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I am sure that Wilson will be a great trade chip at next season's trade deadline....3rd time is the charm.

This was asked about in a SoxMachine P.O.Sox column. It's subscribers only, so no link. James: How much do organizations monitor offseason regimens? A lot. Most advanced prospects and big leaguers are training at private facilities but are talking with teams both about their baseball activities and also their lifting and training programs. The bulk of players you’ll find in the team facilities over the winter are rehabbing injuries, but the recent draftees are pulled in for performance camps and other sorts of orientation over the offseason as well. It tends to be younger players or guys who already live near facilities who make use of training at Camelback Ranch or the Dominican Academy over the winter, but that is an option. Lenyn Sosa memorably trained at the Dominican Academy before the 2022 season to get guidance on some major swing changes he was making, but now the location and capacity of the Sox DR academy is part of why they’re replacing it. But Prelander Berroa blew out during a spring game. Drew Thorpe’s UCL gave way in a backfield game after he had spent most of the spring rehabbing from his surgery from last August. Ky Bush was throwing a bullpen the week before spring started and felt his elbow give out. They didn’t arrive with elbows which happened to be injured that no one knew about until they were in the facility, but got hurt in the ramp-up process that is precisely when pitchers are the most at-risk for these sorts of blowouts. Elbows are still exploding all over the place across baseball, so there are clearly elements of the offseason process that could be improved. But part of the reason the last lockout caused so much anxiety was the absence of offseason monitoring and communication on training between teams and players, which has been the norm now for a while now. So, something new to worry about when they lockout after next season, I suppose.

Hoping for a Brewers-Seattle World Series because f*** what MLB wants

Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2026 - MLB Trade Rumors White Sox have some work in front of them: White Sox (2) Mike Tauchman (5.143): $3.4MM Steven Wilson (3.166): $1.5MM

It is a little known fact that the NL uses aluminum bats...they look and sound like wood but don't let them fool you.

Brewers fans: Refer to Vaughn as "King Vaughn" Some posters: Barely a difference maker

Off Cubs topic for a minute, the bunt to move Castellanos to 3rd was horrific last night. Castellanos got a terrible jump and he is slow to boot. Thompson killed that rally right there

He has to be brought back until he is finally flipped for the fourth prospect of the Cease trade! 🤪

Batista getting some work in LIDOM after missing most of the season with an injury

What about Vargas?

Figured I'll do another catchall thread for this year's AFL and winter ball developments. As a reminder, the Sox prospects playing in Arizona: LHP Hagen Smith RHP Jarold Rosado RHP Carson Jacobs RHP Connor McCullough RHP Tyler Davis IF Sam Antonacci 1B Ryan Galanie OF Braden Montgomery OF Caden Connor Braden will be joining later in the season after getting back into game shape following a small foot fracture from a HBP. Most of these guys are fresh off of the Barons run to back to back Southern League titles. A couple have upcoming Rule 5 decisions. I'll also keep an eye out for guys getting winter ball reps in: Sosa's excellent LVBP results did seem to translate some to his MLB performance. Looks like he'll be back for this season, we'll see where on the IF he plays.

"The Chicago White Sox also saw substantial year-over-year decline amid another dismal season and a switch from NBC Sports Chicago to Chicago Sports Network, the latter of which was subject to a lengthy carriage dispute with Comcast that kept the network dark for two-thirds of the season. The Sox saw viewership slip by 42% versus last season as a result." https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/tigers-double-viewership-as-largest-decline.html

I seem to remember the Sox being interested in him but @Y2Jimmy0 said the Sox only viewed him as a reliever. The Jays ended up paying him 5-years, $32 million and gave him a shot as a starter in the minors and in the majors last year. My guess is the Sox didn’t make that high of an offer to a guy they viewed as a reliever.

Which is exactly why the Sox want to grow the fan base beyond the bandwagon.

Misrowski really struggled while throwing 104 like 3 times eh? Also Megill pitched last night.

Yea almost as bad as the 1st period, but not quite that horrible. Great shift just now. I like Rinzel and Kaiser a lot. With Vlasic soon back the Hawks have some fantastic young D-men. They need to grind their teeth the way Seabs and Duncs did in the early part of their careers. You can also win with this goalie too. Knight is good.

I think I’d rather see them in Arlington Heights. Maybe being direct neighbors with the Bears would create more Sox fans, attendance, and money to spend, but if they continue to suck, none of that will happen regardless of their location.

