Y2Jimmy0

David Keller referenced finding impact talent that the club doesn't have access to in free agency as part of international strategy. They'll be going after kids. The biggest issue is that deals are basically signed through 2028 already.

They think it’s mechanical. We’ll see if they’re right

He already had TJ.

I think the interest is definitely real and they know him well. My issue is that I think Sox go under at 10 and pay $3 million or so at 44 and I wouldn’t give Fauske that type of cash. They can do better than that.

I'm guessing it's Elko down, Palacios DFA, Tauchman and Benintendi back. Lee optioned to AAA

I don’t think Doyle is a real option and he’ll be gone. Billy Carlson would be a dream. I think they’d prioritize Parker, Pierce over Cunningham at this point. Not in this class

He’s also not ready. Just hasn’t logged many hours as a catcher in general. Sox would be foolish to call him up at this point until it’s less than 45 days. They’ll want to leave him ROY eligible in 2026. It’s an infielder playing the outfield but Baldwin has to be able to play a solid outfield or he’s not a big leaguer imo. He has to play a super utility role.

They only have like $40K left in period that runs through December 15. They’re basically done

Here’s your context: Houser’s wife was in labor on Saturday. I was told that he was starting tomorrow when I first heard about the signing on Saturday. He flew in last night.

Callis was good on the SoxMachine podcast. Barring someone falling, he thinks it’ll be one of the prep shortstops or Kyson Witherspoon at 10.

It's not that they're cheap though. It's just poor planning and not enough investment into the international market. Ken Williams and the previous front office liked to hold money over for late arriving Cuban players. In order to spend the entire pool, you need all of these agreements in place years in advance. There aren't just talented players sitting around waiting to sign after January 15 in most cases. Having money remaining isn't a good strategy. With a new international director though, it's difficult to blame them.

I've argued this for years. It's ridiculous. I'll be expecting David Keller to spend his full allotment in 2027 and beyond.

I'd always rather spend the $1.5 million but Aldrin Batista was a pretty good outcome there at least. I'm sorry but you have no idea what you're talking about this time. It's just not the same this year under new leadership.

Is your implication here that the Sox should've just signed him instead? You understand that isn't a draft right?

It doesn’t mean the Sox like that player or had a deal with that player. I’d have to look at the Astros signings.

My latest: https://www.futuresox.net/2025/05/17/white-sox-2025-mlb-draft-notebook-3-0/

I believe they have an agreement with a Cuban and they’ve overspent their available pool

There aren't several teenage prospects that they could have instead. This year's situation is well documented. The White Sox changed scouting directors on the international side. David Keller basically had a class full of Marco Paddy's players because these guys are signed for years in advance. He also added Cuban righty Yobal Rodriguez and flipped Venezuelan outfielder Orlando Patino from the Dodgers. He can't just go out in the market and find unsigned players who are supposedly sitting around. It doesn't work that way. He and his scouts have to be prioritizing 2027, 2028 and even 2029 right now. Last year, $700K went unspent. I'll criticize them in the future if they continue to not spend their full pool on players but this really isn't the year to do so. Generally, I would agree with you on this but not this year. They fired Marco Paddy and had some $$ left over but not a significant amount. Keller signed a few pitchers out of the DR, Yobal Rodriguez out of Cuba and flipped outfielder Orlando Patino from the Dodgers. They know who is projected to be available and willing to sign between now and December 15. They clearly felt like getting Castro was a better idea. We'll never know the other options but it's highly unlikely that something of value was going to be available for $500K in the next few months.

All of the players available during this signing period are signed. Some random player could pop up in theory but guys usually wait until next signing period at this point. Where was it reported that they traded $500K

It has to be from current pool by rule. Sox had $543K remaining. It can only be traded be in increments or $250K or the entire pool. So they either traded $250K, $500K or $543K. Likely doesn’t matter. There’s nobody to sign and you could theoretically trade Castro. It’s way better than not using the $$.

The White Sox had $543K remaining and they just traded an undisclosed amount to the Astros

Because he wasn’t actually in charge and it doesn’t matter he thought?

I’m completely out in this front office if Grant Taylor doesn’t come to spring training in 2026 as a starting pitcher. I understand the innings restrictions and using him in big league bullpen to end 2025. If they’re already convinced that he’s best served as a high leverage reliever though, they’re morons.

True but Getz will be blamed if the pick doesn’t work so I understand why he’d make the call. Shirley is good at his job. He also drafted Chris Getz haha

I don’t know that he overruled anyone necessarily. He decided which player to take in his first draft as GM though. It’s pretty common.