28. Chicago White Sox (total score: 11/30) | 2024 rank: 26

• A series of trades and some strong recent draft picks have the farm system looking stronger, but the complete lack of players whom we know for sure to be good major leaguers keeps Chicago near the bottom of these rankings. While there are some promising pieces in place, we’re still a long way from knowing which players will form the core of the next good White Sox team — let alone how long it will take for such a team to come to fruition.

Chicago’s epic collective failure in 2024 was predominantly rooted in its abysmal offense, and it’s not readily apparent which young hitters could emerge as above-average big-league bats in the short term. Lee and Vargas have flopped offensively since being acquired via trade. Sosa had a strong September last year and was tremendous in the Venezuelan Winter League, but his upside is limited.

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-26-and-under-power-rankings-taking-stock-of-the-young-talent-in-each-mlb-organization-starting-with-the-phillies-at-no-30-163043087.html

Edited February 18, 20251 yr by caulfield12

Both Montgomery's, Quero and Grant Taylor with the most volatility across all these recent rankings.

Author looks at straight path to starting SS job but questions the wisdom of pushing Colson too quickly up to Chicago.

Is a higher number good?

27 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Is a higher number good?

No. Quite the opposite.

It's because of the weighting for the talent at the major league level currently...especially 2024 performances.

Robert is 27 now.  Vaughn will be 27 the first week of the season. Another factor.

Phillies last because they're such a veteran heavy team...same for the Yankees except Volpe and Dominguez.

Basically it means 3rd worst in the majors.

Which is a direct relationship with the lack of development at theater league level the last 2-3 years.

Edited February 18, 20251 yr by caulfield12

Ok. 

I’m pretty surprised that they were at 26th

The main culprit for Chicago's low overall rating was their quartet of young MLB position players. Catcher Korey Lee, second baseman Lenyn Sosa, third baseman Miguel Vargas and shortstop Colson Montgomery were the four hitters taken into account, and they combined to earn a 1-out-of-10 grade from Mintz and Shusterman.

In a way, that may have been a bit generous on Mintz and Shusterman's part.

Montgomery is ranked as the No. 39 prospect in baseball, having not yet made his big league debut, so qualifying him as an MLB player could be slightly premature. At the same time, Montgomery hit .214 with a .710 OPS in Triple-A last season, so perhaps his inclusion didn't do much to boost the team's score in that category.

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/chicago_white_soxs_collection_of_young_bats_given_brutal_grade_entering_2025/s1_17016_41772536

 

Big league hitters 1/10

Big league pitchers 2/10

Hitting/pitching pre-MLB prospects 4/5 + 4/5

Total 11/30

 

Marlins and Rockies expected to finish bottom 3 in standings as well...

Edited February 18, 20251 yr by caulfield12

2024

"If not for Luis Robert Jr. and Colson Montgomery, the White Sox would be dead last in our rankings. Those two in this organization are like that meme of a $2 million Bugatti in a raggedy driveway, though Andrew Vaughn probably doesn’t like that comparison."

 

 

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Nick Nastrini, RHP Jordan Leasure, LHP Jake Eder, RHP Prelander Berroa

• Young major league pitchers Garrett Crochet, Deivi Garcia (1/5)

• Those were both WAY WAY off.

• 12 points last year's vs. 11 in 2025, 6/10 alone for Robert/Vaughn/Fletcher and 3/5 for Colson +...minor league/prospect hitters

• https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-26-and-under-power-rankings-nos-20-16-how-high-are-the-ceilings-for-bobby-witt-jr-oneil-cruz-and-evan-carter-160013786.html

Edited February 18, 20251 yr by caulfield12

Nice to see three former Sox pitchers in the Top 11 for fantasy baseball drafts.  Well, sorta...

https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy-baseball-rankings-starting-pitcher-sp-tiers-for-2025-drafts-183159229.html

 

Rodon/Lopez "third tier"...jury still out on Giolito's eventual return.

Q still on the FA market.

Edited February 18, 20251 yr by caulfield12

10 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

2024

"If not for Luis Robert Jr. and Colson Montgomery, the White Sox would be dead last in our rankings. Those two in this organization are like that meme of a $2 million Bugatti in a raggedy driveway, though Andrew Vaughn probably doesn’t like that comparison."

 

 

• Prospect pitchers (2/5): RHP Nick Nastrini, RHP Jordan Leasure, LHP Jake Eder, RHP Prelander Berroa

• Young major league pitchers Garrett Crochet, Deivi Garcia (1/5)

• Those were both WAY WAY off.

• 12 points last year's vs. 11 in 2025, 6/10 alone for Robert/Vaughn/Fletcher and 3/5 for Colson +...minor league/prospect hitters

• https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-26-and-under-power-rankings-nos-20-16-how-high-are-the-ceilings-for-bobby-witt-jr-oneil-cruz-and-evan-carter-160013786.html

If the Mets are only one spot ahead of the White Sox, and the Phillies only 2 spots, I have no idea what they're measuring. 

