The Chicago White Sox have started the 2012 season better than nearly every analyst and expert had predicted, and it may turn the team into an unexpected buyer before the July 31 trade deadline. Chicago's 44-37 record entering play on July 5 puts them in first place in the AL Central with a surprising 4.5-game lead on the Detroit Tigers. The White Sox recently released relief pitcher Will Ohman and placed Jesse Crain on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain, and Jon Morosi of Fox Sports has talked with rival MLB executives who think general manager Kenny Williams will be aggressive in acquiring a reliever heading up to the trade deadline.
With Jesse Crain on DL, rival exec expects #WhiteSox to look hard at acquiring reliever. Makes sense. Their bullpen is very young.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 5, 2012
At moment, #WhiteSox pen is Heath, Jones, Omogrosso, Reed, Santiago, Septimo, Thornton. How many of those names did you know in March?
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 5, 2012
Former closer Bobby Jenks was waived by the Boston Red Sox on July 3, but there may be better options that emerge on the trade market, so stay tuned.
For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage of this series, visit White Sox blog South Side Sox. And for more general baseball coverage, head over to Baseball Nation.