South Side Hit Men

Getz needs a 3-4 + years for a full assessment, including 1-2 + years with legitimate budget flexibility. A lot of the initial takes blaming his FA signings didn't have take into account the full extent of payroll cutting, believing net cuts would likely be $20M-$30M, not $50M-$60M. The bleeding won't stop until the Sox can stabilize attendance, because it impacts their discretionary spending more than most teams in a Top 10 market. Getz purged embarrassing players and staff, and using a shotgun approach to get 3-4 hits with your dozen low cost FA shells made sense. Beyond continuing to improve organizational development and acquisition mentioned in your post and elsewhere, the key to whether this has a chance is whether Getz can put together a well rounded 26/40 man roster by 2026/2027. I believe Getz is capable if he continues to be patient and make savvy trades. Getz has displayed a lot more patience with FAs and trades than Hahn, who seemed to get trades or signings finalized ASAP, without being patient enough to avoid bad contracts. Hahn struck out on most big moves, while winning a decent number of smaller type trades and signings. He was among the worst ever at roster construction. Getz has only had the opportunity at GM smallball. Hopefully he can improve Sox fortunes on the bigger moves over the next few seasons, with Cease and the draft being the opportunity to shine in 2024.

I'm really hoping he is sent down or DFA'd, because beyond the 2 solid months in 2021 he parlayed into three years of MLB baseball, you can't carry a platoon only DH only player with four bench spots. Especially one with an under .700 OPS with all but under 100 ABs with the platoon advantage. Crochet concerns me more. It's not his fault he was misused in 2021 if he in fact was/is ever capable of starting. He has 13 short inning college starts since high school. The time to convert him was in 2021. Even if he beats the odds and successfully converts, he will start 20-25 games next year if all goes perfect, with his first full year as starter in 2026, his walk year. If he is willing to sign an extension to stay here and work through a conversion, perhaps that might make sense. For the current team and time before the next legitimate competitive window, transitioning to a successful closer or set up role and being flipped or extended is what makes sense at this stage.

Merkin “predicts” the 26 man Opening Day roster. https://www.mlb.com/news/white-sox-2024-opening-day-roster Starters: C M. Maldonado; 1B A. Vaughn; 2B N. Lopez; SS P. DeJong; 3B Y. Moncada; LF A. Benintendi; CF L. Robert Jr.; RF D. Fletcher; DH E. Jimenez Reserves: C M. Stassi; INF/OF D. Mendick; OF K. Pillar; DH G. Sheets Rotation: 1 D. Cease; 2 M. Kopech; 3 E. Fedde; 4 M. Soroka; 5 C. Flexen Bullpen: J. Brebbia; J. Chavez; T. Hill; J. Shuster; T. Toussaint; D. Garcia; S. Drohan (Rule 5); P. Berroa Others Mentioned AAA / Reserves C K. Lee; E. Quero INF C. Montgomery OF Z. DeLoach INF/OF Z. Remillard SP G. Crochet (AAA to stretch out); N. Nastrini; J. Eder RP J. Leasure; J. Lambert; T. Banks; A. Speas; J. Barlow

The White Sox’ $2.92M remaining “official” balance listed in the tweet is for the January 15, 2024 - January 14, 2025 signing period, which matches the tweet. I don’t understand why he referred to it as 2023, as that period is over.

I think the Pirates want to at least sell to fans they are trying. Seems like $2.5M is a better allocation of limited resources for Pittsburgh than $4.25M to Maldonado for the Sox. Would rather the Sox have used that money for a viable RF or more bullpen or starters that can improve and be flipped, than dumping Mena for a platoon reserve OFer.

Setting aside the Dominican Republic players, Baseball America announced four additional Venezuelans which I included in my OG post. Wonder what the hold up is on announcing those players given the information Baseball America reported. If the Sox don’t fully max out their pool this year, I don’t have much of any hope of any long term progress for this team until a new non Reinsdorf family owner is in place. Getz is the last chance to convince Jerry that this low cost prospect hunting can payoff significantly down the road.

The IFSA doles out hundreds of tickets to grifters like the two you referenced all season to Sox and Bears games.

He was signed November 30th and counts toward last year’s pool. The four players I listed remain the four officially signed through today per posted online transactions. The pool runs between January 15 of this and next year, and they have $2.92M left less any signings they haven’t officially recorded.

https://www.mlb.com/news/chris-getz-discusses-possibility-of-dylan-cease-trade The “short term” piece concerns me a bit. Trade Cease for 2026 -2027 ready prospects. Don’t care much who they acquire the next two years beyond prospects. After trading Santos and Cease, they are at least 20 players short of competing in 2025.

The Olympics (and other billion dollar sports schemes) are gifts that keep on delivering debt and misfortunate to the communities holding the bag. There are numerous Olympic infrastructure graveyards throughout the world. Meanwhile the Bears want to stick Chicago taxpayers with $625M debt bomb while fleeing and keeping our city name wherever they plop their carpetbag. We are so fortunate Chicago came in dead last in Daley's 2016 Olympic grift scheme, after pawning off our parking meters and Skyway for a penny, if that, on the dollar.

Soldier Field also hosts maybe 20 or so Chicago Fire MLS games and perhaps a dozen or so concerts. Wrigley hosts a dozen or so concerts in season, an ice skating rink in the winter and typically one or two Northwestern games or NHL outdoor games. Sox Park gets a few concerts and high school games, but the high profile events typically select the first two venues. Pritzker plans to meet soon with the developers. Will be interested to hear what he says after the meeting. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/02/09/pritzker-staff-related-midwest/

Extremes, be it the little to no defense or little to no offense, is not ideal. Moving Tim to 2B would improve his defensive contribution. He definitely would be motivated if he can rebound physically and mentally. There should be plenty of chances to play Soler at DH between off days and perhaps injuries to Eloy. You can also play Soler in LF and Pillar or Fletcher and RF, and sit Benintendi if he continues to be absolutely worthless on the field and at the plate. If Benintendi can rebound with improved health and approach, then you have added depth with the inevitable Eloy injury. Soler would be the only Sox beyond Luis who could hit 35-40 HRs with this home park.

You underestimate how bad this franchise has been over time. Even if Robert Jr. is traded before Opening Day, it would be a challenge to crack the Top 10. Projected 2024 fWAR: 7.3 (3.0 replacing Luis Robert Jr. with 0.0) Combined Team fWAR (C, 2B, SS and CF) in White Sox History (Ranked Lowest to Highest): fWAR Year (# of games played) Bottom Ten -6.7 1934 (153) 54-99-1 -3.2 1931 (156) 56-97-3 -2.3 1972 (154) 87-87 -1.6 1973 (162) 77-85 -0.3 2007 (162) 72-90 1.3 1929 (152) 59-93 1.7 1938 (149) 65-83-1 2.0 1944 (154) 71-83 2.7 1999 (162) 75-86-1 2.7 1910 (156) 68-85-3 Top Ten 19.8 1959 (156) 94-60-2 American League Pennant 18.6 1905 (158) 92-60-6 17.8 1915 (155) 93-61-1 17.7 1920 (154) 96-58 17.2 1957 (155) 90-64-1 16.9 2004 (162) 83-79 16.2 1965 (162) 95-67 16.1 1955 (155) 91-63-1 15.7 1958 (155) 82-72-1 15.6 1919 (140) 88-52 American League Pennant

I'd add $31M to the current $132M for an updated $163M 2024 payroll after your additions of Chapman ($20M AAV), Clevinger ($12M AAV) and Pillar ($3M AAV). Pretty sure Jerry before hiring Getz told him he was stuck with Pedro until middle to end of 2024 and he must cut as much payroll as possible for the next few seasons. But if Jerry won a $1B Powerball or something and he authorized $30M more today, Pillar could work, but I would just stick with Moncada at 3B, and I pass on Clevinger because of who he is, not necessarily his projected performance. He pitched well for the Sox, but I'm glad he is gone. With approximately $35M in additional money & FanGraphs Crowd Sourced projected Median AAVs, I'd go this route with the spending: LF A. Benintendi (L) 1B A. Vaughn (R) CF L. Robert Jr. (R) DH E. Jimenez (R) 3B Y. Moncada (S) RF J. Soler (R) $16.0M SS P. DeJong (R) C M. Maldonado (R) 2B T. Anderson (R) $8.0M Bench: C M. Stassi (R); INF N. Lopez (L); INF/OF L. Sosa (R); OF D. Fletcher (L) D. Cease (R) H. J. Ryu (L) $10.0M E. Fedde (R) M. Soroka (R) M. Kopech (R) Bullpen: Closer: J. Brebbia (R) Set Up: T. Hill (L); J. Chavez (R); G. Crochet (L) Middle: D. Garcia (R); S. Drohan (L); Swing: T. Toussaint (R); C. Flexen (R) AAA Pitchers with Options Starters: J. Eder (L); J. Shuster (L); N. Nastrini (R); J. Scholtens (R) Relievers: T. Banks (L); A. Speas (R); P. Berroa (R); S. Peralta (L); J. Lambert (R) - Unless he shines in ST, just waive him and reclaim or lose him, oh well. He's 29. Not sure what happens Arbitration wise if the Sox kept G. Crochet down to stretch out as far as he can go all season at Charlotte. If they still only have one more year of control with him getting a second arb hearing, than you may as well keep him as a reliever. If the clock freezes, and he can stay healthy, I'd keep him in Charlotte all year and if he can hack 100-120 + innings in 2025, give him a rotation spot at that time. This should have been done in 2021 before his injury.

None of those teams are trying. They much rather have prospects with 3 years at the minimum, and then up to 3 more if they are worth an arbitration offer. The teams that are trying aren't as enticed about the low salary unless they are on the borderline in terms of the "luxury tax", which most or all will not be (they will be either clearly over or under). Anaheim last year was the lone team I ever recall being very close to the borderline, and acting on it accordingly (selectively adding in July and then cutting dramatically to start September.

Fangraph Projections: 2025 FA Starting Pitchers X > 0.9 2024 DC on projected X < .500 teams Dylan Cease = 3.1 3.4 Cleveland .496 Shane Bieber UFA 3.1 Milwaukee .497 Freddy Peralta Club Option 2.1 Cincinnati .491 Frankie Montas Mutual Option 2.1 New York Mets .496 Sean Manaea Opt-Out 1.7 Pittsburgh .476 Martin Perez UFA 1.7 New York Mets .496 Jose Quintana UFA 1.6 Chicago Cubs .498 Kyle Hendricks UFA 1.6 New York Mets .496 Luis Severino UFA 1.5 Kansas City .468 Michael Wacha Player Option 1.5 Detroit .492 Jack Flaherty UFA 1.5 San Francisco Giants .489 Alex Cobb UFA 1.4 Oakland .447 Ross Stripling UFA 1.4 Oakland .447 Alex Wood UFA 1.2 Chicago White Sox .417 Michael Soroka UFA 1.2 Milwaukee Brewers .497 Wade Miley Mutual Option 1.0 Washington .408 Patrick Corbin UFA 1.0 New York Mets .496 Adrian Houser UFA

The Sox traded Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez for Quero and Bush. The Angels were in a unique situation as they had Ohtani for likely the last time and were one of a few teams (along with Texas) going all in at the deadline. Lucas received $38.25M ($19.25M AAV) and Lopez $30M ($10M AAV) by two of the more prominent GMs in the game. Not commenting on how this compares to the Cease trade.

Neighborhood related, not specifically stadium related, but I look forward to checking out the renovated Ramova Theatre a mile west of Comiskey Park II, including Other Half’s taproom and possibly an event. Really hope they are successful long term, and it’s nice to have a third brewery to visit pre/post Sox Game (joining Whiner and Marz). Chinatown/Bridgeport property does very well being close to downtown via car or El. A thoughtful large project on the IFSA land can really turn into a win win for all involved, whether the Fire comes in with a much smaller stadium and parking footprint (all the lots north of 35th redeveloped) or whether the entire site is all residential with viable retail amenities and no sports component. People aren’t exactly flocking to DePaul’s new stadium, and I don’t think the Fire or sports should be the first concept there just because it is now if the Sox leave the area. Same owner, different failed coach and organization.

What if they build a Wrigley Field replica and plop it into Ukrainian Village to trick DC into paying for it. Chicago declares eminent domain to connect Jerry’s UC and Sox properties. All land between Division, Ashland, the Eisenhower and Western. Hand CTU currently within the parcel new land elsewhere, perhaps Logan Square. Jerry might crack $200M payroll if the stars align.

They tanked for three years to close out the 2010s to save $150M in payroll, not to gain higher draft choices. Tanking in 2023-2025, perhaps through 2029, is once again to save $50M + in payroll each season. Their two solid picks the past decade were after their two best previous seasons (#22 Montgomery & #26 Noah Schultz). They pissed away their draft picks when they were highest, based both on incompetence and not even giving a s%*# what they did with these players (Burger, Madrigal, Crochet, Vaughn). Tanking in MLB doesn’t mean the same thing as in the other three sports. It means up to 20-22 MLB owners each season will not attempt to compete whatsoever to maximize profit. Between guaranteed MLB shared profits and league revenue and guaranteed carriage fees for RSN owners, all owners need are 26 humans wearing copyrighted laundry to guarantee large ROI, far more than if they park it in the stock market.

Fans for 18 of 30 MLB teams could possibly stream in market games in 2025, though neither Chicago team would be on that list at this juncture. Hope Jerry doesn't kill this for local Sox fans. My understanding is there still are no final plans in terms of what happens with NBC Sports Chicago after September. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/rob-manfred-discusses-rsn-situation-expansion-timeline.html

Vegas' WNBA team nearly outdrew the A's last year. The only people who want Fisher's team in Vegas are construction workers, it's the only reason this weak watered down deal passed after the better one was rejected. 2023 Average Home Attendance 10,275 Oakland A's 9,551 WNBA Las Vegas Aces 6,838 Summerlin (Las Vegas) AAA Aviators (Down from a high of 9,299 in 2019)

Currently Washington is limited to 23% ownership of their broadcasting rights, increasing 1% per year since they relocated, and Baltimore owning the rest. This may change per comments from Manfred yesterday. It appears the Nationals sale might be being held up due to their lack of their own rights, with a proposed solution that Baltimore may either sell the MASN or the Nationals' rights within the network before the Baltimore sale is approved. Per Manfred, he would like to see the Baltimore sale formally approved over the next two months. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/report-mlb-can-make-orioles-relinquish-nationals-tv-rights-as-condition-of-sale.html Possible solution to the Orioles / MASN / Nationals situation Timing of approving the Orioles Sale

2026 will be a much better year for Cease hitting the market than 2024. There is a much weaker pool of SP Free Agents available in two years than what free agents and trading teams are facing this off-season. The Mets and likely Padres will join the Dodgers, Rangers, Yankees, Phillies, Toronto and Houston (Verlander will be 43) as active participants at the high end of the SP market. New Orioles and Nationals ownership will be in place and might significantly bump payroll to make a splash. Hell, even the big revenue teams with alligator arms when it comes to FA and spending like the Giants, Cardinals, Cubs and Red Sox may even put a decent bid out there.