White Sox 2B Beckham on trade rumors: 'I don't care anymore'

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Trade rumors can take their toll on a professional athlete. After another disappointing, sub-700 OPS season, White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham is done worrying about his future. It's out of his hands, and whatever happens, happens.

Beckham told MLB.com's Scott Merkin:

"If they trade me to get better, if they think that gets them better, they will do it and need to do it. I'm a White Sox. They drafted me, and I want them to do well.

"I'll thank them and tell them how much I appreciate them sticking with me through the bad times. I guess what I'm saying is I used to care a lot about [getting traded], but I don't care anymore. If they do trade me, it means some other team wants me, and it could be a good situation. I don't worry anymore."

Beckham hasn't been able to duplicate the success he had in his rookie year as a 22-year-old, when he hit .270/.347/.460 in 103 games, with 14 home runs and 63 RBI. He finished fifth in American League Rookie of the Year voting. 

Since 2009, when Beckham had a 109 wRC+, it's been a struggle. In 2010, Beckham had a 86 wRC+. In 2011 and 2012, Beckham's on-base percentage dropped below .300, and it showed in his 2011 72 wRC+ and 2012 80 wRC+. Last year, Beckham had a 88 wRC+, better than the previous two years, but still below average. His value now comes mostly from his defense, and he's no longer thought of as part of the White Sox's core as they move forward in 2014. 

Merkin writes:

"When Beckham's production dipped to a .252 average in 2010 and his on-base percentage checked in at .296 during each of the following two seasons ('11 and '12), the uproar over his shortcomings seemed to be a little louder than for most. Beckham was a homegrown product, after all, a first-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, and he symbolized the White Sox future.

"Not even his stellar defense at second, where he became one of the steadiest players defensively in the AL, silenced the critics. At some point, the discussion has to become whether Beckham would be better served as part of a new organization.

"It's not an indictment of Beckham's potential but more about a change of scenery benefiting a player as much as a change in batting mechanics. The overall trade concept brought about a pragmatic and veteran-like response from Beckham, who wants to stay with the White Sox, when asked recently by MLB.com."

Beckham made $2.925 million in 2013. He's projected to earn $3.5 million in 2014. 

Injuries bothered Beckham in 2013, and he's feeling confident about his abilities as a hitter heading into 2014:

"I was thinking about it the other day, in that I was healthy for a month and a half last year: from the beginning of June to the All-Star break. But I know I'm getting better for all the right reasons.

"Last year I made good strides in the right direction. I backed the ball up better, squared up a lot more balls. I really think I'm in a good spot. My game is getting better, finally."

The 2015 season will be Beckham's final arbitration-eligible year, and he's only 27. Two strong seasons, if he can turn them, could result in a big payday for the second baseman, whose defense was three runs below average in 2013, according to FanGraphs.