The Chicago White Sox made yet another offseason maneuver, trading for outfielder Juan Pierre from the L.A. Dodgers. The Sox will also receive cash and reportedly are giving up two minor league pitchers in the deal, according to FoxSports.com, in John Ely and Jon Link.

The move all but ensures that Scott Podsednik will not be brought back to the South Side next year, as the Sox have now found the leadoff hitter they were looking for.

The 32-year-old Pierre joins Omar Vizquel, Mark Teahen, Andruw Jones and J.J. Putz as new members to the Black and White “Good Guys,” as general manager Kenny Williams has made a flurry of moves thus far this offseason.

Since the Dodgers traded for Manny Ramirez at the deadline in 2008, Pierre has been the odd man out in the L.A. outfield, with Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp filling in around Ramirez. Pierre did appear in 145 games last year, but only found his way into the starting lineup 76 times. He hit .308 on the season with 30 stolen bases and 57 runs. He started every game in left field when Ramirez was suspended for 50 games for violating the MLB’s drug policy, hitting .318 with 21 stolen bases and a .381 on-base percentage in that time.

Pierre is also familiar with White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who was the third base coach for the Florida Marlins in 2003 when they won the World Series. Pierre was the leadoff hitter for the team that year.

Late last season, Williams also traded for starting pitche Jake Peavy and claimed outfielder Alex Rios off waivers. Having those two guys healthy all season with the addition of the five veteran offseason moves, the Sox might just be the team to beat in the AL Central in 2010.

They lose right fielder Jermaine Dye to free agency, but Pierre will help close that gap, as he will either man centerfield with Rios moving to right, or Pierre will take over left field and shift Carlos Quentin to right field. Andruw Jones and veterans Mark Kotsay and Jayson Nix will work their way into the outfield rotation as well.

The Teahen trade moves superstar-in-the-making Gordon Beckham to second base, giving the lineup a slight power threat from the left side of the plate in a mostly right-handed hitting lineup. Putz should figure in as the right-handed setup man, filling in for the departed Octavio Dotel and D.J. Carrasco. Matt Thornton retains his position as the left-handed setup man, with Bobby Jenks closing out the games.

The Sox also carry over A.J. Pierzynski, Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin and Alexei Ramirez, providing pitchers with a tough out in each spot in the order.

The addition of a healthy Peavy atop the rotation will also help take the strain of Mark Buehrle, who faded slightly down the stretch following his perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Though the Pierre deal will likely be Williams’ last move this offseason, the White Sox have the pieces in place to challenge the Minnesota Twins in ‘10, even if it takes 163 games, which seems to be the only way the AL Central is decided nowadays.