WestEddy

Maybe he's toyed with it, and they're going to explore the possibility. Get him to use his speed to get on base from the left side.

I wonder if this keeps Rikuu with the parent team through the later cuts.

If they keep Sosa, maybe that's how they get him ABs, rotating Mune, Vargas and Sosa through 1B/3B/DH, while also cycling Benny and Quero/Teel through the DH. Venable's got his work cut out for him.

I only listened to the last third, which was Jim and James' takes on where the Sox farm system is, now. They both put it middle third, but say the Sox have finally gotten to the point where they can see how far behind they are because of the failure of International. They won't catch up from the draft and Rule 5 guys. They need to be pumping Latino and Asian dudes through to have a stream of bullpen arms and utility guys which they just don't have now.

And he's already had 2 Tommy John Surgeries.

Traded to the Indians/Guardians in 2021 for Cesár Hernández.

Braden Shewmake outrighted. Man, that's like a year and a half longer than I thought it would be.

Tyler Mahle, also 31 and with similar fWAR to Giolito's 2.0 signed with the Giants for 1/$10M. Gio might be eying Cease money, seeing as he was coming back from injury last year.

Jim Margalus clocks in on Fedde: Erick Fedde returning to White Sox on one-year deal - Sox Machine

Fedde started off okay with the Cards, hit a wall, and didn't get back on track until Milwaukee put him in the bullpen. I suppose a major league deal keeps him out of Asia. I would have rather had him on a minor league deal. Oh well, fix him, then trade for another Vargas.

That's about $7M a win, sounds about right. He'll give them innings, WHIP around 1.200.

Yes. I believe they get to use the 60-day IL to clear space tomorrow, tho.

It seriously wouldn't surprise me to see a K-pop or J-pop halftime show in the next few years. The NFL is about expanding their audience. I'd go for this:

MLBTR takes an in depth look at the Jordan Hicks conundrum. While results were not good in Boston, his "stuff" was still there. Key quote: Examining Jordan Hicks' Future With The White Sox - MLB Trade Rumors Interesting read.

Sure. It's imprecise, just giving examples of where I think we'll see improvement. Acuña's going to struggle to put up offense, so if he plays 140, he's going to bring his substandard offense to 2B, RF, wherever he plays when Baldwin's in CF. I think he'll improve on last year's 64 OPS+, but not better than Robert's 84.

The White Sox got a little over 2 WAR (2.3) from the CF group in 2025. I don't think Acuña does that, which whittles into Murakami's gain (1.5 I see Murakami doing over the -0.4 last year's group did). So, no, I don't think Acuña will be replacement level, but he's got his work cut out for him to give us what Robert did, alone, last year.

It's my own personal O/U, meaning that I think the range of options for this team land around 75 wins. I keep laying out my thinking, in that the team, as assembled, is a 70-win team. However, I do believe... 1) Murakami holds his own at 1B to the tune of about 1.5-2 WAR. 2) Meidroth either improves on his 84 OPS+, or Sosa/Antonacci replace him at some point 3) Colson maintains, and has his 3-3.5 WAR season 4) Vargas does break out and improves upon his .767 OPS after his 4/23 hand job 5) Teel goes nuts and leads the offense in WAR 6) Baldwin becomes the 2nd half player he was, and establishes himself as an OF 7) Acuña puts up the same 1.4 WAR as Robert (or thereabouts) 😎 Hays/Kelenic/Pereira don't embarass themselves (meaning the group puts up 0.8-1.2 WAR) 9) Rotation is fine, settling into the strongest 5 around the ASB - exceeds 10 WAR 10) bullpen is solidified, hold down leads All of this (that is me wishcasting) happens and catapults them to 75 wins. Maybe one or two of these don't happen, and they wind up 71-74. Maybe Colson or Murakami go ape, and they're 76-79. I don't think any of this is insane, magic beans fantasy. Yes. I think they blow away 64.5. Everything going right, I think they scratch and claw to 75.

No surgery is "routine".

I'm assuming everybody commenting washes their hands after a bathroom session. Then there's the concept of using one hand mainly for the cleaning, and the other with some paper to open the door.

Illinois has a flat tax, and a ridiculously low top rate. Allowing the state to raise the top rate would have solved a lot of problems and eased up on property tax hikes. But if we allow the government to raise taxes on the rich, what's next, making us slaves?!?

The bullpen is key. As some point out, it's pretty much the same team as last year. Hays replaces Tauchman, and Acuña may cancel out any gains Murakami brings. Maybe if Getz signs Zach Littell, then you're considering getting out of last place. But they definitely need a few guys to start producing at a 3+ WAR clip (maybe 4?) to start dreaming.

1) I agree that Shane Smith and Burke are the two guys who bear watching, going forward. 2) Kay and Davis Martin are place holders where, if the team is middling in July, you can move them to make room for Sandlin, McDougal, Schultz or Thorpe. 3) McDougal, Schultz and Hagen Smith should all be challenging for a rotation spot some time this season. Thorpe will be back. Mason Adams exists. Getz has hinted that Sandlin is going to get every chance at promotion. 4) The FA market has yet to shake out, and I believe Getz is waiting for Bassitt, Littel or Canning (or reasonable facsimile) to fall to them cheap, and then he's done. 5) Looking at 2027, Schultz, McDougal, Shane Smith, Hagen Smith, Taylor, Burke, Sandlin, Thorpe, Oppor, Mason Adams looks like a good problem to have on your hands.

I don't understand this question. Status quo, I think they're at 70 wins. A better bullpen and some growth in a few key players nudges them towards the middle 70s. A couple of guys play out of their heads, and the rest of the good stuff happens, they're challenging .500. The point of my post was to lay out that a ton of good things have to break right for this team to be .500. Magic fantasy must ensue for the Sox to win the division or pick off a wild card slot.