Major League Baseball

White Sox aim to boost rotation

Published Jul. 29, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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The White Sox, frustrated by their inability to acquire Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn, instead are on the verge of ending up with one of the Nationals’ leading targets: Diamondbacks right-hander Edwin Jackson.

The Sox are in serious discussions about a trade in which they would obtain Jackson for rookie right-hander Daniel Hudson and a prospect, according to major-league sources.

The trade of Jackson would be the Diamondbacks’ second major move in a week. On Monday the team sent ace right-hander Dan Haren to the Angels for left-hander Joe Saunders and three younger pitchers. Additional trades by the D-Backs are likely before the non-waiver deadline Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.

While the White Sox coveted Dunn, they shifted their focus to a starting pitcher after growing discouraged about their chances of completing a trade with the Nationals, sources say.

The Sox need for another starting pitcher arose after right-hander Jake Peavy was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. Hudson, who replaced Peavy, has a 6.32 ERA in three starts and is next scheduled to pitch Friday night against the A’s.

Jackson threw a no-hitter against the Rays on June 25, but issued eight walks and overall is 6-10 with a 5.16 ERA. Still, he enjoyed decent success pitching in the AL Central for the Tigers last season, going 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA, albeit in a more pitcher-friendly home park than Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field.

The Nationals also wanted Jackson, and they completed a trade Thursday night, sending closer Matt Capps to the Twins in a deal for catcher Wilson Ramos. A secondary motivation for the deal might have been to clear 2011 payroll for the addition of a pitcher such as Jackson.

Capps, earning $3.5 million this season, stands to gain a significant raise in his final year of arbitration. Jackson is owed approximately $1.4 million for the rest of this season and under contract for $8.35 million next season.

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