Ted Robinson

The World Champion White Sox are among the teams I feel have the best chance to cash in on moves made in baseball's offseason chess game of swapping and signing players.

Here are my medal winners from the winter, who have to make their moves count over the spring and summer.

GOLD MEDALS

White Sox
I think Chicago's offseason represented a fabulous achievement by White Sox general manager Ken Williams, who followed a World Championship season on the field with a gold-medal- winning winter off of it.

Williams traded with Arizona for right-hander Javier Vazquez, whose presence will strengthen a starting rotation which was plenty strong, even dominant, in the postseason.

Williams also was able to re-sign Paul Konerko, who hits for power and average, keeping him as the club's first baseman. He took a major step toward bettering the team's offense by adding one of the outstanding home-run hitters of recent years in Jim Thome, who was acquired in a trade with the Phillies and who will be the White Sox designated hitter.

SPECIAL FEATURE Analysis and predictions for every team

It was proven in 2004 that the White Sox home ballpark with its downsized upper deck is a great ballpark for home runs. So Thome, who is coming off an injury-plagued season in which he hit only seven home runs in 193 at bats, goes from one great place to hit the longball to another one, moving from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia to U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

Another key move by Williams was his adding to the team's depth and versatility by dealing with the Pirates for Rob Mackowiak, who has very quietly become one of the top utility players in the major leagues.

Mets
The Mets get a gold medal from me since their additions should not only make them stronger, but should also weaken some of their competition in the N.L. East.

Slideshow   Week in Sports Pictures A boxing champ celebrates, a kicker regrets, fans mourn a hero, and much more. more photos

Most notable is their signing of free agent Billy Wagner away from the Phillies -- a signing that gives them the best closer in their division, and leaves the Phillies turning to 38-year-old free agent Tom Gordon to fill that role.

And since the Braves, who have won the N.L. East for 14 consecutive seasons, don't have a closer they can rely on, the Mets bringing Wagner aboard could prove of great significance in deciding who wins the division.

The Mets also got catcher Paul Lo Duca in a trade with the Marlins. Lo Duca replaces Mike Piazza, and he should give the Mets a very good catcher for the next couple of years. Another plus when it comes to Lo Duca is he is a veteran who will provide a strong clubhouse presence and leadership to a team that has been lacking in those areas the past couple of seasons.

The Mets also dealt with the Marlins to acquire slugging first baseman Carlos Delgado. And while I think it's a legitimate question as to how Delgado will perform in the bring lights of New York, the Mets desperately needed another big left-handed bat in their lineup. Delgado is that  weapon.

Shea Stadium is not a hitters park, but if Delgado has a typical year for him, the Mets could have a really potent lineup that could enable them to run away with the division title. They enter the season as my choice to unseat the Braves in the N.L. East.

Dodgers
I think the Dodgers had a magnificent offseason starting with their hiring Ned Colletti as their  general manager.

Colletti brings a wealth of knowledge on how to construct a winning team from his work experience with the San Francisco Giants. With the Dodgers, he also inherits something he has never had in all his years with the Giants -- a top farm system.

What Colletti has done is put together a major league team which should contend immediately, but should do so without blocking the progress of the Dodgers' vaunted younger players, who will be coming through their minor-league system.

To the Dodgers, Colletti brought players who have been on winning teams, players such as Nomar Garciaparra, Rafael Furcal, Kenny Lofton, and Bill Mueller. They are a group of proven veterans who have all signed on with the Dodgers on short-term deals.

I thought the Dodgers made a terrific trade in getting starting pitcher Jae Seo from the Mets for reliever Duaner Sanchez. Seo pitched very well the last two months of last season, and this deal is one that over the course of the season may turn out to be very significant for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers should certainly be a contender for the N.L. West title, and there's no way they begin the season taking a backseat to any team in their division.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Mauer vs. Bronx bullies for AL MVP CTB: Handicapping the Halladay chase Blyleven: Pitching to be had beyond Halladay CTB: Should the Yankees get younger? DeMarco: Red Sox should take measured approach CTB: A prediction — Lackey will sign with Yankees CTB: Indians unlikely to deal Wood this offseason CTB: Mets could be interested in Royals’ Guilllen Complete list of free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz   Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: