spiderman

They cleared out the roster at the last trading deadline, let a few more players go (Anderson, Grandall, Bummer, Hendricks, Andrus, Clevinger) and have replaced them with Triple A depth. Maybe it's a bridge in a bad division to 2025, but what does that even mean? Are we really expecting significant talent from the minors to come up? Are they going to spend on free agents? It's hard to build anything sustainable without doing both.

I think they believe that being around .500 will mean they are competitive and in the AL Central, that may be true most years. So, I think they can/will claim they want to compete, but that must be taken into context that they probably don't need to win 90 games to be competitive, and, if things bring right, can "compete" in the AL Central. Agreed with your points though. This off-season, they are cutting payroll. They are trying to re-tool vs. rebuild, but these are not the moves a team that wants to win will make. Trading an ace with 2 years left only makes sense if you don't want to pay him. If you don't want to pay him, why would anyone think they are going to spend to actually compete? This will likely continue to be some patch-work roster.

They aren't willing to spend on any significant free agents OR their own talent so they are capped already to only be competitive as long as their minor league system produces talent on a consistent basis. They use free agency to complement their roster, but the chances of adding impact talent is low. They are cutting payroll right now and the roster looks awful on paper. They probably won't fully rebuild, but will do some middling where they improve the defense, patch together a pitching staff and try to hang around in the AL Central. There is no desire to win, it's more about being competitive.

Is Merriweather considered to be a leader? Looking forward to Bernstein and Holmes making ridiculous comments about this move (if they sign him) because he didn't get vaccinated.

I don't understand moves like this. Is Getz aware of the steaming pile of pooh that is the starting rotation/bullpen? The holes at C, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, RF and DH? Even if you think Moncada and Jiminez play better, this team is awful on paper. Hard to see them competing and makes little sense to be overpaying (or spending at all) on 2B who haven't been at league average in OPS+ in recent years.

Anyone see what Passan wrote about on ESPN+ this morning regarding Cease? Assuming it's just that the White Sox are engaged in trade talks with a few teams, but anything new?

Yeah, I guess I don't understand the point of trading Cease to fill holes. If you're going to trade Cease, which seems like the likely outcome, they need to focus on getting a team to move 3 of their top prospects. Why do we care about trading for a 2B who isn't going to make much of a difference on a team that would likely lose 90+ games? Trading Cease means you are rebuilding. They may not want to use that word, but if they want to scare off the remaining fanbase, trade him for major league talent that just fills holes to "shake things up".

If the White Sox are improving their infield defense, even with the lack of offense, is this the sign of a rebuild or a retooling? Same on Bummer...they decide to improve the defense now after they trade him, but they added at least one starting pitcher (we know they aren't going to spend on aby significant free agent) and add a few spare parts (including that infield defense) . Saying that, if they trade Cease and acquire 2 players who they expect to be part of the team for next year (say another starter and a RF), add a few more stop gap free agents for cheap....one more starter, 2 relievers another 2B.... Who is the team to beat in this division and can the White Sox compete with some mish mash of stopgaps?

They have legitimate holes in at least 3 starting pitching spots, probably 2-3 reliable relievers are needed and then we're needing a catcher, 2B, SS and RF - that's not even addressing adding actual impact players as much as just filling holes. Can they bargain shop on a few of these positions? That's probably what we're looking at if they don't want to compete in the market for top talent. It's hard though to see them not moving Cease for 2-3 top minor league players who they think can contribute within the next year or so and help keep their payroll down. I really don't see Jiminez being back either. He's a good hitter, but if he can't play a position and they are stressing defense....the only thing that can save him is his contract being more team friendly. Saying that, too many injuries. I like the concept of having players play more than one position to win games. Moncada is an excellent 3B, but if they were to sign someone who can play 3B/SS, let's consider what helps the team win day to day.

I'm not sure which players were available or not, but the bottom line is that the White Sox have depended on minor league talent playing RF/2B in the middle of their supposed window for WS contention.

You would have to receive at least 3 top 100 prospects (at least two in the top 30 or so).

They are back to calling Clevenger names and said that MLB only cleared him because the wife/girlfriend only wanted him to get help (which he voluntarily agreed to do), but they are not shy in calling him a horrible person,e etc. I still think their main issue with him is that he broke Covid rules. They keep suggesting that, even outside of the abuse accusations, that they should have known what a bad teammate/person he was, and this was well known, but they can only point to him breaking covid protocol in 2020; they have never mentioned what else would make him a bad teammate.

I only heard this briefly mentioned on the Score, but did the producer who reported this have more than 1 source? Have any other reporters independently verified that this happened? I'm not suggesting it didn't happen, but I would question it "Journalistic standards" ? were not folloowed, especially by that station.