"Barely a difference maker" (Taken from a Brewers forum thread that was linked by either Eddy or Caulfield I believe) Edit: For those not familiar with a ton of advanced metrics like myself - WPA is "Win Probably Added" this shows Vaughn was #1 in MLB for almost the entire month of July

Worst org ever only gets Generica Park. No one wants to lobby for this putrid team. The issue is not the park or location it's the team. No village for you cuz we have a village idiot in charge.

AFL Live Stream: https://www.mlb.com/arizona-fall-league/live-streams

And he still had something like 19 RBIs even when the OPS was down in August...was doing his primary job driving in runs when opportunities presented themselves.

Because they were splitting up the time with Bauers and Hoskins down the stretch to position their postseason roster...division was already in hand, Dodgers' slumps took off pressure for holding Top Two spot for playoffs.

We got some real STUDS on this team.

Vaughn finished the regular season with an .869 OPS for the Brewers and nothing is bigger than a key homer in the playoffs. He was definitely a big, albeit unexpected addition for the Brewers. Meanwhile, the last Sox player to hit a HR in the postseason was Gavin Sheets on October 12, 2021. 🤣

Alex Call will make it to free agency by the time he is 42

For sure, when Muncy fielded that ball and turned around, Castellanos wasn’t even close to the bag. Dodgers definitely scouted the play well and pulled off a flawless wheel play but if you are gonna do that s%*#, PUT IN A FAST RUNNER

I think Getz is looking at Tauchman as cheap TERM insurance and will bring him back for 2026.

So Vaughn is leading, hitting, and playing defense? Wonder when he learned to do that, because if he did any of them for the Sox, he would still be here.

From what very little I know of Thorpe he seems like a pitcher well aware of his limitations who had reached a very high level despite those limitations. Now him and his coaches will do their best to see if he has what it takes to succeed in the biggest hurdle of all.

There's massive board debates about everything and many many times the majority opinion is wrong so debate alone means nothing except people usually argue playing odds that injury prone players usually continue that way because they know nothing about what goes on behind the scenes, players determinations, talent, adaptability . Like with Crochet we all knew he had an arm but we also knew he got hurt a lot. What no one knew is that he was maturing physically into this huge strong man while rehabbing and working very diligetly into becoming a starting pitcher . This included the Sox being supportive and working with him to develop him to the point where it was shocking to most of us that he was named the opening day starter and he continued to defy all odds regarding health and adapt and refine his pitch mix . So even when we had all the evidence in the world that the new front office regime might know what they're doing many refused to give them credit for developing him. It was 100 % all Crochet which is of course a sad, ridiculous argument to make. You could argue that prospect success or failure has a lot to do with the player based on the things physical , mental & character traits I mentioned earlier but not 100 % especially when the same people are super quick on the trigger to call the team out for development failures as if its all on them and players are just moldable pieces of clay whose success or failure is solely based on their coaching. The butt hurt of 2024 ran so deep some could never admit the new regime could do anything right or you might get labeled a Getz supporter. God forbid someone who, as a lackey under a previous hierarchy, could actually make good decisions regarding player development and building an infrastructure to help a Crochet ,Montgomery overcome the odds that despite setbacks prospects are not always busts when deemed so by Soxtalk experts. Will it work with every player ? Of course not but if we are going to rip on management that they always suck with scouting and development and doubt that a new regime is any different from the old one under the same owner I'd expect credit to be given when it is due. Sadly most stick to their old tired arguments by just kicking the can down the road of "I need more proof before I think anything has changed" while they still blast everything they can in their ignorant and bitter sight .

“I think it just brought the energy back into the dugout, and that's what Vaughn has been doing ever since he's got here. He's been able to put big swings on balls and continue producing for us like he has.” William Contreras https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2025/10/07/andrew-vaughns-home-run-helps-milwaukee-brewers-beat-chicago-cubs-in-nlds-game-2/86546797007/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjTkpnmhZKQAxVgJkQIHQ54NmgQvOMEegQIBxAC&usg=AOvVaw0-J1m4XQDAMxdReYouqEW4 Note the quote about "trying to work his butt off" after the trade/assignment to AAA. Osik validated yet again...ofc the biggest question is why the Sox couldn't get that same effort out of him? Too secure/complacent with his team "leadership" role in Chicago? Where below average became "good enough" over time.

When you lay the foundation for a small or mid market team that makes the playoffs 7/8 years in flyover territory, you're doing something right. And the Mets were the best team in the NL down the stretch last year. That doesn't all get cancelled out by one year's worth of bad FA pitching decisions.

also, just watched this french-language opera the other night. our man Hoffman, circa 1850, falls in love with a robot despite all of his friends trying to convince him that...she's a doll come to life. I think gen z, gen alpha could learn a lesson here.

