Now, on to the White Sox questions.

I've been hearing rumors of trading Jermaine Dye to the Mets or the Reds. Is there any truth to these? And if so, who would we get to replace Dye in right field and at the plate for the 2009 season?
-- Kevin, Chicago

Dye stands out as a steady, and oftentimes spectacular, performer from year-to-year since coming to the White Sox in 2005. He also has earned the respect of everyone from general manager Ken Williams to manager Ozzie Guillen and right on down the line for his approach to the game, with the ability to adapt to something like a change to his spot in the batting order without complaint.

That sort of player doesn't often get shopped, but then again, Williams will listen to offers for pretty much any and all of his charges. If the deal makes sense, bringing back a quality starting pitcher and some sort of low-risk, high-reward outfielder -- like Carlos Quentin was last December, as an example -- Williams could take this chance to go a little younger for the future while staying competitive in the present.

Williams isn't going to move Dye without getting pretty close to exactly what he wants in return. Remember, Dye has a limited no-trade clause to six teams, including the Mets and Phillies, so Dye going elsewhere certainly is not a done deal. Personally, I thought one of the four from Dye, Jim Thome, Nick Swisher and Paul Konerko would be moved, with the other three staying put.

A reader wrote in the mailbag (from Nov. 17) that Gio Gonzalez is a "good pitcher" and Ryan Sweeney is "a rising star," while the players we got for Swisher were "unproven." Why is it that some assign high value to a player just because we lose him, and deny any value of the incoming players?
-- Greg, Buffalo Grove, Ill.

It's a fan's absolute right to react as he or she sees fit to a particular trade.

Some times, the reaction is on target. Other times, the reaction originally might miss the mark, such as the group of e-mails I received last December criticizing Williams for giving up a big-hitting prospect in Chris Carter for a player who had struggled at the Major League level with Arizona in Quentin. There are plenty of White Sox fans who immediately throw their support behind a player when their team gets him, whereas they might not have been so high on him if he was with any other organization. It's those differing opinions that make Hot Stove talk and baseball conversations in general so entertaining.

As for the specific unknown acquisitions from the Swisher trade, Williams loves the sink on Jeff Marquez's pitches and thinks he can compete for a rotation spot this year. Jhonny Nunez probably will be a reliever and could be with the team by 2010.

Can you please name me a few guys whom we have drafted in our system that we can be excited about in the next two to four years? Please don't mention Lance Broadway, Josh Fields or Jerry Owens, because, for the most part, we know what they can do.
-- Eric, Minooka, Ill.

I've written quite a bit about Aaron Poreda, the hard-throwing southpaw and the team's top pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. By all accounts, he will challenge for a roster spot out of the bullpen in 2009, as he develops his secondary stuff, but Poreda has the makings of a top-of-the-rotation sort of starter.

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Gordon Beckham, the White Sox top pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, won't break camp with the team. But after hitting .394 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in the Arizona Fall League, coupled with his versatility, don't be surprised to see him get an initial look as a utilityman later in 2009. This 22-year-old eventually will be an infield starter and a star with the bat.

I'll throw out three more players, in outfielders Jordan Danks and John Shelby and first baseman Brandon Allen. They all have strong potential to be significant Major League contributors.

And this list contains just a few names, as Eric requested, but there usually are one or two unexpected prospects who arise. Don't discount someone like Fields or Owens, by the way, who aren't necessarily prospects, but will contribute this year.

I'm a 100 percent Twins fan. I watch and support them. I was wondering how you think Joe Crede would do if he would sign with the Twins? Is he a home run guy? Please let me know. Thanks.
-- Dan, Owatonna, Minn.

When healthy, Crede is as good defensively as any third baseman in the game. Don't tell me about his inflated error total last year, because he consistently makes plays that save victories for his pitching staff. Crede also is capable of hitting between 25-30 home runs and putting up an RBI total in the neighborhood of 85-90. He's also a great clubhouse guy, from what I've observed. The problem with Crede was his balky back, costing him big portions of each of the past two seasons, and I'm sure that will be a concern for any team signing him -- especially if it's a multiyear deal.

My opinion is that a healthy Crede would help any team, and it would be especially good for Crede that the Twins are moving off the Metrodome turf after this season. But my advice, Dan, is to e-mail Kelly Thesier, my good friend and our outstanding Twins beat writer, and get her take on the Crede possibility. In fact, I'll forward her the e-mail.

Are there game situations where you would like to see Thome flipping a ball down the third-base line? I saw Ted Williams do this against the Indians in 1954 and it broke the game open.
-- Jake, St. Louis

Thome's hitting against the pronounced defensive shift used against him seems to come up every year. I just don't see a reason why Thome should ever go against his basic philosophy and let his stroke be dictated by the opposition's alignment.

This next part of the explanation doesn't really need to be written, but I'll throw it out there. Thome is not Juan Pierre -- he is not paid to ground singles down the third-base line or dink shots going the other way. I didn't hear anyone complaining during the seventh inning of the American League Central tiebreaker against the Twins, when he blasted a 461-foot home run to help propel the White Sox into the postseason.

There's no question Thome operates at his best when he's launching the ball to left-center, and I do remember a couple of occasions during the past couple of years when the slugger took advantage of the shift. But that move should be totally his call. I simply would want Thome to hit home runs, drive in runs and draw walks -- you know, the past production that probably will make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Hey, Scott. This isn't really a question, but more like a request. I would really love to see Ehren Wassermann at SoxFest this year. I was wondering if we could pull some strings with the front office to get him in. That would make my SoxFest experience even better if he was there. Thanks so much.
-- Allyson, Chicago

Allyson, I forwarded along your e-mail, but even with my considerable pull, nothing can be guaranteed in regard to the players the White Sox invite to come in for SoxFest or the players who are available. So, the best I can tell you is to buy tickets to SoxFest because it's a great event, and keep your fingers crossed. I'm sure Wassermann appreciates your support.

In your opinion, why should the White Sox keep Jose Contreras on the team?
-- Carl, Chicago

There really isn't much choice but to keep Contreras, at this point, when you look at his financial situation. The White Sox aren't going to eat the $10 million owed to him for 2009, and there certainly is no trade market for a soon-to-be 37-year-old (Dec. 7, if people want to send birthday cards to Contreras), recovering from a ruptured left Achilles tendon.

In covering the White Sox pursuit of Dayan Viciedo, I had occasion to ask Jaime Torres about Contreras' recovery. Torres, who represents both players, along with Alexei Ramirez, said the right-hander is coming along, but it's going to be a long process. We both did agree if anyone can make it back, it will be Contreras. There might be players who work as hard as Contreras, but nobody outworks him.

If Contreras comes back some time after the All-Star break, it's like adding a quality arm at the non-waiver Trade Deadline without giving up a player. Even if Contreras returns to the bullpen, he should be able to help the cause.