OD 26 Man Roster Projection

[ptatc]

2 hours ago, Timmy U said:

They knew it was coming, but still probably stings. McDougal will probably be up first, but Charlotte is not an easy place to pitch for anyone.

According to reports they were told before Spring Training began. Both of them and Smith.

[oldsox]

Is there any chance that Meidroth gets optioned?

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

37 minutes ago, oldsox said:

Is there any chance that Meidroth gets optioned?

Highly unlikely.

[Chicago White Sox]

2 hours ago, oldsox said:

Is there any chance that Meidroth gets optioned?

Why would he get optioned?

[GreenSox]

6 hours ago, Timmy U said:

They knew it was coming, but still probably stings. McDougal will probably be up first, but Charlotte is not an easy place to pitch for anyone.

Charlotte is such an abyss.  Does anyone, hitter or pitcher, improve there?
Maybe they do but their stats don't show it. 

[WestEddy]

9 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Charlotte is such an abyss.  Does anyone, hitter or pitcher, improve there?
Maybe they do but their stats don't show it. 

Brooks Baldwin was OPSing around .580, went to Charlotte, and OPSed 1.180, hitting 12 HRs in 29 games. 

[oldsox]

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Why would he get optioned?

I'm not convinced he will ever hit.

If Acuna moves to second, Meidroth sits

Sosa is clearly a better hitter.

Antonacci is pushing it.

I'm just thinking out loud, but if me makes the team out of ST, as expected, and gets off to a slow start offensively, it could happen.

[WestEddy]

12 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Charlotte is such an abyss.  Does anyone, hitter or pitcher, improve there?
Maybe they do but their stats don't show it. 

On the pitching side, Payton Pallette had a nice AAA season. Yoendrys Gomes started 11 games in AAA and basically won him a rotation spot on the big club. 

[WestEddy]

LaMond Pope writes up the positional and pitching battles shaping up in camp

Chicago White Sox: Who will make the opening-day roster

His guess:

Rotation - RHP Shane Smith, LHP Anthony Kay, RHP Davis Martin, RHP Sean Burke, RHP Erick Fedde
Bullpen - Newcomb, Murphy, Vasil, Cannon, RHP Grant Taylor, RHP Jordan Leasure, RHP Jordan Hicks, RHP Seranthony Domínguez
C - Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Korey Lee
IF - Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, Lenyn Sosa, Curtis Mead
OF - Andrew Benintendi, Austin Hays, Brooks Baldwin, Luisangel Acuña

[GreenSox]

1 hour ago, WestEddy said:

On the pitching side, Payton Pallette had a nice AAA season. Yoendrys Gomes started 11 games in AAA and basically won him a rotation spot on the big club. 

Gomes was pretty good in the majors too.

 

31 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

LaMond Pope writes up the positional and pitching battles shaping up in camp

Chicago White Sox: Who will make the opening-day roster

His guess:

Rotation - RHP Shane Smith, LHP Anthony Kay, RHP Davis Martin, RHP Sean Burke, RHP Erick Fedde
Bullpen - Newcomb, Murphy, Vasil, Cannon, RHP Grant Taylor, RHP Jordan Leasure, RHP Jordan Hicks, RHP Seranthony Domínguez
C - Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Korey Lee
IF - Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, Lenyn Sosa, Curtis Mead
OF - Andrew Benintendi, Austin Hays, Brooks Baldwin, Luisangel Acuña

I would say that they need to trade Lee;  
Neither Rule 5 guy makes the team.  Alberto pitched okay.  The guy from the RedSox really had no chance from the outset.   I guess they might have some deal worked out (the Rays owe us).
It would be unfortunate to just cut Gilbert and Eisert (perhaps he has options?).
I'll never understand Mead
Just cut Benitendi

Edited yesterday at 03:00 AM by GreenSox

[WestEddy]

1 hour ago, GreenSox said:

Gomes was pretty good in the majors too.

 

I would say that they need to trade Lee;  
Neither Rule 5 guy makes the team.  Alberto pitched okay.  The guy from the RedSox really had no chance from the outset.   I guess they might have some deal worked out (the Rays owe us).
It would be unfortunate to just cut Gilbert and Eisert (perhaps he has options?).
I'll never understand Mead
Just cut Benitendi

If they keep Lee on the roster, that means they want to put Teel and Quero at DH on their catching off days. That makes Benintendi useless. Sosa also has to play as often as possible. The other thing about Pope's guess is that the outfield has 4 OFs, two of which will back up the infield, and one of which they want to primarily DH.

I don't believe they're going to eat 2 years of Benintendi's salary. Lee and Mead both have to be raking to make the roster. I'd say one of Lee or Mead has to go to make room for Kelenic or Pereira. I'd expect Pereira to open the season on the IL. 

I suppose in a perfect world, they'd cut Benintendi, trade Lee, then roster Kelenic and Hill (or Pereira if he's fit). 

