Padreshome.com | San Diego Padres News, padres Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>Do you trust him? That's it. That's the final question that had to be asked Thursday as Ken Williams boarded ''Air Jerry'' and took the private jet back to Phoenix with White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. </div>Four days of ducking and weaving rumors, reshuffling the replenished farm system and a few games of blackjack in between. A full week's work in Williams' eyes. Meanwhile, Sox fans spent the week waiting for the shoe to drop. For ''Trader Kenny'' to look at the cameras that followed him in Las Vegas and yell ''Just kidding,'' pull Chone Figgins out of a nearby bush with a bow on his head and say with a huge smile, ''And we're still in talks to grab another starting pitcher.'' After all, this is what they've come to expect from Williams. Wasn't it just last year at the winter meetings that he acquired Carlos Quentin, then went after Miguel Cabrera? Wasn't it two years ago that he moved Freddy Garcia for Gavin Floyd and was rumored to be in talks for Carl Crawford? So when he began this offseason with a series of moves that sent away Nick Swisher, Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan under the heading of ''youth movement,'' Sox fans nodded their heads in approval and said, ''OK, what's next?'' The last thing they had in mind when the winter meetings wrapped up Thursday was a ''Sopranos'' ending. There wasn't anything next. Fade to black. That's why it came down to one final question Thursday: Has winning two American League Central titles and one World Series in his eight-year stint swayed Sox fans to believe in Williams? To back him and the organization come spring when it's time to buy tickets? To trust that Williams knows what he's doing in tough economic times, despite both New York teams adding players like they're buying items off eBay? ''There are certain realities that are slapping most clubs in the faces,'' Williams said. ''You have to understand that a large part of your revenue is driven from advertising, sponsorship, obviously ticket sales, and people are hurting. So why shouldn't that have a trickle-down effect on sports? It was just a matter of time.'' But should the South Side be immune? It's obviously not affecting New York, where the Yankees and Mets are trying to build All-Star teams. It hasn't slowed down the North Side, with the Cubs willing to take on Jake Peavy's contract until the deadline expired. So why should the South Side settle for the economic line being drawn in the sand on its borders? This isn't Kansas City. This isn't Cleveland. This is Chicago. Why? Because like it or not, there's a ''2005 World Champions'' banner flying above U.S. Cellular Field, and the statute of limitations has at least one more year. The Cubs, Mets and Yankees have nothing to show for their check writing the last three seasons, so Williams has earned the benefit of the doubt that richer isn't always smarter. Plus, there are more days on the calendar during which Williams undoubtedly will tinker. Expect him to continue to shop Jermaine Dye in hopes of landing another young pitcher and an athletic outfielder. If Dye is moved, that money will go toward a free-agent outfielder and a veteran starter on the cheap. ''Obviously the plan was to fortify our minor-league system,'' Williams said of the offseason agenda. ''Now, as you take a step back and look at the major-league team, you say, 'OK, what do we have to do that's consistent with our long-term plan? What can we do for the short term to make sure we are leaning in a better way toward a championship?' That's where we are right now.'' Where are Sox fans? Deciding if they should close their eyes and take that big step off the ledge. No one said a leap of faith was easy. Comment at suntimes.com. THE BUZZ What Sun-Times Baseball writers Chris De Luca and Gordon Wittenmyer were hearing on the final day of the winter meetings: Executives were buzzing over how quietly the New York Mets pulled off a three-team, 12-player deal to acquire J.J. Putz from the Seattle Mariners as the new setup man for newly acquired closer Francisco Rodriguez. The Cleveland Indians were the third team in the deal. ... The Milwaukee Brewers will be battling the Cubs in pursuit of free-agent left-hander Randy Johnson. The Big Unit's history with manager Lou Piniella could give the Cubs the upper hand. ... The Detroit Tigers -- who were interested in Putz and former Cubs closer Kerry Wood, who went to the Indians -- have ended their pursuit of free-agent closer Trevor Hoffman. ... The Cubs' belief in the value of left-hander Sean Marshall to their 2009 plans became a major sticking point in the Jake Peavy talks. With the Cubs planning to schedule Rich Harden for extra rest during the season, Marshall is being counted on to pick up the rest of that slot's load. He's also the first line of insurance against an injury in the rotation and a key lefty in the bullpen. ... With the Peavy talks done, the Cubs go back to their primary focus of acquiring a left-handed impact bat, with free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley first in their sights. Raul Ibanez, who's also drawing interest from the Angels, is on the Cubs' short list, and Hendry finally made contact with the agents for Bobby Abreu on the last day of the meetings. ... The Cubs don't anticipate non-tendering any of their five arbitration-eligible players -- outfielder Reed Johnson, infielder Ronny Cedeno and relievers Chad Gaudin, Neal Cotts and Michael Wuertz -- at today's deadline. ... The Cubs lost an organizational favorite in the Rule 5 draft when Pittsburgh selected Class AA pitcher Donnie Veal, an often-mentioned name in last year's unsuccessful trade talks for Baltimore's Brian Roberts. Veal, who endured the loss of both parents in recent years during his rise as a Cubs prospect, was left unprotected after struggling with his control while others in the system passed him. ... The Cubs acquired hard-throwing Class AAA right-hander David Patton from Cincinnati in a cash trade after the Reds selected him from the Colorado system. The 6-3 reliever has a mid-90s fastball to go with a slider and changeup.

