MLB Trades: Kenny Williams Baffling Move Signals Rebuild for Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams has taken some risks on the free agent and trade market, but Tuesday's opening salvo to his winter activity leaves me with mouth plainly agape.

Williams shipped closer Sergio Santos, whom the White Sox had just signed to a three-year extension, to the Toronto for pitching prospect Nestor Molina.

Let me put it another way. Williams traded a reliever that saved 30 games in the major leagues last season—a 22-year-old right-hander who spent most of last season in A-ball and only figures to get better.

Williams sent the guy who won the closer's job this year out of town in return for a Venezuelan prospect who only became a starting pitcher last year.

You can't say Williams doesn't like to roll the dice.

This sudden shift in direction has me guessing that Trader Kenny has switched his philosophy from "all in" to "all bets are off."

Apparently, the rebuilding has begun. Why trade a young, fairly inexpensive player who seems to be of value as your ninth-inning stopper when there are so many big contracts set to expire next season that could—and should—be moved in a rebuilding effort?

Molina is a legitimate prospect and probably Toronto's best developing arm, but right now, that's all he is. He may have an impact on White Sox fortunes someday, but when will that be?

Williams told ESPNChicago.com's Doug Padilla that as of right now, he isn't considering trading a starting pitcher. That seems to suggest that he'll be hanging on to John Danks and Gavin Floyd.

Of course, if Williams sees fit to trade a guy he locked up for three years a few weeks ago, why would he have qualms about changing his mind on two players he hasn't locked up long-term?

Williams seems to have a definite plan in place. While it will be hard to believe he can pull off a full-scale rebuild with albatross contracts like the ones of Adam Dunn and Alex Rios, that might just be the windmill Williams is jousting this winter.

"It is the start of rebuilding," he told Padilla upon completing the deal.

If that's the case, hold on. No one may be safe.