And when you can find where I said that, where you literally put it in quotes, please show me, because I’d love to see it. What I can actually quote is you saying “Milwaukee was better all season.” which isn’t a true statement in any way shape or form. Andrew Vaughn made a very significant impact in his arrival to the Brewers. It literally can’t be argued. I mean, I suppose it can, but we would call that person an idiot, and point and laugh at them. I, nor did others, say it was THE reason the Brewers won the division. Andrew Vaughn did not do that alone, and it’s a very good organization. But very simple numbers will show the sizable impact he had on their season, once he arrived in Wisconsin. But acting like the Brewers led the division wire to wire and the Cubs posed no threat is asinine, and not rooted in any sort of reality of what transpired in the NL Central.

Yeah, he's behind Wikelman, Leasure, Taylor for sure on this current Sox team. But it's basically no money for a low leverage, above average ERA reliever. I wish we had a proper lefty, maybe Ky Bush is the guy, to put in front of Wilson. Hopefully, that lefty isn't Schultz or Smith. Ellard or Eisert might improve, they're just rookies. I'd bank on Bush or Schweitzer first while hoping our actual prospect lefties remain starters. Shane Murphy is another lefty who I hope remains a starter and who I think, if he flames out, doesn't project well in a high leverage bullpen role...similar to Cannon, who might just be done as a MLB pitcher.

I think Wilson's a 6th or 7th inning guy at best on any team worth a damn. But at $1.5 million, you have to bring him back. That's peanuts for a guy who can possibly put up 0.5 WAR.

It’s weird to be so confident in something objectively false, I mean there is simply no way to spin it. Andrew Vaughn was traded to the Brewers on June 13th, 2025. The Brewers were 38-33. The Cubs were 42-28. On July 13th, the Brewers were 56-40, they went 18-7 during that stretch. Over July, Vaughn slashed 365/426/731. Additionally, on June 13th, the Cubs were 2nd in baseball with a +104 run differential. The Brewers were 12th at +22. On July 13th the Brewers were 4th in baseball at +74, only behind the Tigers, Yankees and…Cubs, who led the league at +116 on July 13 So not only did Andrew Vaughn make a tremendously important impact for the Brewers, the Cubs were a better team than the Brewers in basically the entire 1st half.

fuckin pwned, bro

Andrew Vaughn taking Chris Getz' lessons and teaching the Brewers how to win:

ESPN crowning them as the best up the middle defense ever only for that to collapse on itself this series is great.

For all the talk about how Wilson sux, he just posted 123 ERA+ across 55 innings pitched. a UFA RP with such numbers is getting paid at least $5mil. The Sox tend to not go to arbitration, but I can't imagine him being paid much less than this. Maybe like $1.3mil, but it's basically splitting hairs. $1.5mil seems like a totally fair deal to me. But I like the idea of not even reaching arbitration even if they end up paying him a little more. Worth noting, I think the Sox letting Michael A get his plate appearance bonus in a worthless game sends a positive signal to free agents. Rowdy Tellez the previous year got cut right before he could reach his 'bonus'. Tauch is more interesting. He had a tough last two months at the plate and is now injured (.700ish OPS those 2 months, not so bad). $3.5mil seems like a lot for him, but it's not that much money. He's a good guy, his teammates seem to like him, he's a local dude, but I'd personally rather see someone like Dom Fletcher or a proper free agent get time in RF. Somebody needs to keep the spot warm for Braden but it's ultimately his spot and I suspect he joins the MLB team next season. Personally, I'd rather it be somebody controllable and younger than Tauchman. I don't really care to see Tauch in a Sox jersey again, so I hope the two sides can work out a mutually agreeable trade for a semi-useful player. He's worth more than Austin Slater or Robbie Grossman or Matt Thaiss, so maybe you can get a semi-useful player, even just a bullpen arm or a 19-year-old position player. I think they should tender his contract.

