White Sox, Diamondbacks Exchange Minor Leaguers -- Chris Carter, Carlos Quentin -- with Promise

On Monday, December 3rd, the Chicago White Sox completed a trade to acquire outfielder Carlos Quentin from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for first baseman Chris Carter. Quentin had split this past season between AAA and the big leagues, but only put up a .214 average with 5 home runs and 31 RBIs in 81 games for Arizona after his call-up. In an already packed group of outfielders in Arizona, it made sense for the team to try and trade one of them while the value was still high in the market. According to ESPN.com, Quentin was still ranked as one of Baseball America's 20th best ML prospect, and the best defensive outfielder in the Arizona system.

A graduate of Stanford University, and the 29th pick of the 2003 amateur draft, Quentin has been highly touted for a number of years. Seeing his first action last season, he didn't live up to expectations in 2007, and thus finds himself employed for a new team. He could jump right into a starting role if he can have a good Spring, because the White Sox have a thin and inexperienced outfield soon after cutting former lead-off hitter Scott Podsednik. It is possible that with the removal of the pressures he found competing for a job in Arizona, that he could flourish in the White Sox offense this season.

Chris Carter was rated as one of the 10 best players in the White Sox farm system, and put up good enough numbers to make the Pioneer and Rookie League all-star games in 2006. A power hitting first baseman, the 21 year old shows promise, but seems to still be a few years out. If he can develop is power hitting swing, and strike out a little less, he could see the major leagues in a few more seasons. He is definitely a project for Arizona, but because of the deep major league roster that the Diamondbacks already have, they are in no rush for him to make it right now.