They are more likely to re-shuffle the roster than a total rebuild, maybe free up some money, add some cheaper talent who can give them "flexibility" for next year's roster and their budget. It's hard to seem them going full in though on another rebuild. Without knowing their budget, and how much money they have next off-season, they need to address C, 2B (probably will be in-house), SS (probably Tim Anderson), 3B (probably Moncada with his contract), RF (probably Colas)....but you can see here already that they are probably still going to bring back most of the roster. Assuming they trade Giolito and/or don't bring him back next season, Lynn/Clevinger are also not likely to come back and it's hard to depend on Crochet or Kopech so they are Cease with a lot of questions. Any trades made before the deadline will probably bring back 1-2 backend of the rotation options for next season and/or bullpen arms assuming they trade 2-3 guys from the current roster. Lots of holes, probably not much money to go spending to fill it, and little help from the minors. This team is in a state of mediocrity.

I think the White Sox would be ok to pick up some salary for Lynn and Clevinger if they still saved some money. I don't think there's any chance though they would get anything of value in return other than $$$ savings. Building around Kopech and Moncada is already asking for issues. Colas is not really someone I would say you build around either - he may end up being a good RF. Really, outside of Cease and Robert, the rest of the team needs a makeover.

Those aren't bad examples so I'll give you credit for finding a few. I would say Boyd is due 5.2M on a 1 year deal and was rehabbing so there was some expectation he could pitch. The team probably wouldn't have been on the hook for much more of that $5.2M by August (vs. Hendricks is probably due around $5M more still at the end of July). Rosenthal seems like a closer comp to Hendriks...coming off so not a bad comp. Bottom line, I think Hendriks situation is even more dicey - chemo, injury and larger contract. Not a good combo. Could Hendriks be traded? Yes. You found some comps. Is it still extremely unlikely given the current situation? Yes.

First time for everything! It's the new thing to do - acquire a former all-star coming off chemo and who now has an elbow inujury. Sames like a new competiive advantage. Everyone loves Liam, Seems like a good guy. Teams aren't trading for him to be a good guy though in August if he hasn't been pitching with the issues he has. Let's try and be realistic.

Yes, of course. Teams chasing a playoff spot routinely take on pitchers who haven't pitched basically all year, have questions about durability post chemotherapy and has an elbow injury....all while making $15M (est) a season. Yes, of course!?

Teams are not going to be trying to trade for a player, coming off a recovery from cancer and now with some sort of elbow issue. If he were to come back and look like himself, maybe there's some interest, but it would still be limited. Bottom line - he hasn't pitched much, makes pretty good money and has major health concerns. There is no current market for a player like that, no matter how much we respect him.

Yep, if he was healthy and no medical concerns, I'd bring him back on the option. This team has too many holes to address though so I think the only path forward is a new deal that is more team friendly. It's possible that they could work it out because other teams will have the same concerns. Assuming no rebuild and more of a light shuffling of upcoming free agents, the White Sox will probably have some money to spend (if they choose too) in free agency by moving on from Lynn, Clevinger, Hendriks, Grandall and a few relievers. Some of that money will go into raises, but there should be some left over to add a few pieces, but this team has no history of spending on bigger names and would probably keep it to more bargain shopping.

He can't have any value right now given his medical situation. White Sox will probably keep him and decline his option in the off-season. Maybe they work out a new deal where he can return next season, but I think the White Sox are more likely to move on.

Is there a return for Hendriks right now? I would be surprised if he had much value with his health status. I think the White Sox won't pick up his option though if there's any concern on his health (which seems likely to continue being a concern).

I don't know that the White Sox are going into any kind of rebuild. That's not to say they wouldn't take a better prospect who is 2 years away vs. one who can make an immediate impact, but I think they will try to add 2-3 possible prospects for next season. I think Giolito can return 1-2 good prospects - if the starting pitching market is thin. Maybe they package him with a reliever to slightly upgrade return value.

Aren't Anderson, Hendriks, Graveman, Clevinger, and Lynn all on club options for next season? I don't think they would bring back Clevinger and Lynn for sure. Probably not Hendriks either. I think Anderson should be exercised since it's only a small raise and I'd rather gamble on him getting things figured out. I would expect the White Sox will require two well regarded prospects for Giolito. One of them needs to be a starting pitcher that they would expect to be in the rotation next season. Right now, that rotation is dangerously thin with Cease and probably Kopech/Crochet (both of whom are not reliable). Although it would make a lot of sense to get Giolito signed, but he's unlikely to sign without testing free agency and the White Sox are not known for offering long-term deals to pitchers. They will have some payroll flexibility, but a lot of holes to fill without much help coming from the minors. They will need help at C, 2B, RF and potentially creative solutions at 3B/SS. Jimenez, Burger, Colas and Remillard will all likely be in the mix, but it's really concerning to continue bringing back most of the same offense that struggles to score runs. A bigger shakeup is necessary with the poor performance and injury concerns. On the pitching side, they will need to add 1-2 starters in free agency and probably 1-2 bullpen arms, although I think all of us are hoping they stop giving relievers multi-year deals. I don't expect this team to rebuild, but "reload". However, they are doing it with only some payroll flexibility, and that's assuming they don't cut payroll after seeing attendance drop drastically this year.

He has a place on the roster as a utility player, but not as a platoon/regular starter (as he has been used). No reason to cut him, but they need to use like he is the last positional player on your roster (which he should be).