ChiSox59

Those 4 plus a FA. The Sox are not going to carry 2 catchers if one of them is Collins, essentially relegating him to backup duty. Whether that catcher is Grandal (yes, please) or a more of true backup - not sure.

Exactly. And frankly, Tim makes most of those plays. Alot of his errors do come fairly routine plays which are very correctable - and he's shown he's able to avoid those bad errors for stretches of time. What errors don't consider is the trade off of plays that Tim makes on balls that other short stops wouldn't even get to as opposed to more than his fair share of frustrating errors on routine plays. IMO, they at the very least even out, and if Tim can take a step forward on avoiding the more routine errors, he becomes an elite defender at SS. I am not giving that up for short term solution or to try a guy like Madrigal out at SS.

Yah, I don't really look at things that way. There is no way the Sox will "almost certainly do absolutely nothing" to improve Tim's defense. Not at all shocked that is your take though.

Yah, I don't really get it either. I don't see the harm, other than the Sox probably don't want to carry 5 "catchers" on their 40 man next season and figured exposing Mercedes to waivers in a month or two would certainly result in a claim and losing him.

A lot of them are, yes. Sort of regretted how I phrased that. But doesn't change the fact that he gets to balls other SS wouldn't even dream of.

I would bet that Madrigal would be considerably worse overall defensive shortstop than Anderson. Tim has the capability to be a very good defender at SS. His issues are largely correctable.

I don't believe that rule changed. Players needed to be on 40 man by September 1st in order to be eligible for postseason.

Many of his errors are on balls other shortstops wouldn't even dream of getting to. That matters. The errors are really bad and he needs to cut down on them. But I am not moving him to a position he has never played - probably in his life - without a long term solution for his position. That doesn't exist. Madrigal would not be an improvement.

While, considering Palka is in RF tonight and Collins at DH, calling up Mercedes would be taking at bats away from Collins. Really only situation I would see Mercedes getting at bats is the DH against LHP. I too would have given him a chance, but I understand why they didn't. Chances are pretty low he is taken in the rule 5 draft, so the Sox should be able to keep him stashed in AAA next season, and 40 man spots are valuable.

That makes more sense.

I’d take him over Covey. But perhaps. Like Ruiz arm....think he’s still in the plans as a pen option, but perhaps this is a sign he’s not.

Surprised no Ruiz. A little surprised to see Palka back. Not at all surprised to see no Mercedes.

Tim Anderson is the White Sox SS for the foreseeable future guys. I also don’t think he’s one of the worst defensive SS in the game either. Too many errors for sure, but he’s not an awful defender.

Glad to hear about Mendick.

The Sox always hold off on announcements until as late as possible. This isn't out of the norm.

The White Sox should have no price ranges they cannot play in this offseason. Nick fuckin' Castellanos certainly isn't out of it. That being said, he's a very meh fit.

I definitely want to aim higher. But I don't think he's an awful stop gap in the OF on a 1 year deal if the options A, B, C and D don't work out. I would definitely prefer guys like Nimmo, Polanco, Tapia, and Mazara via trade than Gordon. I don't find guys like Castellanos and Ozuna to be great fits unless they are OK DHing multiple times per week - and then you STILL need a RF.

I think Alex Gordon needs to be on the list. He makes a lot of sense on a 1 year deal if acquiring someone like Nimmo via trade is too expensive. I certainly won't be mad if the Sox sign Ozuna, but our OF defense just became shockingly horrible, and the lineup SUPER right handed. Also makes resigning Abreu not super realistic. If they resign Abreu and sign Ozuna, it makes finding a LH masher for DH paramount. Ozuna definitely would be an OK plan B.7, but any plan involving him would be a little ways down my list.

By my count these guys all have very little chance to on next year's roster and are currently on the 40 man and providing little or no value on the MLB club: Detwiler, Osich, Tilson, Palka, Jay, Banuelos, Castillo, Santiago and Skole. Those guys could easily all be DFA'd/released today. Guys like Covey, Medeiros, Engel, Cordell and Vieira are at best a coin flip to remain on the 40 man through the offseason, but probably aren't candidiates to get DFA'd today. Then you have guys like Nova, Yolmer, and Goins who are providing some value on the current 25 man and the Sox most certainly would not remove them from the roster this September. But all three guys are probably unlikely to be on the White Sox next season. That is 17 guys on the current 40 man. Not too hard to make some space for guys like Mercedes and Mendick who deserve a shot, but I don't expect to see either guys name called today.

Would Mercedes be a minor league FA if Sox don't add him to 40 man? If not, by adding him to the 40 man, they lose that spot, and perhaps feel they have better chance of retaining him by not adding him to the 40 man and no one taking him in the rule 5, as opposed to adding to 40 man, DFA/outright off 40 man after this season and someone else claiming him, but not having to carry him on 25 man roster. Or, more likely, the Sox just don't think much at all of Mercedes. I too don't see the harm in giving him a shot, but I'd be a little surprised if we hear his name later today. Same goes for Mendick.

Guessing Ruiz, Covey, Collins and Vieira. One of Tilson or Palka. Hoping Palka, guessing Tilson.

Thank you for responding is my absence.

Yes. A lot of dinky seeing eye singles until the 2 solo shots. But yes, it was ugly.

He needs to do that more. His hit tool has been borderline nonexistent.

I love the "Sox fans" on Twitter thrashing Cease and saying he needs to be sent down / shut down. They're the same people that were screaming for his promotion in June and early July, and would be complaining daily if he wasn't promoted. Comical stuff. He's here. Let him work through his shit.