Should The White Sox Consider Trading Bartolo Colon?

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

I usually don't like to deal with trade speculation or rumors, especially those that have no basis, but here goes nothing:

The White Sox should try to trade Bartolo Colon.

I have no basis to even think the Sox are looking into dealing Colon, but since I don't think anybody wants to think about the upcoming three-game series in the Metrodome, let's think about some trade possibilities with Colon.

It's feasible to think the Sox could trade Colon, at the least. Clayton Richard has tossed back-to-back great outings and could keep his rotation spot if Colon was traded. If Richard was to falter or, say, Jose Contreras was to get hurt, the White Sox always have Carlos Torres waiting in the wings. A little further down the road, the team could maybe even call on Freddy Garcia, who threw three shutout innings for Kannapolis yesterday, to enter the starting rotation.

Granted, any time a team that's in contention trades starting pitching at the deadline, it's going to be dangerous. You never can have enough starting pitching, but in the White Sox' case, they may have enough where dealing away Colon wouldn't hurt all that much.

If the Sox were to deal Colon, they almost certainly would look to pick up a left-handed reliever in return since that's what they would be losing by re-inserting Richard into the rotation.

So where could Colon go? A few possibilities:

• Milwaukee. Manny Parra has been absolutely awful for the Brewers this year, sporting a 6.42 ERA and a 1.802 WHIP in 16 starts this year. If Milwaukee's unable to acquire a top-of-the-rotation starter (which is unlikely given their unwillingness to trade top prospects Alcides Escobar and Mat Gamel), a guy like Colon could become attractive to them as the deadline nears. Problem is, they only have one lefty reliever who might interest the Sox—and that's Mitch Stetter, who has been pretty solid out of Milwaukee's bullpen. In the end, this match probably wouldn't work.
  
• Texas. The Rangers are relying heavily on high-touted rookies Derek Holland and Tommy Hunter to round out their rotation, and while Hunter has had success in five starts, Holland has struggled. A move back to the bullpen wouldn't be terrible for Holland and the Rangers, especially if they were able to acquire Colon on the cheap. There's little chance that the Sox could pry away Eddie Guardado unless they added in another significant piece to go along with Colon. The Rangers' bullpen has been a surprising strength for them this year, and there's no way the Sox will get the other lefty in Texas' bullpen, as Ozzie Guillen hates CJ Wilson. While Texas does have somebody the Sox could use in Guardado, it's hard to see them trading from a strength when they could just wait and see if Holland improves.
  
• Florida. The Marlins are only 3.5 games out of the NL Wild Card right now, and if they're serious about contending (which is never a given), Colon would be a good starter to have at the back of their rotation. The Marlins do have some bullpen depth to work with, and if the Sox could find a way to get Reynel Pinto in return, it wouldn't be too bad. His WHIP isn't very impressive at 1.50, but I can see him being a decent enough second lefty in the Sox bullpen. Now, if I'm getting really ambitious, I'd shoot for Andrew Miller, a power lefty with just the kind of stuff that would make Don Cooper excited. There's little or no chance the Sox could get Miller in return in any deal—he was one of the centerpieces of the Miguel Cabrera/Dontrelle Willis trade—so it's just wishful thinking on my part.
  
• Houston. The Astros don't have a gaping need for a starter, but if one came along with a cheap price tag like Colon, it's not out of the question that they would bite. Wesley Wright isn't an integral part of Houston's bullpen and could be a very likely option to come over in a trade if the Sox were to deal Colon to Houston. While Wright doesn't have the kind of stuff the Sox like to see in relievers, he does have some limited experience starting and could be used as a one-or-two inning lefty out of the bullpen. Again, if the Sox were to find a way to ship Colon to Houston, Wright very likely would be the return.
  
• New York (Mets). Given the Mets' luck, Colon would throw two pitches in a bullpen session, pull a hamstring, and be the 500th player to land on the disabled list for them this year. The Mets insist that they're going to be buyers at the deadline, and while a fourth of fifth starter like Colon wouldn't get them anywhere near contention, he couldn't hurt. The Mets can't seriously expect to contend with Oliver Perez pitching every fifth day, so getting Colon would be a way for them to dump the overpriced Perez from the rotation. Pat Misch isn't the most attractive option the Sox would have, but he could be an affordable second lefty in the 'pen.
  

There are some other teams that could be in the mix for Colon—such as the Cardinals, given Todd Wellemeyer's struggles—but it's hard to see them parting with any of their left-handed relievers for a fifth starter.

Again, keep in mind that this is all 100 percent speculation. Maybe I'm overvaluing Colon, who's only made one start since coming off a pretty long stint on the disabled list. The Sox likely would have to pitch in another player or two—likely, mid-level prospects—to complete most of these deals.

And that's all contingent on the Sox even trading Colon, which, in the end, nobody should expect them to do.

But hey, it's something fun to think about, right?

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