White Sox receive a couple of nobodies to complete Jesse Crain trade

The White Sox have acquired minor leaguers Sean Bierman and Ben Kline plus cash from the Tampa Bay Rays to complete the July trade of relief pitcher Jesse Crain.

Bierman, a 24-year-old left-hander, went 6-5 with a 2.55 ERA in 18 appearances (14 starts) for two teams in Tampa Bay's organization this year. The University of Tampa product had Tommy John surgery in 2010 and was a 10th-round choice of the Rays in the 2012 draft.

Bierman's fastball tops out in the high 80s, but he doesn't walk many people. In 150 minor league innings, he has registered 123 Ks and walked just 23. His career ERA is 3.00. However, he'll be turning 25 on Sunday, and he's never pitched above A-ball. Sounds like an organizational arm to me.

Kline, a 24-year-old infielder, was the Rays' 32nd-round pick in the 2012 draft. He played first base, second base and third base this past season for three different A-ball teams. He hit .246 with 15 RBIs in 40 games. My guess is you will never see him in a White Sox uniform.

Truthfully, as Sox fans we should be happy the team got anything for Crain, who was on the disabled list at the time he was traded and never threw a single pitch for the Rays. More than likely, this trade will go down as one that helped neither team, and it will be nothing more than a footnote for the 2013 season.