Chicago White Sox Land Francisco Liriano in Trade with Minnesota Twins

According to the Chicago White Sox Twitter feed, the White Sox have traded for division rival Francisco Liriano of the Minnesota Twins. Minnesota will receive left-handed pitcher Pedro Hernandez and shortstop Eduardo Escobar in the deal:

"

Sox acquire Liriano for Escobar and Pedro Hernandez

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 29, 2012"

Liriano is 3-10 with a 5.31 ERA in 2012 on a porous 42-58 Twins club. He has recorded 109 strikeouts on the season to go along with an opponents' batting average of .239.

Chicago gave up Pedro Hernandez and Eduardo Escobar in the deal. Hernandez has an ERA of 18.00 in four innings pitched in a White Sox uniform this season.

Escobar has played in 35 games in 2012, posting a .195 batting average with two RBI.

Chicago was in desperate need of adding to its starting-rotation depth before the 2012 MLB trade deadline. Zach Greinke would have been a great addition, but as far as value with this trade, the White Sox didn't give up too much to acquire the former highly touted Twins prospect.

Liriano has produced an up-and-down career filled with the highest of highs (12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 2006) and the lowest of lows (5-13 with a 5.80 ERA in 2009).

Despite struggling for the majority of his career, aside from two quality seasons, Liriano has failed to live up to expectations. At age 28, the White Sox taking a chance on Liriano makes complete sense.

Not only do the White Sox bolster their starting pitching depth by giving up little in return, but they also grab a guy with great potential if he can control the strike zone.

We have seen it before with major-league players; a change of scenery can do a player good. Maybe this change is one that earns the White Sox a division title.