Alden Gonzalez, of MLB.com, reports the 50th annual Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team was announced Thursday, Nov. 20. The team includes Cincinnati Reds 1B Joey Votto, Chicago White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez, Tampa Bay Rays 3B Evan Longoria, Kansas City Royals SS Mike Aviles, Chicago Cubs C Geovany Soto, Oakland Athletics CL Brad Ziegler, Cincinnati Reds OF Jay Bruce, Minnesota Twins OF Denard Span, Texas Rangers OF David Murphy and Washington Nationals SP John Lannan.
The White Sox are believed to upgrade their infield in free agency and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports believes Orlando Hudson would be a good fit at second base with Alexei Ramirez moving to shortstop.Hudson would be a solid additon for the Sox as he batted .305 over 107 games with Arizona in 2008. That would allow Chris Getz and Jayson Nix to provide depth off the bench.
News: Alexei Ramirez emerged as one of the biggest surprises for the White Sox last season and now he's ready -- if needed -- to move from second base to shortstop. "I'd be extremely happy. I do feel it's my natural position, I feel it's the position that I've always felt most comfortable and natural in," he said. Ramirez started last season in center field on opening day and ended up playing in 121 games at second base after getting his chance when Juan Uribe was injured. He also appeared in 16 games at shortstop, but it was his quick bat that made him such a key addition and helped the White Sox win the AL Central. With the White Sox not expected to re-sign free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera, Ramirez could be asked to make the switch. "It's been a dream of mine to play shortstop at the major league level, but of course there have been much more experienced and much more seasoned players at that position," Ramirez said through a translator.
Analysis: At 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, the 27-year-old Ramirez earned the nickname the "Cuban Missile." He batted .290 with 21 homers, including a major league rookie record four grand slams, and 77 RBI. He finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting to Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria. Ramirez is a top 10 Fantasy second baseman with top-five potential. With the added eligibility as a shortstop -- which he won't have in leagues that require 20 games in the previous year at a position -- Ramirez is justifiably a top-five second baseman on Draft Day. Our current projections for him would already slot him as a top-five Fantasy shortstop between Derek Jeter and Stephen Drew
Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo will work out Thursday for interested clubs, according to mlb.com. The White Sox are said to be the favorites to land Viciedo because of their connection with the third baseman's agent, Jaime Torres, who also represents Jose Contreras and Alexei Ramirez.Many say the 19-year-old is the best player to come out of Cuba in years, and it's possible he could compete for the third base job with the White Sox immediately.
Alexei Ramirez is ready to move to shortstop for the White Sox next year, if needed, according to the AP. "I'd be extremely happy. I do feel it's my natural position, I feel it's the position that I've always felt most comfortable and natural in," Ramirez said Tuesday in a conference call.The Sox aren't expected to bring Orlando Cabrera back, so Alexei is likely to move to the other side of second base. Although he has a penchant to make the spectacular play, Ramirez isn't a great defender fundamentally, so the transition could be rough.
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