caulfield12

"In one non-injury related camp note, Boone said this week that the Yankees will get Ben Rice catching reps during the spring (relayed by Hoch). A bat-first player, Rice played almost exclusively first base during his 50-game rookie season. He started 31 games behind the dish in the minors last season. Rice has nearly 1000 career minor league innings as a catcher, though most scouting reports question whether he can stick." mlbtraderumors.com couple Big Ben Rice fans here

The A's are closing in on the Sox. Severino at $67 million and Rooker at $60 million this offseason. The Sox eventually will be the only franchise left after Pitt/Reynolds passed that mark.

Jerry btw.

https://global.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43844008/sources-diamondbacks-kendall-graveman-agree-1-year-deal

"In the White Sox’s case, they don’t have an heir apparent for Vaughn, but they do have Miguel Vargas and Bryan Ramos trying to get plate appearances at the same position, Lenyn Sosa coming off a .374/.398/.566 performance in September before heading to Venezuela for winter ball, and a Tim Elko who hasn’t yet removed himself from the running in Charlotte. Individually, none of those options are terribly exciting, but there’s also the possibility that they add help from the outside, be it in a trade or free agency." https://soxmachine.com/2024/10/andrew-vaughn-at-center-of-white-soxs-non-tender-debate/

The two Utes...

Over JR's dead body.

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/bat-tracking?_gl=1*15gn18p*_gcl_au*MTcxMDUxNjExMS4xNzM5NDQ5NjY2*_ga*MTE4NTgzMzUyNS4xNzIwMDU5MDQx*_ga_N8YFCZLYSZ*MTczOTU0NDIxMi4xNTcuMS4xNzM5NTQ0ODc2LjUxLjAuMTk4OTM5NzYxNQ.. Robert still 33rd in bat speed...Jo Adell really stands out here among the top group. Pham Sheets DeJong with good numbers...L.Sosa the highest ranked of the remaining players on the team.

https://www.mlb.com/news/orioles-outfielders-among-top-bat-speed-gainers Paul DeJong one of the top gainers for bat speed last year...

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/02/browns-unveil-financing-plan-for-24b-dome-stadium-in-brook-park.html

Did they hang up on Getz immediately or just curtly reply "no way!"?

"Gallo, Dominic Fletcher and former highly-regarded prospect Oscar Colás could compete for reps in camp." mlbtraderumors.com Hahaha...

American League 89 Baltimore 87′ ($160.0M 15) 89 New York 91′ ($284.8M 4) 84 Boston 86′ ($210.6M 9) 83 Tampa Bay 81′ ($81.7M 27) 82 Toronto 78′ ($242.8M 5) 85 Cleveland 82′ ($95.8M 25) 85 Minnesota 84′ ($149.6M 17) 82 Kansas City 83′ ($128.0M 20) 81 Detroit 83′ ($145.7M 19) 53 Chicago 53′ ($74.4M 29) 90 Houston 87′ ($219.9M 7) 86 Seattle 84′ ($152.3M 16) 85 Texas 85′ ($222.1M 6) 71 Sacramento 71′ ($76.5M 28) 70 Los Angeles 71′ ($204.5M 11 Current DraftKings projected season wins/betting line...White Sox 17 expected wins behind LAA

“Opportunity...I wanted to be with a team that felt like — not necessarily appreciate but know what I can do and believe I can contribute on a daily basis and that’s what it felt like here.” Dalbec "It kind of reminds me a little bit of when I was coming up with Atlanta. We’ll got into spring with 10-12 capable starters fighting for five spots. It’s bringing back that healthy competition. It’s not only going to make me better but it’s going to make everybody better if you just embrace it.” Bryse Wilson https://soxmachine.com/2025/02/the-white-sox-are-thoroughly-searching-the-rough-but-how-many-diamonds-will-they-find/

Bench Coach Lu Bob

JuJu Watkins #1 pick in 2026/27 8 blocks 38 points 11 rebounds 5 assists

"Galloween"...no way Getz would allow that when we supposedly kicked out all the bad apples from 2021-2023 teams. Maybe Jose Quintana...depending on price.

