Chicago White Sox

I’m growing optimistic about this team’s chances of competing this year. While the OF has uncertainty to it, I like the broader group of positional players Getz has put together and feel like potential reinforcements in Montgomery and Antonacci will help in fill in any gaps. Murakami and Colson being middle of the lineup anchors is essential to that though, so any shortfalls there and my hope goes out the window. The rotation is without question the big wild card. This is a poor group on paper, perhaps the worst in baseball. However, Smith is a legit SP and I truly believe in Burke’s talent and fully expect a rebound. From there, you got to hope that one of Kay or Martin can surprise a bit and maintain a spot. If so, I can see some combo of McDougal, Sandlin, Schultz, Smith, & Thorpe upgrading the last two spots by midseason. As I just posted, I expect Tanner to come fairly quick and likely knock out Fedde. The other kids could be ready by June or July. No guarantees these kids come up and produce immediately, but this a very talented group of pitching prospects and could see Shane Smith type production or better out of the gate

Neither guy has to be a flip candidate. By 2027 this team will be serious about trying to compete. In the unlikely event Kelenic is good, he can be a corner OF for us in two competitive seasons. And with essentially no long term payroll on the books, Murakami shouldn’t be an impossible resign unless he goes full Babe Ruth.

On the pitching side, here is how I see things shaking pending no more injuries or trades: Rotation: Smith (R) Kay (L) Martin (R) Burke (R) Fedde (R) Bullpen: CL: Dominguez (R) SU: Leasure (R) SU: Taylor (R) MR: Newcomb (L) MR: Vasil (R) MR: Gilbert (R) MR: Hicks (R) LR: Paez (R) Pitching staff feels mostly locked in at this point. While the last two rotation spots may technically be open, I’d be shocked if anyone took over Burke & Fedde to start the season. That being said, I really think McDougal could be up by May. He is not eligible for PPI, so there is zero reason to force him onto the OD roster. However, after 4 to 8 weeks in Charlotte I think he could get the call if all goes well. As such, that just leaves the final two bullpen spots as legitimate battles, which I expect to go to one RH and one LH. The second LH reliever role is wide open at the moment and I only went with Gilbert due to option status. I think there is a high possibility of Murphy winning this role. Beyond those two, both Eisert and Borucki are possibilities, but feel like they will start at Charlotte baring big camps. As for the RH side, Paez is the hands down favorite for the last spot. I don’t think he’s a guarantee, but I think the Sox believe he‘s a long term major league starter and will try their best to keep on the roster this season. His Rule 5 counterpart is certainly another guy who will be pushing for a spot, but Alberto is going to need a massive camp to jump Paez. Gonzalez has one option left but is probably Paez’s biggest immediate threat, while Berroa is probably his biggest long term threat once healthy. I wouldn’t be shocked if a NRI guy also pushed for a spot, but my guess is the Sox would carry Paez into the season before promoting one of them.

Here is what I’m expecting on the positional side assuming no further injuries or trades. Positional Group: IF: Murakami (L), Meidroth (R), Montgomery (L), Vargas (R), Sosa (R) OF: Hayes (R), Benintendi (L), Baldwin (S), Acuna (S), Pereira (R) CA: Teel (L), Quero (S), Lee (R) Main Lineup vs. RHP: Meidroth, 2B (R) Teel, CA (L) Montgomery, SS (L) Murakami, 1B (L) Vargas, 3B (R) Benintendi, LF (L) Hayes, RF (R) Quero, DH (S) Baldwin, CF (S) Main Lineup vs. LHP: Meidroth, 2B (R) Vargas, 3B (R) Hayes, LF (R) Montgomery, SS (L) Sosa, DH (R) Quero, CA (S) Murakami, 1B (L) Pereira, RF (R) Acuna, CF (S) As you can see above, there is fairly good balance against both RHP & LHP. I don’t see much of a role for Lee, but I can see an argument for holding him for a month and hoping a team suffers a catcher injury and Lee suddenly becomes tradable for something. After that, maybe Kelenic is ready for a spot or even Antonacci?

