11 minutes ago, CWSpalehoseCWS said:

I really like the Alberto pick. Seems like a guy they will be able to protect all year. I'm not sure how they are going to manage two guys in the pen again this year, especially with Paez. He's interesting but seems like the lack of innings and experience above High-A could be a problem.

Fugg it, that's how. Theres always injuries and such. I like both selections a lot

23 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I’m not going to lose sleep over losing Pallette, but not protecting him didn’t make any sense to me. It’s not like they have so much talent that there’s a roster crunch. Whatever.

Their 40-man is at 37. They seem to be interested in Pete Fairbanks, O'Hearn and they might want Tauchman back. Pick up any bullpen arm, and now you're cutting somebody. They probably just like the upside of Alexander and Paez better than Pallette. 

Edited December 10, 2025Dec 10 by WestEddy

46 minutes ago, mac9001 said:

Pretty high probability that Palette is walking 6-7 per 9 in the bigs and he's back in the Sox system by mid season. He may find his way into a MLB bullpen eventually, but his command still needs a lot of work.

I will say it’s better that it’s the Guardians who plan to compete next year than a true rebuilding team who could more easily absorb a lack of production.

“We need depth in the bullpen,” manager Stephen Vogt said at the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., this week. “We have four, maybe five guys in our bullpen, and we need eight.

“It’s an area we're addressing for sure.”

In fact, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti surmised on Tuesday that the bullpen is likely the area Cleveland’s brass has spent the most time on -- not only the past few days, but the past few weeks.

The Guardians have been examining multiple avenues through which they could acquire relievers, whether it be Major League or Minor League free agency, the trade market, the Rule 5 Draft (which is set for Wednesday) or otherwise.

“We’ve spent a lot of time on that,” Antonetti said. “We want to examine all those options and alternatives, and it's a long list of guys. So it takes a lot of time to work through.”

 

For now, as Vogt alluded to, there are only a handful of guys whom you could likely pencil into the bullpen picture: Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, Erik Sabrowski, Matt Festa and Tim Herrin. The Guardians also signed right-hander Connor Brogdon to a one-year Major League deal last Wednesday, and he will compete for a spot in Spring Training."

guardians.com/mlb.com

2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I will say it’s better that it’s the Guardians who plan to compete next year than a true rebuilding team who could more easily absorb a lack of production.

A Rule 5 selection doesn't just get offered back to his original team. He has to go through waivers, first. That's how the Sox got Vasil. 

4 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I will say it’s better that it’s the Guardians who plan to compete next year than a true rebuilding team who could more easily absorb a lack of production.

Also good point 

8 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Their 40-man is at 37. They seem to be interested in Pete Fairbanks, O'Hearn and they might want Tauchman back. Pick up any bullpen arm, and now you're cutting somebody. They probably just like the upside of Alexander and Paez better than Pallette. 

There is still some fat on the 40 man roster that can be trimmed.  I just struggle seeing how we can carry two Rule 5 guys in our bullpen next year with some of the other pitchers in place (including Gilbert with no options).  That being said, maybe you bring both into camp, get a good look at them, and then proceed for with one of them on the major league team.

I also have a feeling the Sox won't be keeping both of these guys.

3 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

A Rule 5 selection doesn't just get offered back to his original team. He has to go through waivers, first. That's how the Sox got Vasil. 

True, but the bad teams already passed on him once and hopefully won’t be excited about adding him to their active if he’s performing poorly.

11 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Their 40-man is at 37. They seem to be interested in Pete Fairbanks, O'Hearn and they might want Tauchman back. Pick up any bullpen arm, and now you're cutting somebody. They probably just like the upside of Alexander and Paez better than Pallette. 

Second round picks continue to give the Sox trouble in terms of fWAR generated per $$$ invested...and you can forget Fairbanks, he will go to a contending team.

Just let Pereira and Baldwin play. 

Tauchman is not even a band aid at this point.

