The White Sox Decline to Offer Arbitration to Magglio Ordonez

I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this, but since I’m at work today, and my apartment building (with my computer in it) is being fumigated, I’ll post now. It’s inevitable anyway.

If you’re reading this, then the Sox chose not to offer Magglio Ordonez arbitration, and thus forfeited their right to compensatory draft picks in the next MLB draft. While many Sox fans will blame Magglio and his agent Scott Boras for the “loss,” the White Sox are actually making the smart business decision by not offering arbitration.

Bruce Levine on ESPN radio 1000AM is reporting that the reason Magglio had surgery in Vienna, Austria is because he is suffering from a condition called osteonecrosis, and Vienna has a facility there devoted to the treatment of that condition.

I did a little research on osteonecrosis. It occurs when a segment of the bone loses its blood supply and begins to die. The word osteonecrosis literally means "Bone-Death."

While the exact cause of the disease is still unknown, there are a couple of theories. The first is a stress fracture combined with a specific activity or trauma, like running into Willie Harris at full speed. The second is that there is a build-up of fluid in the bone that puts pressure on blood vessels and diminishes circulation to the bone. The third is that it is steroid induced. I'd say Maggs falls under circumstance one, but, well, I'll throw out circumstance three anyway.

The following are signs and symptoms of osteonecrosis:

• Sudden pain on the inside of the knee, perhaps triggered by a specific activity or minor injury
  
• Increased pain at night and with activity
  
• Swelling over the front and inside of the knee
  
• Heightened sensitivity to touch in the area
  
• Limited motion due to pain
  

Osteonecrosis of the knee develops through four stages, which can be identified by symptoms and X-rays.

Stage I: Symptoms are most intense in the earliest stage. Symptoms may continue for 6 to 8 weeks and then subside. Because X-rays are normal, a positive bone scan is needed to make the diagnosis. Treatment at this point is nonoperative and conservative, focusing on pain relief and protected weight-bearing.

Stage II: It may take several months for the disease to progress to Stage II. At this point, X-rays will show that the rounded edge of the bone is starting to flatten out. An MRI or bone scan can be used to diagnose the disease. A CT scan may also be used to measure the affected area of bone area.

Stage III: By the time the disease reaches stage III (3 to 6 months after onset), it is clearly visible on X-rays and no other diagnostic tests are needed. The articular cartilage covering the bone begins to loosen as the bone itself begins to die. Operative treatments may be considered at this point.

Stage IV: At this point, the bone begins to collapse. The articular cartilage is destroyed, the joint space narrows, and bone spurs may form. Severe osteoarthritis results and joint replacement surgery may be necessary.

In terms of treatment, in the early stages of the disease, treatment is nonoperative. If the affected area is small, this treatment may be all that is needed. Options include:

• Medications to reduce the pain
  
• A brace to relieve pressure on the joint surface
  
• A conditioning program with exercises to increase the strengthen of the muscles in your thighs
  
• Activity modifications to reduce knee pain
  

If more than half of the bone surface is affected, surgical treatment may be required. Several different procedures may be used to treat osteonecrosis of the knee. Among the surgical options are:

• Arthroscopic cleansing (debridement) of the joint
  
• Drilling to reduce pressure on the bone surface
  
• Procedures to shift weight-bearing away from the affected area
  
• Replacement of one or both joint surfaces
  

Basically, what all of this means is that there are some serious doubts that Magglio can ever play baseball again. I hope he does, because no player deserves to have his career cut short because of something like this, and he certainly does not deserve to be vilified for the way he, and his agent, have handled the business end of this. He is trying to get the most he can for himself, and that’s what we’re all trying to do in this world. I think Magglio really does want to come back and play baseball, and I believe he thinks he can. I’m just not sure his knee will cooperate. And the White Sox cannot afford that $14 million risk.

But Sox fans have an equal right to be angry as well. For a team like the White Sox that can’t spend a lot of money, draft picks are the lifeblood of the organization. Of course, there is no guarantee those picks would even pan out (Joe Borchard anyone?) so I’m not seeing them as the huge “loss” that other Sox fans see them as.

This wasn’t the best situation in the world, but it is now over for the White Sox, and they did the best they could. This situation is not over for Magglio. We’ll see how he handles himself in these workouts in Anaheim, and then for whatever team signs him.

The White Sox need to look to FA now to fill the hole in RF.