31-year old lefty swinging Adam Dunn is going to be the full time DH for the White Sox in 2011. Dunn played in 158 games for the Nationals last season and he was 145 of 558 (.260 avg, .892 OPS) with 85 runs scored, 38 homers and 103 RBIs. Dunn is starting to swing the bat more as he only walked 77 times (that’s low for him) while whiffing 199 times. Dunn has averaged 90.1 runs scored, 37.2 homers and 93.0 RBIs per season over his last 9 years in the majors. Dunn has never played in the A.L. so it’s going to take him some time to learn the pitchers. But, the stadium he’s playing in is a very good one for lefty power hitters. Don’t be surprised if Dunn hits 45 or more homers in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WHITE SOX DHs in 2011: A

23-year old righty swinging Brent Morel is the White Sox’ #2 prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. He played in 21 games for the White Sox last season and he was 15 of 65 (.231 avg, .687 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers, 7 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He also played in 130 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 158 of 490 (.322 avg, .839 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 10 homers, 64 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Morel only made 1 error in 20 games at 3B for the White Sox last season but he showed pretty awful range. I think with a full spring of ABs and P.T. in the field will be just what the doctor ordered to get Morel ready to handle the starting job at the hot corner for the Pale Hose in 2011.

29-year old lefty swinging Mark Teahan will battle Morel this spring for the starting gig at 3B. He played in 77 games for the White Sox last season and he was 60 of 233 (.258 avg, .709 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 4 homers, 25 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Teahan made 10 errors in only 52 games at 3B last season for the White Sox but he did show good range. Teahan is one of the most overrated players in all of baseball as he’s as average as they come.

43-year old switch hitting Omar Vizquel doesn’t have the bat to handle the hot corner. He played in 83 games at 3B for the White Sox last season in which he made 3 errors while showing pretty awful range. The White Sox hope they only need Vizquel in the middle infield.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WHITE SOX 3B IN 2011: C

29-year old righty swinging Alexei Ramirez is a good all-around player for the White Sox. Ramirez played in 156 games for he White Sox last season and he was 165 of 585 (.282 avg, .744 OPS) with 83 runs scored, 18 homers, 70 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. This could be the year that the skinny Ramirez turns into a 20/20 man as he is wiry strong. Ramirez made 20 errors last season in 156 games at SS for the White Sox last season but he showed off excellent range. Some of his errors were made on plays other shortstop would have never tried. Ramirez is the complete package for the Pale Hose.

Not too many teams can brag about having a backup shortstop that has 11 Gold Gloves at the position and 2,799 career hits, but the White Sox can. 43-year old switch hitting Omar Vizquel proved last season that he still has something left in the gas tank. He played in 108 games for the White Sox last season and he was 95 of 344 (.276 avg, .673 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 2 homers, 30 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Vizquel mostly played at 2B and 3B last season in the field for the White Sox but he did get into 9 error-free games at SS last season in which he showed slightly below average range. The White Sox hope that Vizquel won’t have to play as much in 2011.

27-year old righty swinging Brent Lillibridge will likely be 3rd in line for the White Sox at SS in 2011. He played 4 error-free games there but he showed awful range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WHITE SOX SS IN 2011: B+

The Chicago White Sox are hoping for a rebound year offensively out of 24-year old righty swinging Gordon Beckham. Beckham played in 131 games for the White Sox last season and he was 112 of 444 (.252 avg, .695 OPS) with 58 runs scored, 9 homers, 49 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Beckham had a solid rookie year with the bat in 2009 and they hope he gets back to that level in 2011. Beckham had 12 errors in 126 games at 2B for the Pale Hose last season but he showed excellent range. This is the year I think that everything is going to come together for Beckham.

43-year old switch hitting Omar Vizquel will be more of a utility player this season for the White Sox. He played 19 error-free games at 2B but he showed terrible range. Still, he doesn’t make mistakes whenever he gets to the ball and he’s still a tough out at the plate.

27-year old righty swinging Brent Lillibridge played in 64 games for the White Sox last season and he was 22 of 98 (.224 avg, .625 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 2 homers, 16 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Lillibridge wastes his decent speed because he can’t steal first base. He made 4 errors in 25 games at 2B last season for the White Sox but he showed good range as he is a natural shortstop. He might have a hard time making the White Sox in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WHITE SOX 2B IN 2011: B

The White Sox have signed 29-year old lefty swinging outfielder Brandon Watson to a minor league deal. Watson last played in the majors back in 2007 with the Nationals. He has played in 40 games in parts of four years in the majors and he is 17 of 86 (.198 avg, .529 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer, 7 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Watson will get a shot this spring to win a job on the Pale Hose’ bench but he’s a longshot.

The White Sox have re-signed Paul Konerko to start at 1B. He will likely also DH some when the White Sox want to give him a break with Adam Dunn (the starting DH) replacing him in the field. Konerko played in 149 games for the White Sox last season and he was 171 of 548 (.312 avg, .977 OPS) with 89 runs scored, 39 homers and 111 RBIs. In his 12 years with the White Sox, Konerko has averaged 79.2 runs scored, 29.8 homers and 93.9 RBIs per season. I look for 30+ homers and 100+ RBIs out of Konerko again in 2011 but I don’t think he’ll hit over .300 again. Konerko had 7 errrors in 125 games at 1B as he is a very average defensive player.

31-year old lefty swinging Adam Dunn makes Konerko look like a Gold Glove defender. Dunn had 13 errors at 1B in 153 games there for the Nationals last season. The converted outfielder just doesn’t look fluid in the infield. The White Sox better make sure that they don’t play Dunn too many games in the field because his iron mitt could cost them a game or two.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WHITE SOX 1B IN 2011: A

The White Sox have signed 25-year old righty swinging outfielder Lastings Milledge to a minor league deal. Milledge played in 113 games for the Pirates last season and he was 105 of 379 (.277 avg, .712 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 4 homers, 34 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He has now played in 431 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 403 of 1,496 (.269 avg, .723 OPS) with 165 runs scored, 33 homers, 167 RBIs and 40 stolen bases. Milledge can handle all three outfield positions defensively and I think he will make a fine #4 outfielder on the White Sox in 2011 as long as he keeps his head on straight. This was a outstanding move for the White Sox as Milledge has a big upside and he came at the right price.