DECEMBER 3RD UPDATE: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/88688-vazquez-trade-shakes-up-farm

Chicago White Sox 2009 Top-Five Prospects

1. Gordon Beckham, 2B/SS, 9/16/1986

A poor 2007 season left the White Sox with the eighth pick in the 2008 draft and they used it to select Beckham, an offensive-minded middle infielder out of the University of Georgia.

Beckham had a fine professional debut. For Low-A Kannapolis, he hit .310/.365/.500 in 58 at bats and followed that up with a .394/.468/.652 line in 66 AB while playing in the Arizona Fall League.

Beckham is expected to be a quick mover. The most optimistic estimates have him appearing in Chicago in mid-2009. The more cautious pundits expect Beckham to debut in 2010.

Beckham was drafted as a shortstop, but it's debatable if he stays there long term. Others see him eventually moving to second base—with Alexei Ramirez, Chicago's second baseman last season, playing shortstop.

Beckham has the potential to be an impact player in the majors and is seen as a relatively low-risk prospect, but one with a relatively high ceiling.

2. Aaron Poreda, LHP, 10/1/1986

Lefthanders who can consistently reach the mid-to-upper 90's usually don't fall to the 25th pick in the draft, but that's what happened to Poreda in 2007.

Poreda, who was raw for a college product, has a great fastball, but lacks secondary stuff and some believe his ultimate role will be out of the bullpen.

The 6'6" lefty split last season between High-A Winston-Salem and AA-Birmingham. He made 27 starts and threw 161 innings, allowing 148 hits and 40 walks. He struck out 118.

Poreda spent time in the Arizona Fall League and appeared in 10 games—all out of the bullpen. He didn't allow a run in eight of those games, but coughed up eight runs in the other two games.

The bullpen stint in the AFL could suggest the White Sox are rethinking Poreda's role and a move to the pen would get him to the majors faster.

Incumbent big-league closer Bobby Jenks is reportedly on the trade block, so this is a situation worth watching in the coming months.

Regardless of his role, Poreda should be in the majors by the middle of the 2010 season. If he's coming out of the bullpen, he could appear in 2009.

3. Dayan Viciedo, 3B, 3/10/1989

Viciedo defected from Cuba earlier this year and has agreed to a five-year major league deal with Chicago. The deal is believed to be worth $11 million.

Viciedo's presence gives Chicago three Cuban born players—the other two being Jose Contreras and Ramirez.

Viciedo is regarded as one of the top prospects in Cuba and hit .337 with 14 homers as a 16-year-old playing at the top level in the country.

There's a belief that he could begin next season at the hot corner for Chicago.

Last year's starter, Joe Crede, won't be back. Josh Fields, formerly one of the better prospects in the organization, has seemingly fallen out of favor. Wilson Betemit, acquired in the trade that sent Nick Swisher to the Yankees, could be an option at third as well.

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