12/10/2009

Wither JJ?

A couple of stories from a couple of sources on JJ Putz ('00).

First, MLB Trade Rumors
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times said the White Sox were closing in on a deal with free agent reliever J.J. Putz, perhaps encouraging Putz's friend Matt Thornton to leverage their bromance as a recruiting tool. Today, Williams implied that leaks of the team's interest affected the possible deal. Cowley thinks they'll still get it done:

The Sox might have to up the ante a bit, but Putz wants to pitch on the South Side and there is still a deal close to happening.

Bromance? Does this guy write for TMZ, too?

An update on that post -- free of terms that I need to look up at Urban Dictionary -- has an update from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Sox general manager Ken Williams indicated Wednesday that the pace of the negotiations changed after the news of a possible deal went public.

The White Sox evidently believe that rival clubs stepped up their interest in Putz only after seeing the report. Other sources suggest that those clubs were preparing to enter the process, anyway.

Then, there is this from Bruce Levine of the Worldwide Leader (Chicago Division):

Rehabbing right-handed pitcher J.J. Putz will throw in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Wednesday for a number of teams, including the Chicago Cubs.

Putz will throw again Friday, according to a Cubs source.

Agent Craig Landis said Putz will be shut down after that until early January.

Putz also is seriously being considered by the Chicago White Sox.

Upwards of 12 teams will have looked at Putz, who ideally could be a primary set-up man or a closer if he's able to become 100 percent healthy again.

For the record, Putz and Thornton were both in the starting rotation of the Timber Rattlers in 2000.

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