10 minutes ago, HOFHurt35 said:

My God.  Just let Vargas, Baldwin,  Sosa, Ramos, etc get all the reps available.   I don't understand why they always need to pay for useless veterans to clog play time?

Agreed if they want him at 2b. No need for that. But for 3b not sure Ramos should be up right away and Vargas shouldn't be there at all. So that can work.

I don't think there should be any concern about Vargas getting playing time, regardless of this move.  The team seems pretty high on him, and they'd better be since he was the "big return" in a trade.  Vaughn, Vargas, and Rojas are probably certainties.  Sosa, Ramos, Meidroth, Baldwin, and Montgomery will be fighting for the last few spots.

So what does the infield look like now?

C- Lee/Thaiss

1B Vaughn

2B Meidroth

SS Baldwin

3B Rojas

Where are Sosa and Vargas and Ramos?

Edited January 2, 20251 yr by Nardiwashere

15 minutes ago, Nardiwashere said:

So what does the infield look like now?

C- Lee/Thaiss

1B Vaughn

2B Meidroth

SS Baldwin

3B Rojas

Where are Sosa and Vargas and Ramos?

Ramos - AAA, Sosa I feel like makes the team as the 2B (unless Meidroth just flat out beats him out for the OD spot). No idea on Vargas.

13 minutes ago, Nardiwashere said:

So what does the infield look like now?

C- Lee/Thaiss

1B Vaughn

2B Meidroth

SS Baldwin

3B Rojas

Where are Sosa and Vargas and Ramos?

Very early speculation, but I'd say

1B Vaughn/Vargas

2B Meidroth

SS Baldwin/Sosa

3B Rojas/Vargas

Vargas and Vaughn will get DH time, too.

Ramos probably starts in AAA.

Sosa is out of options and Meidroth isn’t on the 40 man. I think there’s a solid chance Meidroth and Ramos begin the year in Charlotte.

Edited January 2, 20251 yr by Timmy U

I actually think this is one of our better signings. Context does matter here. But it is way better than Nicky Lopez in my opinion. At least he has a little pop, a HR every 60ABs. Nicky had 1 every 300ABs. Can steal a few bases. He is not the worst backup out there. 

And you can use the usual line we do for all our signings, "If he pans out we can flip him for a low level prospect at the deadline." 😐

I've gotta remember to get those season tickets.

The 2024 White Sox team had one of the worse offenses and bullpens in their history. Nothing has been added  this off season to make those areas better. This losing on purpose is really lousy. I realize that the low payroll will make the franchise  one of the most profitable teams in MLB but still  this whole situation is shameful.

Seeing Lee starting at catcher again makes me feel a little nauseous. 

I was kind of hoping they would be in on that Hyeseong Kim (who’s posting period is up tomorrow) but this would seem to effectively end that.

I like Rojas. Was hoping we’d make a move to get him from AZ back when we were contending. 

1 hour ago, PaleAleSox said:

I don't think that has anything to do with it. A good player would gladly take the Sox money if they handed out an actual big contract.

Not without paying a substantial premium.

1 hour ago, PaleAleSox said:

I don't think that has anything to do with it. A good player would gladly take the Sox money if they handed out an actual big contract.

And that big contact has to be a significant increase over a team that doesn't suck. I'm other words they have to overpay for the same player. Tough spot to be in, but they deserve it. 

15 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

I was kind of hoping they would be in on that Hyeseong Kim (who’s posting period is up tomorrow) but this would seem to effectively end that.

The front office just doesn't have this type of money to spend unfortunately. 

Rojas made $3 million last year so this has to be for Nicky Lopez money right?

52 minutes ago, HOFHurt35 said:

My God.  Just let Vargas, Baldwin,  Sosa, Ramos, etc get all the reps available.   I don't understand why they always need to pay for useless veterans to clog play time?

Might just be late inning defense when they have a lead.

They hired a run prevention coach who will do a better job with positioning which the Sox were bad at. He'll get some starts too at the positions he's better at and he's versatile enough to fill in for multiple injured IF or OF.

The Sox are going to see if some these young guys can at least show OBP and hit among Sosa, Vargas, Meidroth. After those 3 and Vaughn you likely have all 3 of Quero, Teel and  C Mont. In AAA until they gain the extra year .

Currently opening day starting lineup is a mystery .

4 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

The front office just doesn't have this type of money to spend unfortunately. 

Or they "claim" they don't have money to spend. 

8 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Might just be late inning defense when they have a lead.

They hired a run prevention coach who will do a better job with positioning which the Sox were bad at. He'll get some starts too at the positions he's better at and he's versatile enough to fill in for multiple injured IF or OF.

The Sox are going to see if some these young guys can at least show OBP and hit among Sosa, Vargas, Meidroth. After those 3 and Vaughn you likely have all 3 of Quero, Teel and  C Mont. In AAA until they gain the extra year .

Currently opening day starting lineup is a mystery .

He's gotta be starting here. If he wanted to be a bench player, he would go to a competitive team.

36 minutes ago, WBWSF said:

The 2024 White Sox team had one of the worse offenses and bullpens in their history. Nothing has been added  this off season to make those areas better. This losing on purpose is really lousy. I realize that the low payroll will make the franchise  one of the most profitable teams in MLB but still  this whole situation is shameful.

The bullpen will be better by sheer variance and luck, if that makes you feel any better. The offense...

12 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Or they "claim" they don't have money to spend. 

The owner is claiming that they don't, yes. Has nothing to do with the front office. They're spending what has been budgeted. 

13 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

The Sox are going to see if some these young guys can at least show OBP and hit among Sosa, Vargas, Meidroth. 

It doesn’t seem like they’re going to see this to me? It seems like those guys are being gradually blocked. 

10 minutes ago, Buehrle>Wood said:

The bullpen will be better by sheer variance and luck, if that makes you feel any better.

People said that coming into 2024 too.

14 minutes ago, Balta1701 said:

People said that coming into 2024 too.

There was ways for it to get worse coming off 2023 though. It was bad, not nothing anyone had not seen before. There is no way they replicate a 35% save percentage. Even a terrible bullpen can get you to 60%.

Edited January 2, 20251 yr by Buehrle>Wood

7 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

He's gotta be starting here. If he wanted to be a bench player, he would go to a competitive team.

We'll see. I don't think anyone is penciled in for 130-140 games. It may end up that way like if Sosa actually can hit and not butcher wherever they stick unless he's the main DH.

He may start at the beginning of the season more than he does after the Sox gain the extra year on Colson .Once Colson is up that'll change the dynamic.

They also aren't going to give up on Vargas.If he and Sosa start hitting Rojas will play less as a starter and more as a relief glove. Basically anyone who hits is going to be given a long leash to show they aren't completely incompetent in the field. They know what Rojas is. If he manages to get over .5 WAR he'll be gone by the deadline or have a greatly reduced role.