Baseball tourism IS a large part of the Cubs fan base. That is NOT happening right now for the White Sox, and neither is the fan looking to make a day out of going to a ball game by having a game day experience of bars, clubs, and whatever else is around the park. For the history Sox fan base, the model is currently "Show up when they look like they might do something big", and that leads to huge drop offs when things aren't good. That's where we are today. This is a failing model, and seeing where we rank among our peers both in attendance and love of stadium in MLB, it's pretty easy to figure out why. This is a franchise that NEEDS to do more with it's game day experience, and what we have done the past 35 years and 35th and Shields isn't it. It's a sterile ballpark with its most prominent feature being "it's not bad". It's a neighborhood with no real easy access to game day entertainment before and after the game, and definitely not a volume of easy options, as is happening intentionally these days in places like Atlanta and Arlington, and historically in baseball entertainment friendly neighborhoods like Wrigley and Fenway. If we want the White Sox to exist in 50 years, we need to realize the historic fan base is currently fleeing Chicago and the Chicago burbs and think about what Sox fans will look like in 2075, not what they looked like in 1975. The trend is greater than just showing up for 3 hours of baseball in a generic building, and the teams that realize that? Those are the franchises doing the best right now.

This guy was once the #4 prospect in the game for Baseball America and MLB. That probably helped elevate Seattle's organizational ranking. Nick Madrigal's lifetime 2.7 fWAR dwarves Kelenic's 0.9.

I don't know if that's fair, especially for pitchers. I mean, Oppor and McDougal are both 5th rounders and they should be fringe Top 100 guys right now just based on stuff. The good news is that, like McDougal, even with TJS they have a lot of time to develop Larson. I would be surprised if he saw full season ball next year, but he doesn't turn 21 until 2027.

I think if he mixed in a sinker he'd look better. But he's doomed if he's a 'changeup pitcher' (his changeup is +++) and his four seamer continues to get slugged at .566. His BA against on the four seamer isn't horrific (.245) but it gets hit way too hard before he even has a chance to throw the change. 37.9% whiff rate on the changeup, 28% on the slider, 7.7% on 4seam, 7.1 on the cutter. Changeup doesn't play as well off a sinker, but if he's a 'kitchen sink' kinda guy, maybe he can get batters out of a rhythm where they're not simply waiting on the very hittable 4 seamer. Or somehow he improves it, I just don't get how he would. Which is why I like Shane Murphy better than Thorpe, both are soft tossers but Murphy's repertoire is larger and more varied. I think Thorpe benefits from a fastball that moves more even if it weakens his change.

This just reinforced the fact that the Rays invested every penny into being cost efficient and running the best major league team possible with limited resources. Pretty much the exact opposite of the White Sox, who spend like drunken sailors on the dumbest things over the last twenty years or so. And what's the headline here? The White Sox MIGHT NOT be one of the five cheapest organizations, but we can't really be sure??? "The organization let Rodon walk, and not for the $22MM or whatever he made in 2022 while putting up his 2nd straight top 5 Cy Young season, but because of the $18MM qualifying offer they were too afraid to offer him. When I was told about the innards of what happened with Rodon from someone EXTREMELY close to the situation (hint hint), that's when my ears perked up and I started to think they were actually in the process of hoodwinking their fans. In hindsight, that realization didn't strike me when they half assed the Machado/Harper pursuit like it should have. It was when they were too afraid of paying a SP1 $18MM for a one year deal. It was always about money for the club. ALWAYS. We were fucking hoodwinked, beyond belief and the same owner and front office who constructed this roster with fucked up financial constraint are now tasked with starting over. Again. After they very publicly said they were going to act like a top tier franchise. Instead the organizational health is the worst it's ever been, at least for the entirety of my adult life." https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3476003/one-of-the-worst-organizations-in-baseball-the-chicago-white-sox-just-dealt-lucas-giolito-in-the-middle-of-their-competitive-window 7/29/2023 WhiteSoxDave Just weeks before the Chris Getz coup 'd etat.

9 playoff appearances in thirty years with a payroll that averaged 25th through 27th is pretty darned good for the Rays. Two WS appearances/AL pennants as well playing in the toughest/richest division in baseball and in one of the worst stadiums in baseball that JR once fought for lol?????

Crochet could have had the best 2 months for any pitcher in baseball history and it wouldn't have been able to fetch Roman Anthony. Fair or not, most GMs won't trade prospects of that caliber for anyone with less than 2 years of team control remaining.

What a fun year for the back to back champs! Tough luck for Smith to not get a W with the delay, but he flashed impressive stuff in both playoff starts. McDougal was also ridiculous. Barons never trailed across 4 elimination road games. They squandered that 6-0 lead at home in the first round, then locked in for 2 wins on the road. Lost a close one at home in this series, and then pulled off a road miracle again. Shame we don't get a repeat Rikuu celebration chug from the home clubhouse.