Kelenic can start the season in AAA. Unless he absolutely destroys the baseball this spring, that should be the no doubt plan. He was fucking dreadful last year and we should make him prove himself over a longer period before committing to him at the major league level.

I don’t really get what this means. Sending down one of your better hitters against RHP who can play six positions would be a fairly big deal. Are we not trying to win and also develop our best young major league ready players?

Why does learning how to play OF defense need to take place in the minors vs. the majors though? And who on the bubble is worth protecting over rostering a kid that just put up a 119 wRC+ over the 2H of the season (and 129 vs. RHP)? Against RHP, Baldwin should be on the lineup every single day.

While Baldwin’s bat still needs development, this final stage needs to be at the major league level. And while his outfield defense still needs a lot of work, I don’t see any benefit for that happening in the minors vs. the majors. As such, I just don’t see a reason to send him to AAA to simply protect one of Lee or Mead. If you desperately want to protect both of them, you could send Quero down to start the season and actually give Lee some runway in hopes of boosting his trade value. I’m not really in favor of that either, but there is more inherent logic to it in my opinion as it gives Teel & Quero everyday reps behind the plate for a short bit while we see how the DH / OF mix plays out. Ultimately though, I just don’t see the purpose of Mead on this roster unless there is an injury or a Sosa trade. And I don’t really love the idea of a third catcher and don’t see him being a long-term fit for this roster.

They can roster Pereira, Acuna, & one of Lee or Mead and keep control of Kelenic at AAA to start the season all while making Baldwin one of the OD 26. I just don’t see demoting Baldwin to save one of Lee or Mead for a month or so.

I don’t see how they could justify sending down Baldwin. He is clearly one of their best nine or 10 positional players and should be in the lineup most days.

I don’t see Murray making the OD roster. His ability to play SS is negated by us already having several other options who can play the position better than him. I see no way they keep him over another RH infielder in Mead who is out of options. To me, the final spot likely goes to Lee, Mead, Hill, or Kelenic.

Yep, pretty much applies to everyone but Smith. I wouldn’t be surprised if the end of season has four different guys in it when it’s all said and done. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Davis Martin is one of our two weakest pitchers by May. There are a lot of ways this rotation could go, but young guys forcing their way up is the one thing we know will eventually happen.

I don’t want to get overly excited about a random spring HR from a dude at the bottom end of our 40 man roster, but I like that Getz has added some pieces on the cheap to help give us a bit more depth at the AAA level. Hahn just banked on everyone on the majors being healthy and when that didn’t happen the org didn’t even have replacement level talent to call up at times and it was a huge problem.

Would love to see him pushing for a rotation spot by May.

He was already facing an uphill battle when first selected, but with the Dominguez signing and Hicks trade it’s going to be near impossible to roster both him and Paez (whom I think they like more). I guess injuries could change that, but even then there are other guys who will pushing him for a spot like Gonzalez and Berroa (if healthy).

Beautiful throw by Quero there

I want another Baldwin bomb here.

I personally think Robert ends up healthier with the Mets and/or other future clubs. I do think the White Sox are partly to blame for his struggles.

I’m just going to say it. If the rotation can surprise a bit (and I can think there is a non zero chance they can), this team will be sniffing at that last playoff spot.

Nothing against Acuna, but I really hope Brooks pushes for significant playing time in CF. Huge organizational weakness and his bat would really play there.

Brooks is a lock for the roster. His second half with the bat was simply too good to ignore. The only question is can he take a step forward with the glove in the OF and stake claim to an everyday role.

Brooks bomb! What a fucking stud!

Can’t wait to see Chase’s sexy new body regularly achieve 105+ MPH EV’s to shut up all the haters

Sacks packed with Sox

The hate is strong in this one