12 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

If the Mets are only one spot ahead of the White Sox, and the Phillies only 2 spots, I have no idea what they're measuring. 

26 year old and under players

20 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

If the Mets are only one spot ahead of the White Sox, and the Phillies only 2 spots, I have no idea what they're measuring. 

The quality of 26 and under players in the organization...

20 points possible for major league young players (Robert/Vaughn/Fletcher last year), 5 points each for prospects, hitting and pitching.

30 points total.

Not scientific, but a good snapshot.

The Guardians, Twins and Tigers were all up there in the Top 10-11 last year, where they remain.   KC was lagging.   SD #8/9 based on guys like Merrill (turning 22 on OD this year)/Tatis, Jr. (26, last year of "eligibility").  They had a much better farm system a year ago, but cleaned it out for Tanner Scott and Jason Adam at the deadline, so I would guess they're #10-12/13 in this year's rankings when they eventually come out.

 

So it's not shocking that the experienced veteran teams in NYY, NYM and Phillies (we've discussed their prospects over Robert trades pretty consistently this offseason) would be at the "top" (in this case the bottom).

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-26-and-under-power-rankings-nos-25-21-giants-angels-rangers-hoping-their-young-cores-step-forward-in-2025-163136655.html

Numbers 25-21...no more AL Central teams yet.

https://sports.yahoo.com/video/mlb-26-under-rankings-big-000955609.html

Teams 16-20

 

20. Minnesota Twins

19. KC Royals

18. Oakland/Sacramento A's

17. Chicago Cubs

16. St. Louis Cardinals

 

Obviously, the biggest teams for the White Sox to be concerned with are going to be the Guardians and Tigers.

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/mlb-26-and-under-power-rankings-nos-20-16-bobby-witt-jr-lawrence-butler-pete-crow-armstrong-already-making-an-impact-170152887.html

Edited February 22, 20251 yr by caulfield12

30. Chicago White Sox

"Win average: 54.2 (Last: 62.5, 29th)
In the playoffs: 0.0% (Last: 0.5%)
Champions: 0.0% (Last 0.0%)

Expectation: Fewer losses.

Reality: The White Sox will lose fewer games, so by that low bar, the season is sure to be a success. Chicago is nowhere near turning this thing back in the right direction. In fact, they aren't finished offloading veterans, with Luis Robert Jr. a near certainty to go at the very least. No team should (or even could) be as bad as the White Sox were last season. But once you're there, you might as well stay the course because no amount of Jerry Reinsdorf's money would turn this thing around quickly. Think of it like this: The biggest year-over-year improvement during the expansion era (since 1961) was Arizona's leap from an expansion year 65 wins to 100 the season after. If the White Sox matched that improvement, they'd still go 76-86."

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/43904999/mlb-2025-stock-watch-ranking-spring-training-offseason-expectation-reality

 

Edited February 21, 20251 yr by caulfield12

LOL.  I misread the title and thought we were ranked 28th out of 26.  I was guessing some bastard ranked two AAA teams better.  Yes, I am aware there are 30 teams, like I said a misread.

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/mlb-26-and-under-power-rankings-nos-15-11-juan-soto-fernando-tatis-jr-among-the-young-superstars-powering-contenders-200029983.html

 

#15-11

Padres Tigers Mets DBacks Rays etc.

 

Down to the Top 10...Baltimore, Atlanta, Seattle, Cleveland, Cincy, LAD, Brewers, Boston, Pittsburgh and Washington

Edited February 25, 20251 yr by caulfield12

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/mlb-26-and-under-power-rankings-nos-10-6-paul-skenes-jackson-chourio-helping-their-teams-rise-up-the-list-205829388.html

10. Nats

9. Cleveland

8. Pitt

7. Atlanta

6. Milwaukee

Baltimore Seattle Cincy Dodgers Red Sox are the Top 5

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/marcelo-mayer-roman-anthony-kristian-campbell-impress-in-camp?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

 

Elias still the center of controversy lol.

And the Mariners not supporting their pitching core.

Edited February 28, 20251 yr by caulfield12

https://sports.yahoo.com/video/mlb-26-under-rankings-stacked-163235388.html

1. Red Sox  Big 3 and Crochet

2. Orioles  Grayson and hitting

3. Mariners  pitching and Rodriguez

4. Reds  De la Cruz McLain Greene

5. Dodgers

 

White Sox drafted last for 2025 WS winners draft...

30. Chicago White Sox
"Leitch: After 121 losses in 2024, things can only get better in 2025. There are some players to watch here, too. Will Luis Robert Jr. do enough to rebuild his trade value? Can Miguel Vargas, Korey Lee and Colson Montgomery establish themselves as big league regulars? Can Joey Gallo resurrect his career? The White Sox may be a little better this year under new manager Will Venable – but only a little."

https://www.mlb.com/news/picking-2025-world-series-favorites

 

Edited March 6, 20251 yr by caulfield12