scenario B: Trade him while they can.

Closers are a valuable commodity, and Jenks has delivered the goods the past few seasons as well as most anyone (and better than all but a few). At the same time, quite a few teams - the Cubs, Indians, Rays to name three - have been done in by ineffective door-slammers, meaning a healthy market for someone of Jenks’ ability (and cost) still exists. Then again, a healthy market for bullpen help always exists.

(The Cubs, coincidentally, are also always terrible. Perhaps these facts are related.)

Scenario C: Sign Jenks to a long-term deal.

Yes, because large, injury-leaning power pitchers are a good bet to remain both healthy and powerful for many years. Obviously. Why haven’t they done this already? Can you tell I’m being serious? Because I’m being serious.

Posted at 1:15 pm
on September 23rd, 2009
Tags: Baseball, Bobby Jenks, Chicago White Sox, MLB

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chipramsey 4 months ago 1 point
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I agree trading Jenks for minimum value is a scary thought, especially when you consider that he is the Sox best trade bait. The question is has he jumped the shark? If they get him to lay off the junk food again and really focus, he could turn back into the Bobby Jenks we know and love. If not, he becomes a cheaper version of Brad Lidge.

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ronrizo 4 months ago 1 point
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PLEASE NO TRADE FOR YOUNG TALENT,WILLIAMS WILLJUST TRADE THEM AWAY FOR POOR TALENT.KEEPPODS,MADE THE SEASON CLOSE AT LEAST.

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