I wouldn't worry about the White Sox just yet...

It was pointed out by a fellow contributor on this site that the Chicago White Sox offseason plan thus far reflects a multi-step plan to acquire a mid-to-late '90s all-star team.

With the additions of shortstop Omar Vizquel and outfielder Andruw Jones, it certainly seems that way.

But many uneducated followers of the White Sox don't realize that these moves aren't critical. In fact, they may have no bearing whatsoever on the 2010 season at all.

And regardless, general manager Ken Williams hasn't been shelling out top-dollar to gain the services of the aformentioned players, nor has he told us that either will be counted on as a possible starting option.

In filling two roster spots on the bench with above-average defense at less than $2 million combined, I'd say that Williams did a fine job fortifying an area of weakness.

Let's break down the 25-man roster briefly with the two new additions and you tell me what the issue is.

LF - Carlos Queintin
CF - Alex Rios
RF -
DH -
3B - Mark Teahen
SS - Alexei Ramirez
2B - Gordon Beckham
1B - Paul Konerko
C - A.J. Pierzynski

Backup C -
Backup IF - Omar Vizquel
Backup IF/OF/Ross Gload - Mark Kotsay
Backup OF - Andruw Jones

SP - Jake Peavy
SP - Mark Buerhle
SP - Gavin Floyd
SP - John Danks
SP - Freddy Garcia

RP - Dan Hudson
RP - D.J. Carrasco
RP - Scott Linebrink
RP - Tony Pena
SU - Matt Thornton
CL - Bobby Jenks

By my count, that's 21 players accounted for. Obviously the White Sox must fill a backup catcher spot, designated hitter and righfield but that will bring the total to 24 players. I would assume the 25th man would be a lefty out of the pen and there's your 2010 Chicago White Sox.

So where in this plan does it figure that either Jones or Vizquel will be relied on upon for anything other than being a better version of Jayson Nix or DeWayne Wise?

Heck, Wise was paid $1 million, which was $500k more than Jones will get paid this season. Wise was downright terrible on offense and only looked borderline average on defense because he was surrounded by two of the worst outfielders in baseball in 2009.

Jones on the other hand has plenty of buy-low value and while he's bat at worst will look like Wise's, he'll at least provide superior defense and a cheaper cost than his predecessor.

Vizquel should be a marketed improvement on Nix, ableit at a higher cost. We know Vizquel like we know Jones, a aging player with plenty of Gold Glove trophys. Like Jones, Vizquel will provide an excellent defensive option at all three infield positions excluding first base. He'll also be able to provide words of wisdom to Ramirez in the way he did with Texas Rangers phenom Elvis Andrus.

So explain to me how this team is not better off with Vizquel over Nix and Jones over Wise. And while we're at it, prove to me that Teahen isn't a better option than Chris Getz.

Teahen isn't a stud in any facet of the game and overall, is the very definition of average.

But in just about every statistical category, Teahen's numbers are better (with the exception being stolen bases).

And don't tell me Getz' upside is better because he's a rookie, either. He'll be 27-years-old next season and Teahen, a five-year-veteran, will be 29-years-old next season.

Neither is a capable leadoff hitter and that's something the White Sox still need. But the way the infield shifted, with Beckham taking over second base, improves the team defense greatly.

Getz always seemed gun-shy turning the double play and Beckham is a natual middle infielder.

The last few things on Williams' checklist this offseason is to acquire an outfielder that can lead off, a second lefty out of the pen, a backup catcher and a designated hitter.

I'm willing to hear arguments about any of this in the comments section.