Do you trust him? That's it. That's the final question that had to be asked Thursday as Ken Williams boarded ''Air Jerry'' and took the private jet back to Phoenix with White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

Four days of ducking and weaving rumors, reshuffling the replenished farm system and a few games of blackjack in between. A full week's work in Williams' eyes.

Meanwhile, Sox fans spent the week waiting for the shoe to drop. For ''Trader Kenny'' to look at the cameras that followed him in Las Vegas and yell ''Just kidding,'' pull Chone Figgins out of a nearby bush with a bow on his head and say with a huge smile, ''And we're still in talks to grab another starting pitcher.''

After all, this is what they've come to expect from Williams.

Wasn't it just last year at the winter meetings that he acquired Carlos Quentin, then went after Miguel Cabrera? Wasn't it two years ago that he moved Freddy Garcia for Gavin Floyd and was rumored to be in talks for Carl Crawford?

So when he began this offseason with a series of moves that sent away Nick Swisher, Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan under the heading of ''youth movement,'' Sox fans nodded their heads in approval and said, ''OK, what's next?''

The last thing they had in mind when the winter meetings wrapped up Thursday was a ''Sopranos'' ending. There wasn't anything next. Fade to black.

That's why it came down to one final question Thursday: Has winning two American League Central titles and one World Series in his eight-year stint swayed Sox fans to believe in Williams? To back him and the organization come spring when it's time to buy tickets? To trust that Williams knows what he's doing in tough economic times, despite both New York teams adding players like they're buying items off eBay?

''There are certain realities that are slapping most clubs in the faces,'' Williams said. ''You have to understand that a large part of your revenue is driven from advertising, sponsorship, obviously ticket sales, and people are hurting. So why shouldn't that have a trickle-down effect on sports? It was just a matter of time.''

But should the South Side be immune? It's obviously not affecting New York, where the Yankees and Mets are trying to build All-Star teams. It hasn't slowed down the North Side, with the Cubs willing to take on Jake Peavy's contract until the deadline expired.

So why should the South Side settle for the economic line being drawn in the sand on its borders? This isn't Kansas City. This isn't Cleveland. This is Chicago.

Why?

Because like it or not, there's a ''2005 World Champions'' banner flying above U.S. Cellular Field, and the statute of limitations has at least one more year. The Cubs, Mets and Yankees have nothing to show for their check writing the last three seasons, so Williams has earned the benefit of the doubt that richer isn't always smarter.

Plus, there are more days on the calendar during which Williams undoubtedly will tinker.

Expect him to continue to shop Jermaine Dye in hopes of landing another young pitcher and an athletic outfielder. If Dye is moved, that money will go toward a free-agent outfielder and a veteran starter on the cheap.

''Obviously the plan was to fortify our minor-league system,'' Williams said of the offseason agenda. ''Now, as you take a step back and look at the major-league team, you say, 'OK, what do we have to do that's consistent with our long-term plan? What can we do for the short term to make sure we are leaning in a better way toward a championship?' That's where we are right now.''

Where are Sox fans?

Deciding if they should close their eyes and take that big step off the ledge.

No one said a leap of faith was easy.

Comment at suntimes.com.

THE BUZZ

What Sun-Times Baseball writers Chris De Luca and Gordon Wittenmyer were hearing on the final day of the winter meetings:

Executives were buzzing over how quietly the New York Mets pulled off a three-team, 12-player deal to acquire J.J. Putz from the Seattle Mariners as the new setup man for newly acquired closer Francisco Rodriguez. The Cleveland Indians were the third team in the deal. ... The Milwaukee Brewers will be battling the Cubs in pursuit of free-agent left-hander Randy Johnson. The Big Unit's history with manager Lou Piniella could give the Cubs the upper hand. ... The Detroit Tigers -- who were interested in Putz and former Cubs closer Kerry Wood, who went to the Indians -- have ended their pursuit of free-agent closer Trevor Hoffman. ... The Cubs' belief in the value of left-hander Sean Marshall to their 2009 plans became a major sticking point in the Jake Peavy talks. With the Cubs planning to schedule Rich Harden for extra rest during the season, Marshall is being counted on to pick up the rest of that slot's load. He's also the first line of insurance against an injury in the rotation and a key lefty in the bullpen. ... With the Peavy talks done, the Cubs go back to their primary focus of acquiring a left-handed impact bat, with free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley first in their sights. Raul Ibanez, who's also drawing interest from the Angels, is on the Cubs' short list, and Hendry finally made contact with the agents for Bobby Abreu on the last day of the meetings. ... The Cubs don't anticipate non-tendering any of their five arbitration-eligible players -- outfielder Reed Johnson, infielder Ronny Cedeno and relievers Chad Gaudin, Neal Cotts and Michael Wuertz -- at today's deadline. ... The Cubs lost an organizational favorite in the Rule 5 draft when Pittsburgh selected Class AA pitcher Donnie Veal, an often-mentioned name in last year's unsuccessful trade talks for Baltimore's Brian Roberts. Veal, who endured the loss of both parents in recent years during his rise as a Cubs prospect, was left unprotected after struggling with his control while others in the system passed him. ... The Cubs acquired hard-throwing Class AAA right-hander David Patton from Cincinnati in a cash trade after the Reds selected him from the Colorado system. The 6-3 reliever has a mid-90s fastball to go with a slider and changeup.