The White Sox have dealt 25-year old righty swinging outfielder John Shelby III to the Rays for future considerations. Shelby played in 111 games in AA-ball last year and he was 99 of 398 (.249 avg, .705 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 11 homers, 43 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. The White Sox didn’t think Shelby was much of a prospect, so they probably like their end of this deal.

The White Sox have signed 24-year old righty starter/reliever Dexter Carter to a minor league deal. If you remember that name, it’s because Carter was one of the prospects the White Sox sent to the Padres as part of the Jake Peavy deal. Carter pitched in 29 games (18 starts) in A-ball last year and he was 2-6 with a 5.45 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He has now pitched in 69 games (55 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 15-13 with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. The White Sox will try to get Carter back on the right track in the minors in 2011.

The Chicago White Sox have acquired 24-year old righty starting pitcher Gaby Hernandez from the Royals for cash considerations. Hernandez pitched in 31 games (22 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 10-6 with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has now pitched in 168 games (156 starts) in his first 7 years in the minors and he is 56-51 with a 4.37 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Who knows, Hernandez might get his first shot to start a game in the majors at some point this year with Jake Peavy likely to miss some time.

47-year old manager Ozzie Guillen says exactly what’s on his mind at all times, so you always know where he is coming from. He led the White Sox to a 88-74 record (54.3%) during the regular season in 2010 as they fell just short of the playoffs. Guillen now has a 600-535 record (52.9%) during the regular season in his first 7 years as the White Sox’ manager. The Pale Hose are also 12-4 (75%) during the post season on Guillen’s watch including a 2005 World Series Championship. As long as Ozzie Guillen and G.M Kenny Williams can co-exist, the White Sox are going to have a solid baseball team.

The White Sox have dealt 26-year old righty starter/reliever Kyle McCulloch to the Reds for cash considerations. McCulloch pitched in 36 games (11 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 5-5 with a 5.77 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. The White Sox probably made out on this deal because McCulloch just doesn’t look too good.

The White Sox have nothing but flame throwers in the bullpen for 2011. 34-year old lefty Matt Thornton has graduated to the closer’s role in 2011. He pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 5-4 with 8 saves, a 2.67 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He only gave up 41 hits and 20 walks in 60 2/3 innings while whiffing 81 batters as he was just plain nasty last year and that’s the reason why he was selected to the American League All-Star team. Thornton has now pitched in 336 games (0 starts) in his first five years with the Pale Hose and he is 25-17 with 17 saves, a 3.19 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. I have a feeling that Thornton is going to be a very, very successful closer for the White Sox in 2011.

21-year old lefty Chris Sale comes into this season as the White Sox’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America. Sale pitched in 21 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 2-1 with 4 saves, a 1.93 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He only gave up 15 hits in his first 23 1/3 innings in his major league career in 2010 and he whiffed 32 batters as he was downright nasty. Sale also pitched in 11 games (0 starts) in A+AAA-ball last year in which he was 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Sale will also likely be working late in games for the White Sox in 2011.

29-year old righty Jesse Crain will likely be the top set-up man from the right side in 2011. Crain pitched in 71 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 1-1 with 1 save, a 3.04 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He has now pitched in 376 games (0 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 33-21 with 3 saves, a 3.42 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Crain has really good stuff and he should do a good job for the Pale Hose in 2011.

27-year old righty Sergio Santos exploded onto the scene for the White Sox in 2010. Santos pitched in 56 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 2.96 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He whiffed 56 batters in only 51 2/3 innings which shows what kind of stuff he has, but he also walked 26 batters which is too many. Santos is still learning how to pitch as he was a position player until just recently.

29-year old righty Tony Pena pitched in 52 games (3 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 5-3 with a 5.10 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 87 games (3 starts) in his first two years with the White Sox and he is 6-5 with 1 save, a 4.74 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Pena will be the long man in the pen for the White Sox and he’s a lot better than he showed last year.

29-year old righty Brian Bruney had a rough year in 2010. He pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Nationals last year and he was 1-2 with a 7.64 ERA and a 2.32 WHIP. Bruney has now pitched in 249 games (1 start) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 17-12 with 13 saves, a 4.52 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Bruney needs to just improve his control a big to be an effective reliever because he has really good stuff.

31-year old righty Josh Kinney pitched in 56 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-4 with 17 saves, a 1.80 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. He only gave up 42 hits in 60 innings in AAA-ball last year as he really looked good. Kinney has pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 1-0 with a 4.56 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He might be able to help the White Sox in the early innings in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WHITE SOX RELIEVERS IN 2011: B

The White Sox have a really solid starting rotation set up for the 2011 season. 31-year old lefty Mark Buehrle will likely be the #1 starter for the White Sox in 2011. He pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 13-13 with a 4.28 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Buehrle has now pitched in 359 games (334 starts) in his first 11 years with the White Sox and he is 148-110 with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Buehrle has won at least 10 games in a season in each of his last 10 years for the White Sox as he is very dependable.