Totally forgot about Dalbec and Omar when compiling my "oldest/cheapest" possible list...you can always do a poll, not sure how much interest there would be

"Their (1962 Mets) team batting average, team earned run average (ERA), and team fielding percentage were all the worst in the major leagues that season. Despite the team's terrible performance, fans came out in droves. Their 1962 season attendance of 922,530 was good enough for sixth in the National League." So the big differences were the 1962 Mets were an expansion team and actually had quite solid fan support (not by today's numbers of course) for such a terrible team. https://www.mlb.com/news/1962-mets-losing-record-being-challenged-by-2024-white-sox Most of the Mets' players and coaching staff from 1962 fondly reminisced about their experiences...they weren't "fighting with the home crowd" the last 6 weeks as some Sox fans started rooting for losses, which undoubtedly brought those players together, just for their own psychological well-being's sake. The top salary on the team was reportedly $30,000. "All I ask is that you bust your heiny on that field." - Casey Stengel 1962 New York Mets Salaries Frank Thomas $30,000.00 Richie Ashburn $29,000.00 Clem Labine $20,000.00 Jay Hook $13,500.00 Joe Ginsberg $13,000.00 Bobby Gene Smith $10,500.00 Joe Christopher $6,500.00 Ed Kranepool $5,500.00

Maximus Gavinus Sheets will come back for his revenge...

Connor Joe is one possibility for that DH vacancy, though he’s ideally a platoon partner with Jason Heyward in left field. Non-roster options like Gavin Sheets and Mike Brosseau will get a shot, as will prospect Tirso Ornelas. “Those are good guys that we feel like have a chance to surprise a little bit,” Preller said of his DH options. “But we’re going to continue to look to see if we can add to the offense as well in the next couple weeks.” AJ Casavell, Padres' beat

Kristian Campbell’s chances of making the Opening Day roster seemed good when he arrived in Fort Myers earlier this month. They lessened significantly Wednesday, quite obviously. Campbell’s versatility (he played four different positions in 2024) still makes it possible he’s with the Red Sox in late March. But the Bregman addition will allow them to proceed with caution when it comes to Campbell, who while checking every box in the minors so far, has just 601 plate appearances as a professional. Expect Campbell — who was expected to compete at second base throughout camp before the Bregman addition — to get reps in different spots in spring training. There’s a real path to playing time in left field if Ceddanne Rafaela struggles and Jarren Duran plays center, though Roman Anthony’s existence further complicates things. Bregman’s deal is further proof of Boston’s organizational desire to not have its top prospects feel like they have to carry the 2025 team. And the structure of it, on what could very well be a high-dollar one-year deal — doesn’t block Campbell in the long-term. https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2025/02/how-alex-bregman-red-sox-signing-impacts-kristian-campbell-rafael-devers-others.html

It’s easy to see the Red Sox’s vision for plenty of doubles and pull-side homers. In fact, in 21 career games at Fenway, Bregman is slashing .375/.490/.750 with nine doubles, seven homers and 15 RBI. His 1.240 OPS at Fenway is his highest at any ballpark (minimum 20 games). The Red Sox came into this offseason looking to be part of the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Since then, they have pivoted and put together one of the more complete lineups in baseball. Bregman’s addition gives Boston the big right-handed bat they’d been seeking since the beginning of the winter, and he can slot in with Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers at the top of the lineup, providing Devers plenty of protection. Defensively, Bregman has been a third baseman his entire career, but according to reports, he will shift to second base with the Red Sox, allowing Devers to stay at third, at least for the time being. Bregman has appeared at second in his big-league career, but not since 2018. https://sports.yahoo.com/alex-bregmans-new-deal-puts-the-cherry-on-top-of-a-big-offseason-for-the-red-sox-183951885.html

Guardians' bullpen just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Weren't Clase and Cade Smith basically the two most valuable relievers in the AL last year? And then they're adding to it? It's a Hahn 2020-21 strategy, except not spending themselves into a quandary on too many expensive/over-priced veterans. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/cleveland-guardians/overview/_/year/2025 Guardians have now cleared $80 million in payroll...25th https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/cash/_/year/2025/sort/cash_total Then there's a HUGE $25 million payroll gap up to the Cincinnati Reds (24th) at $106.6 million Only six teams remaining with payrolls under $100 million (Oakland is expected to eventually get up to $105 million in the next year) CLE, TB, PITT, OAK, CHW, MIA

https://www.mlb.com/player/dick-allen-110157 It's probably more accurate to say the equivalent of 6 1/2 seasons. I don't know what would be the justification for going in as a member of the White (besides the MVP season in a Sox jersey) if he hadn't at least played MORE games in a Sox than Phillies jersey. Thought I saw where he'd played 9 years in Chicago, but that was OBVIOUSLY WAY WAY OFF. It's my mistake because I read an article about his career and hadn't realized he finished in 1975 and 1976 in Philly...he even had an 826 OPS at the age of 34 with them and finished with a 721 OPS at age 35 (OAK).