Mets after White Sox pitchers

Joel Sherman checks in from the winter meetings to blog a few notes about the goingson down in Orlando. White Sox GM Kenny Williams arrived late in the day on Monday and seems intent on dealing one of his starting pitchers.

He has made it clear that he will trade at least one veteran starter this offseason with Freddy Garcia, Javier Vazquez, Jon Garland and even Mark Buehrle all being discussed. In return, Chicago wants young starting pitching. So the Mets, with such youngsters as Phil Humber and Mike Pelfrey, could be in play here. However, the Mets love both Humber and Pelfrey and currently seem against giving either up.

Buerhle, #26
Garcia, #35
Garland, #50
Vazquez, #76

and in K/9:

Vazquez, #19
Garcia, #44
Buerhle, #67
Garland, #89

Vazquez is probably the most talented of the four, but he has definitely had his issues these past couple of seasons. Garland wins ballgames but doesn't strike anybody out, which is particularly discouraging for a right-handed starter. Buerhle likewise does nothing but win games and put up low ERAs (except for 2006), and he's also lefty and just 27 years old. Garcia may be the most well-rounded of these guys, and his profile is similar to The Rock.

I have long been a fan of Vazquez's, with is terrific strikeout and walk rates, I think given the right park and the right pitching coach that he can return to dominance. He has a career 4.35 ERA but a terrific 3.25-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He is only signed for one more year, so giving up one or more top prospects for him -- as opposed to a Dontrelle Willis who has two years until free agency -- may be a tough pill to swallow.