For second straight year, Chisox turn to Everett

By Jim Callis
July 18, 2004

Just as they did a year ago, the White Sox have turned to Carl Everett to give their offense a boost for the pennant drive. Chicago acquired Everett from the Expos on Sunday in exchange for a pair of Triple-A righthanders, Jon Rauch and Gary Majewski.

On July 1, 2003, the White Sox picked up Everett from the Rangers for three minor leaguers: righthanders Franklin Francisco and Josh Rupe, plus outfielder Anthony Webster. Everett batted .301/.377/.473 with 10 homers and 41 RBIs in 73 games for Chicago. After the season, he signed a two-year free-agent contract worth $7.5 million with the Expos. Montreal kicked in cash toward Everett's $3 million salary for 2004. He has a player option for $4 million in 2005, and either a team option worth $5 million or a $500,000 buyout in 2006.

Everett, 33, initially figures to play right field until Magglio Ordonez fully recovers from a knee injury, then likely will become Chicago's full-time center fielder, like he was in the second half of 2003. But Everett has yet to play center in 2004 and was limited to just 39 games in Montreal by a right shoulder contusion and a sprained left ankle. He batted just .252/.319/.378 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 39 games. At this point, the switch-hitting Everett is a bigger threat from the right side. He has good power and a decent eye at the plate, though he's no longer the basestealing threat he was earlier in his career. He doesn't cover as much ground in the outfield as he used to either, thought that's not as big an issue for a center fielder at U.S. Cellular Park as it would be elsewhere. His throwing arm is solid. In 1,135 career games, Everett has batted .277/.349/.475 with 163 homers, 651 RBIs and 101 steals.

Rauch, 25, signed as a third-round pick out of Morehead State in 1999. The following year, he won Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year award and a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic baseball team. But he came down with a sore shoulder that required surgery in 2001 and hasn't been the same pitcher since. The tallest pitcher in major league history at 6-foot-11, Rauch has a 91-92 mph fastball that seems quicker because of his size. He also throws a curveball, slider and changeup and needs better location to win in the majors. He went 1-1, 6.23 in two starts for the White Sox this year, drawing general manager Kenny Williams' ire when he left the ballpark before his first game concluded. A change of scenery may be just what he needs. Rauch has spent most of the year at Triple-A Charlotte, going 6-3, 3.11 in 14 games (13 starts). In 72 innings, he had a 61-25 strikeout-walk ratio while allowing opponents to bat .224 with nine homers. His career big league record is 3-2, 6.51 in 10 games (eight starts).

This marks the second time that the White Sox have dealt Majewski. After signing him out of a Houston high school in the second round of the 1998 draft, Chicago sent Majewski to the Dodgers in a March 2001 trade for Antonio Osuna before reacquiring him that July in a deal for James Baldwin. Majewski's best pitch is a natural sinker that runs up to the low 90s, and he backs it up with a slider. As Charlotte's closer, he posted a 3-3, 3.19 record and 14 saves in 35 apperances. He had a 41-16 K-BB ratio in 42 innings, while opponents hit .194 with two homers. Both Majewski and Rauch could see action in Montreal in the near future.