White Sox Rumors and Opinions: Kenny, Please Don't Trade for Figgins

The latest rumor off the hot stove has Jermaine Dye leaving the White Sox again. He has been traded three times already this offseason if you are counting at home. Hot stove writers have dangled the name of Chone Figgins in front of Sox fans for years, but this is the first time he has been discussed in a trade involving Dye.

The Angels' leadoff man is the long-sought-after replacement for the World Series winning legs of Scott Pods, and there is no doubt that Kenny Williams wants him bad. A look at the back of Figgins’ baseball card should cause some concern or Sox fans.

Figgins is a speedster yes, but injuries have slowed him down the last two seasons. In fact, he hasn't played more than 116 games since 2006.

Figgins’ slugging percentage, batting average, and on-base percentage all dropped substantially last season and his stolen-base numbers have declined each of the last two years.

These numbers all seem to indicate that Figgins best years may be behind him. Sure, the same thing could be said about Dye except for the fact that Dye’s numbers all went up last year. 

With a speed guy like Figgins, leg injuries will always be a concern. The fact that Figgins hasn’t stayed healthy playing the last two years in sunny and warm southern California is discouraging enough on its own.

But Sox fans should be even more scared of how Figgins’ tender legs may react to the cold months of April, early May, and September in the whacky weather of the midwest.  Chicago can be a tough place on hamstrings, just as Scott Podsednik, Alfonso Soriano, and Roger Clemons. 

Would Figgins add some speed to the lineup if he were healthy all year? Of course he would, and an outfield of Figgins, Anderson, and Quenten would be above average defensively.

But if Kenny Williams is going to risk depleting his thunderous middle of the lineup for a speed guy like Figgins, he better kick the tires and make sure he isn’t trading for a lemon.