Chicago White Sox

Update post latest moves: Lineup: 1B: Murakami (L) 2B: Meidroth (R) SS: C. Montgomery (L) 3B: Vargas (R) LF: Baldwin (S) CF: Acuña (R) RF: Hays (R) DH: Quero (S) CA: Teel (L) Bench: BC: Lee (R) IF: Sosa (R) OF: Pereira (R) OF: Benintendi (L) Rotation: Smith (R) Martin (R) Kay (L) Burke (R) Newcomb (L) Bullpen: CL: Dominguez (R) SU: Taylor (R) SU: Leasure (R) MR: Hicks (R) MR: Eisert (L) MR: Vasil (R) MR: Gilbert (L) LR: Paez (R) DFA or Returned: IF: Mead (R) OF: Hill (R) RP: Alberto (R) RP: Hudson (L)

I agree with the general logic and if they think Sandlin is a legit option out of the gate, then I’m more comfortable going into the season without another rotation addition. I still wouldn’t mind them bringing someone like Verlander or Scherzer in on a one year deal though. Just don’t see them spending that much more money at this point.

Good for the Reds.

Bullpen is filling up fast now. There are now five locks from the right side in Dominguez, Hicks, Leasure, Taylor, & Vasil plus two potential Rule 5 picks (the odds of both sticking is slim now IMO baring a camp injury). I know Venable liked having three lefties last year, but seems extremely likely it will only be two at this point and we are fairly week from that side if Newcomb starts the year in the rotation.

That’s my guess as well. Would prefer Newcomb in the pen.

This is the part that I’m struggling with. Feels like between the group of guys with no options left, the likelihood now that at least one Rule 5 guy gets returned, and the possibility of some of the TJS guys going on the 60 day IL, there is going to be a windfall of open 40 man roster spots at some point before OD. Which makes the decision to protect Palette at the expense of certain others all the more puzzling.

I wonder if this is it for the rotation. Enter the season with Smith, Martin, & Key, and two of Burke, Newcomb, Cannon, & Sandlin. Then hope that some combo of the TJS crew and top prospects in AAA/AA push for spots by mid season. Just feels like a big chunk of the money that could have gone for a mid rotation was allocated to Hicks.

I like the Hicks gamble much better if they plan to use him as a reliever. Would still need Sandlin to be a dude to justify the gamble though.

Iriarte was one of the two most likely DFA candidates IMO and I think he will clear and be outrighted to AAA. I’m actually shocked by Romo being the second DFA as it makes me feel the Sox might carry three catchers (which I don’t like).

I don’t know enough about Sandlin to have strong feelings here, but adding two more guys who require 40 man spots (including one who has to be on the 26 man roster) seems kind of crazy to me. This trade screams Bannister and I wish I had more confidence in him when it comes to trades like this right now.

Yup, if we want an additional dedicated outfielder at this point, it probably should be a LH guy. We can go Pereira, Acuna, & Hayes against LHP, so the only value Hill brings is late inning defense & speed. There’s still some value in that, but not enough to warrant a bench on its own merits.

I’m not sure why there isn’t room to keep Sosa if we want to keep him. As I have mentioned before, we have lots of guys with positional versatility. In the infield alone, Colson can play some 3B if Vargas needs a day off and Meidroth can shift over to SS if Colson needs a day off. On top of that, you have Acuna that fill in at SS & 2B as needed and Baldwin who can play anywhere in the infield. The point I’m making here is that you don’t need a traditional reserve infielder who can handle SS since other guys can. I also don’t know who is ahead of Sosa in the pecking order for a bench spot. For now, let’s assume our starting OF most days is Baldwin, Acuna, & Hayes, that we only go with two catchers, and that Benitendi splits time between DH & LF. That leaves three more bench to fill and our only definite need is legit 4th OF (which I assume will be Pereira). IMO, there is certainly room for a guy who can beat up LHP to fill one of those two spots. Unless we can get something of real value for him, I’d hold onto Sosa and make him my primary DH against LHP with some fill it time at 2B. It may not be a huge role, but one that would expand if / when injuries take place.

We were supposedly getting a prospect in return from taking on the money.

Sure seems like there is more than $5M left based on rumored Hicks trade and how Getz talked about adding another SP during pre Sox Fest interviews.

Garbage bin. Unlikely obviously, but something they should be considering if the plan to keep both Quero & Teel.

Medical issues with Hicks or the other pitcher coming back?

If they keep Benintendi, he’ll be part of the OF mix, but hopefully just in a limited capacity.

My understanding is the Red Sox’s rotation is super ground ball heavy so Chase’s club offers significant value in that regard. I also think Chase will eventually hit RHP which Rome can’t really do.

I was really digging this post until that Meidroth jab! But your view on Campbell is spot on. His stock is legitimately down some and his long-term fit with the Red Sox is in question. Whether they’d trade him for a unicorn, analytics darling prospect that was previously in their system is a different question, but I wouldn’t be shocked at all if they are very open to moving him.

Red Sox fans would happily trade Campbell for Teel right now. There is literally nowhere for Campbell to play right now if they don’t trust his 2B defense.

Baldwin was elite in AAA last year and put up a 116 wRC+ when he returned post demotion over ~200 PA’s. The bat against RHP looks very kick much legit IMO. His outfield did suck last year in the corners, but there is reason to believe he can get better out there with more reps. He should be out there everyday against RHP at minimum and hopefully in the outfield predominantly.

Maybe…but he has the 53rd highest Steamer 600 projection for fWAR amongst positional players. And if you look at the list, every other player above or around him is a legit awesome baseball player. I think a lot of people actually underrate Chase and don’t see the unicorn that he is.

Worst case scenario he’s a greater OF bat against LHP. That production alone is probably worth $6M. And he won’t kill you against RHP, so provides some hedge if none of the younger OFs and AAAA fodder push for at-bats.

Oh it’s embarrassing no doubt, but candidly speaking I was worried cheap ass Jerry was going to pocket some of the savings.

The Sox will need to bump someone from the 40 man roster. I think Hudson is most likely with Iriarte & Hill outside possibilities.