57 minutes ago, joejoesox said:

like the paez pick, looks like he does give up a fair share of homers

And that was at A/A

6 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

There is still some fat on the 40 man roster that can be trimmed.  I just struggle seeing how we can carry two Rule 5 guys in our bullpen next year with some of the other pitchers in place (including Gilbert with no options).  That being said, maybe you bring both into camp, get a good look at them, and then proceed for with one of them on the major league team.

Maybe they package someone like Gilbert in a deal with Robert or Sosa.

5 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Second round picks continue to give the Sox trouble in terms of fWAR generated per $$$ invested...and you can forget Fairbanks, he will go to a contending team.

Just let Pereira and Baldwin play. 

Tauchman is not even a band aid at this point.

My point wasn't to argue about the likelihood of individual players signing with the Sox, rather that the Sox want to sign a left-handed bat, a backup OF, another starting pitcher and look to be interested in adding a back-end reliever, if not a couple extra arms for the bullpen. 

If they planned on taking two arms in the Rule 5 all along, they already saw the roster crunch. 

Alexander Alberto and Alexander Albertus?! Are they acquiring players alphabetically.

21 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

There is still some fat on the 40 man roster that can be trimmed.  I just struggle seeing how we can carry two Rule 5 guys in our bullpen next year with some of the other pitchers in place (including Gilbert with no options).  That being said, maybe you bring both into camp, get a good look at them, and then proceed for with one of them on the major league team.

And Pallette was some of the fat they felt could be trimmed. 

11 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Maybe they package someone like Gilbert in a deal with Robert or Sosa.

They could…but still hard to carry two Rule 5 pitchers.  I know we did last year, but that staff has even more holes (including the rotation) and Smith & Vasil were much more advanced than these kids.

Just now, WestEddy said:

And Pallette was some of the fat they felt could be trimmed. 

He wasn’t on the 40 man though.  I more meant Bryan Hudson, etc.

Just now, Chicago White Sox said:

They could…but still hard to carry two Rule 5 pitchers.  I know we did last year, but that staff has even more holes (including the rotation) and Smith & Vasil were much more advanced than these kids.

I mean the historic odds that the Sox can carry two Rule 5 guys is sooooo small.  Last year was a once in a generation type of output with two guys making it.  The most realistic outcome is that zero of these guys is on the the roster in November.  At the end of the day, there is plenty of spots, and these guys will figure it out on the field.

2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

He wasn’t on the 40 man though.  I more meant Bryan Hudson, etc.

Ben Cowles is definitely a DFA at some point in next couple of months.

Just have a feeling neither of these guys can survive the year without a questionable phantom IL trip.

If forced to bet, would say just 1 makes it out of ST.

Not exactly going out on a limb there.

1 minute ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Ben Cowles is definitely a DFA at some point in next couple of months.

Probably, but there is a lack of positional guys on the 40 man roster who won’t be on the 26 man roster.  Right now it’s just three in Cowles, Tanner, & Ramos (who is out of options).  Got to have a couple depth guys with options who can move on and off the roster in the event of injuries with having to start the clock on actual prospects.

Some people build through the draft.

Other teams build through free agency and trades.

The White Sox build through the Rule 5 draft; where you're 41'st man becomes our best man.

35 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

A Rule 5 selection doesn't just get offered back to his original team. He has to go through waivers, first. That's how the Sox got Vasil. 

1) I presume the Sox will be high on that waiver list 2) If (when) he's walking everyone there is likely not to be much of a market for his services

1 minute ago, mac9001 said:

1) I presume the Sox will be high on that waiver list 2) If (when) he's walking everyone there is likely not to be much of a market for his services

I believe the waiver wire order holds with the  end of last seasons standings until some point early into the actual season.  All winter long the Sox will sit at #2 behind Colorado.

Mead, Cowles, Hudson, Hill et al and you don't protect Palette?
Palette was a 2nd rounder only 3 years ago.