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I think we are doing a lot of picking and choosing here to rearrange things to fit, and leaving out everything else if I am being honest. Looking at his monthly splits, His WHIP and walk rates still went up commiserate with his velocity and K rate. He actually got hit less early in the season, and saw his H/9 go up with his K rate and BB rate as the season went on as well. His best HR rate was also in that May/June time period when he was K'ing less, but pitching to more contact and less hits, and HRs. You see K rate in the later half of the season, but he really saw an across the board fall off in other stuff that made it look like he was doing a lot of over throwing, and getting hit in the zone when he came in after falling behind. He honestly looked for effective in that middle 3rd than he did the latter one.

"We wanted to establish a presence in the [Pacific] Rim and that starts with hiring a scout, Satoshi Takahashi," Keller said. "Once we were able to get him on board, I think that's where those conversations became more real." "Got Jerry [Reinsdorf] up to speed on the reality of bringing in Mune," said Getz, using Murakami's preferred nickname. "The more he was hearing from me, and Brooks as well on the marketing front and the international impact that it can have in bringing in someone as significant as Mune, led us to get to the finish line. A lot of that was support from Jerry in the end." That is both promising and pathetic.

I think it’s likely close to happening due to the two most recent signings. Murakami and Newcomb will add $20.5 million to the 2026 payroll. Robert is due $20 million.

If you back out his six relief appearances, it is more like 4.2.

You think a dude who posted a 4.25 FIP over hist last 18 starts as a rookie has a ceiling of a “#4 starter”. Like what are we even doing here.

Could be never

And if it doesn't happen, it might not be.

Ryan Rolison, Who

When did he average 3.2 IP per start? Like where are these made up numbers coming from?

Ranked 81 out of 87 for what? Full year FIP? No one is arguing his full year figures were good last year…they were clearly compromised by his first 10 starts when he had a K rate of 6.19 per 9 innings. Based on his minor track record and his first cup of coffee in the majors to end 2024, I don’t find those results to be meaningful at all in terms of projecting future performance. I think he’s much closer to the guy who posted a 4.25 FIP over his next 18 starts and that player does not in fact “stink” vs. other major leaguers. And again, you are attributing all his improvement in swinging strike rate to one start when again that is not true. He was at 9.8% prior to July 12th and had an 11.8% over his final 10 starts. Back out one the one start and he was still at 10.8% over the other nine, which is still meaningful improvement. And why is sequencing just “noise” and not something that can be improved through strategic planning?

Sounds like Colome when he was the closer here. I loved following Colome on the gamethreads because people would freak out with his tight rope acts but damnit he got out of most of the jams he got himself into.

lol gotta love that reporting. If it happens, could be this week. Could be after.

I appreciate Fegen's honest approach in these rankings Braden Montgomery's K% rate is on the border of concerning, reaching 28.7% across 34 AA games. The ability and tools are there to profile as a corner regular, but he will have to make more contact than he currently does. While still promising, Schultz and Smith both have concerns to address in 2026. Schultz has dealt with injuries and it is fair to question how well he would hold up under a starter's workload? Also his 2025 was objectively not good for a top 50 prospect entering the season. Smith has the stuff, but walks plagued him in 2025. Finding a reliable third pitch that he can locate will be vital. As he advances to AAA and eventually the majors, command and control will be imperative, as a 6.66 BB/9 walk rate will not cut it.

Ryan Rolison, I didn’t know ye

to get this back on track to the topic of the OP...with these moves they have made the last week...they at least look like they are trying to make a plan to be "competitive". IMO this team will be sneaky good in 2027, and next season is a coin flip based on health, some improvements with the lineup looking mostly settled and some good ole luck (when was the last time they got some of that)? The outlook on the team is SO MUCH better than a year ago, so I guess give Getz some love. I refuse to get overly optimistic with this rebuild though as I thought the last one 5 years back was going to lead to multiple division winners....

Ryan Rolison, we hardly knew ye.

I mean if we get a starting 3B out of the dude, that's a win there. I was thinking more of Smith and Schultz in that.

Sox Machine looks at the deal and his career: https://soxmachine.com/2025/12/white-sox-sign-sean-newcomb-to-one-year-contract

https://soxmachine.com/2025/12/munetaka-murakami-arrived-on-the-south-side-and-the-white-sox-are-still-wrapping-their-heads-around-it

Haha, had two windows open and must have replied in the wrong one.

This is Soxtalk. Is there such a thing?

Always liked Newcomb. Lot of risk with injury, and lack of success in this capacity, but I think he'll have a nice little run here in his thirties as a useful reliever though. A lot of base runners, so he'll be pitching out of jams with some frequency, but like his sinker keeping the ball in the infield as a reliever will help limit damage.