25-year old lefty John Danks really had a great year for the White Sox in 2011. He started 32 games for the White Sox last season and he was 15-11 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has now started 123 games in his first four years with the Pale Hose and he is 46-44 with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. This could be the year that Danks takes the next step to stardom as he has outstanding stuff.

28-year old righty Gavin Floyd can be downright nasty when he wants to be…..which isn’t every night. He started off last season really poorly before coming on like gang busters in the second half. Floyd started 31 games for the White Sox last season and he was 10-13 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He has now pitched in 110 games (104 starts) in his first four years with the White Sox and he is 39-37 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Floyd should be winning 15-17 games per season based on his stuff so it’s time he started pitching up to his ability.

27-year old righty Edwin Jackson came over in a trade deadline deal with the D-Backs and he pitched good for the White Sox. Jackson started 11 games for the White Sox last season and he was 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Jackson pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the D-Backs & White Sox last year and he was 10-12 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He has now pitched in 171 games (142 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 48-51 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Jackson has outstanding stuff as evidenced by his no-hitter against the Rays last season. Maybe this is the year that the light will finally come on over his head.

29-year old righty Jake Peavy gutted it out last season until pain behind his right shoulder caused him to shut it down. He had surgery to repair the back of his shoulder and he’s looking good so far this spring. Peavy started 17 games for the White Sox last season and he was 7-6 with a 4.63 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He has now pitched in 20 games (20 starts) for the White Sox in his first two years with them and he is 10-6 with a 4.11 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Peavy has now started 232 games in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 102-74 with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. The White Sox need a healthy Peavy in 2011.

25-year old righty Lucas Harrell comes into this season as the White Sox’ #15 prospect according to Baseball America. Harrell pitched in 8 games (3 starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 1-0 with a 4.88 ERA and a 2.13 WHIP. He also started 26 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 10-10 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Harrell will likely be the first starter called up if the Pale Hose need one in 2011.

26-year old righty Jeff Marquez pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the White Sox last season and he was 0-0 with a 18.00 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 27 games (26 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 8-9 with a 4.48 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He is one of the guys the White Sox got from the Yankees for Nick Swisher, so the Pale Hose aren’t ready to give up on him yet.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WHITE SOX STARTING ROTATION IN 2011: B

The White Sox have lost 22-year old 1B/3B Dayan Viciedo for the next 3-4 weeks due to a fractured right thumb. Viciedo comes into this season as the White Sox #3 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 38 games for the White Sox last season and he was 32 of 104 (.308 avg, .840 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 5 homers, 13 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Viciedo is a hacker at the plate as he only walked 2 times while whiffing 25 times with the Pale Hose in his first taste of the majors last year. Viciedo was learning how to play RF and LF this spring for the White Sox, and this injury is going to set him back some. He will likely need a lenghty rehab assignment in order to learn his new positions.

28-year old righty swinging Carlos Quentin is going to be the starting RF for the White Sox once again in 2011. He played in 131 games for the White Sox last season and he was 110 of 453 (.243 avg, .821 OPS) with 73 runs scored, 26 homers, 87 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Quentin has only played in over 130 games twice in his first five years in the majors and in those two years, he is averaging 84.5 runs scored, 31.0 homers, 93.5 RBIs and 4.5 stolen bases per year. Quentin played in 104 games in RF last season for the Pale Hose and he made 8 errors while showing poor range. He also doesn’t have the strongest arm around in RF as he only had 4 assists. With Adam Dunn & Paul Konerko sharing the DH spot, Quentin is going to have to get most of his P.T. in RF so it will be interesting to see if he can remain in one piece most of the year.

25-year old Lastings Milledge and 26-year old Alejandro De Aza will back up Quentin in RF in 2011. Milledge played in 45 games in RF last season and he made 1 error while showing good range. He doesn’t really have the arm for RF as he only had 1 assist there for the Pirates in 2010. De Aza played in 5 error-free games in RF for the White Sox and he showed off excellent range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WHITE SOX RF IN 2011: B

30-year old righty swinging starting CF Alex Rios does everything well. Rios played in 147 games for the White Sox last season and he was 161 of 567 (.284 avg, .791 OPS) with 89 runs scored, 21 homers, 88 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. He has the potential to be a 30/30 man in 2011 for the White Sox if everything breaks right for him this year. Rios had 5 errors in 143 games in CF last season while showing off excellent range. Rios also had 6 assists last season as he showed off a pretty good throwing arm. Rios is the complete package for the White Sox and I think he’s going to have another excellent year for them in 2011.

26-year old lefty swinging Alejandro De Aza will likely be Rios’ top backup in 2011. He played in 19 games for the White Sox last season and he was 9 of 30 (.300 avg, .723 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has a career batting average of .242 with a .610 OPS in his first three years in the majors, so he’s not much of a hitter despite looking good with the bat last year for the Pale Hose. De Aza didn’t make any errors in 9 games in CF last season for the White Sox but he showed pretty awful range.

25-year old righty swinging Lastings Milledge didn’t play in CF for the Pirates last season but he can handle it if the White Sox need him to play there.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WHITE SOX CF IN 2011: A-