K-Will backs off statement.....sort of

In a busy off-season that has seen him trade 17-game winner Freddy Garcia to the Phillies and his likely rotation replacement Brandon McCarthy to the pitching depleted Rangers, always controversial White Sox general manager Kenny Williams backed off a statement he made in December about overpaying for average pitching......well, sort of.

In December as MLB teams overpaid for average to below-average pitching, cough Gil Meche cough, K-Will made a statement about his recent moves that brought in several young pitching prospects so he could avoid overpaying those pitchers. When asked if the trades were unpopular with fans, Williams responded:

"But you know what would be more unpopular? It would be if we did nothing and got old and got too expensive and then had to go scrounging for leftover talent and overpaying for mediocre talent."

Well, apparently Sox southpaw Mark Buehrle didn't appreciate the comments and assumed that his playing days with the South Siders would come to an end once his contract ran out at the end of the 2007 season. Williams had a sit-down with Buehrle although he never apologized for what he said, just that he said it in public. Wasn't that nice of him? Either way, the two seem to be on the same page now.

Buehrle had his worst MLB season in 2006 as he compiled a 12-13 record with a 4.99 ERA. Blame overworking during the World Series championship 2005 season, arm mechanics, batters figuring out his tricky style, whatever, it doesn't matter. The Sox need Buehrle, and if he rebounds this season, he'll be due a big pay-day.

But K-Will's comments bring up an interesting point. Sure, the market is set for overpaying pitchers, but does that mean teams should pay for those crazy salaries? I know, stupid question, teams need pitching. So is Williams insane or a genius for trading one big-game pitcher in Garcia and an unproven but highly thought of pitcher in McCarthy?

I'll hold judgement for now, but Williams and Sox manager Ozzie Guillen will need some of those recently arrived young pitching prospects to step up if the 2007 Sox plan to contend in a loaded AL Central. But here's the question that MLB and fans will have to answer in the coming years? Baseball is as popular as ever, but will it keep up? With these bloated salaries, only time will tell. And just to say it again, $55 million for Gil Meche?!