[tray]

8 hours ago, oldsox said:

I'm not convinced he will ever hit.

If Acuna moves to second, Meidroth sits

Sosa is clearly a better hitter.

Antonacci is pushing it.

I'm just thinking out loud, but if me makes the team out of ST, as expected, and gets off to a slow start offensively, it could happen.

All valid points. 

[tray]

 

I was hoping to see Everson Pereira out there this Spring. On paper he profiles as a player who could be a pretty good CFer. I have not seen Acuna playing Center so I am wondering if he has the instincts and ability to play that difficult position, i.e., quick recognition/ good reads on fly balls, and the ability to make long throws. I hope he does, because as of now, there doesn't seem to be a good option. And no, Baldwin can't be the regular CFer. 

[Y2Jimmy0]

On 3/6/2026 at 10:24 AM, 46DidIt said:

I think Hagen Smith should get two more full years of minor league development, personally. Put him on the Randy Johnson trajectory

I think he'll be up pretty quickly. I don't think Hagen develops his third pitch while throwing in the minors. There's just not enough opportunity to throw it 

14 hours ago, oldsox said:

Is there any chance that Meidroth gets optioned?

No. He's the 2B. 

10 hours ago, oldsox said:

I'm not convinced he will ever hit.

If Acuna moves to second, Meidroth sits

Sosa is clearly a better hitter.

Antonacci is pushing it.

I'm just thinking out loud, but if me makes the team out of ST, as expected, and gets off to a slow start offensively, it could happen.

Acuna will basically be the every day CF. Antonacci is definitely pushing guys though. 

10 hours ago, WestEddy said:

LaMond Pope writes up the positional and pitching battles shaping up in camp

Chicago White Sox: Who will make the opening-day roster

His guess:

Rotation - RHP Shane Smith, LHP Anthony Kay, RHP Davis Martin, RHP Sean Burke, RHP Erick Fedde
Bullpen - Newcomb, Murphy, Vasil, Cannon, RHP Grant Taylor, RHP Jordan Leasure, RHP Jordan Hicks, RHP Seranthony Domínguez
C - Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Korey Lee
IF - Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, Lenyn Sosa, Curtis Mead
OF - Andrew Benintendi, Austin Hays, Brooks Baldwin, Luisangel Acuña

I'd be surprised if the Sox carried Lee. I'd also think Cannon gets optioned and they keep a R5 arm. 

[Falstaff]

10 hours ago, WestEddy said:

LaMond Pope writes up the positional and pitching battles shaping up in camp

Chicago White Sox: Who will make the opening-day roster

His guess:

Rotation - RHP Shane Smith, LHP Anthony Kay, RHP Davis Martin, RHP Sean Burke, RHP Erick Fedde
Bullpen - Newcomb, Murphy, Vasil, Cannon, RHP Grant Taylor, RHP Jordan Leasure, RHP Jordan Hicks, RHP Seranthony Domínguez
C - Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Korey Lee
IF - Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, Lenyn Sosa, Curtis Mead
OF - Andrew Benintendi, Austin Hays, Brooks Baldwin, Luisangel Acuña

The starting pitching is weak; Burke is going to be kept on a short leash.

I think the bullpen will be respectable, especially if Dominguez can lock down the closer position. Taylor, Hicks, and Leasure could be spot closers when Domínguez's workload requires a breather.

[Timmy U]

51 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

I think he'll be up pretty quickly. I don't think Hagen develops his third pitch while throwing in the minors. There's just not enough opportunity to throw it 

No. He's the 2B. 

Acuna will basically be the every day CF. Antonacci is definitely pushing guys though. 

I'd be surprised if the Sox carried Lee. I'd also think Cannon gets optioned and they keep a R5 arm. 

I was watching a Phillies broadcast and they said they were looking for optional starting pitching depth. With Cannon, Davitt, the Big Three, and all the guys coming off TJS, is Cannon expendable? Maybe get a complex league lotto ticket or two and clear space on the 40?

[ptatc]

42 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

I was watching a Phillies broadcast and they said they were looking for optional starting pitching depth. With Cannon, Davitt, the Big Three, and all the guys coming off TJS, is Cannon expendable? Maybe get a complex league lotto ticket or two and clear space on the 40?

I would make that deal right now.

[ptatc]

1 hour ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

I think he'll be up pretty quickly. I don't think Hagen develops his third pitch while throwing in the minors.

Yeah, there comes a time where pitchers have to learn to get MLB hitters out. His stuff is so good that minor league hitters will just swing at it. MLB hitters won't. He will walk even more during his early MLB time until he figures it out.

[southsider2k5]

31 minutes ago, ptatc said:

Yeah, there comes a time where pitchers have to learn to get MLB hitters out. His stuff is so good that minor league hitters will just swing at it. MLB hitters won't. He will walk even more during his early MLB time until he figures it out.

This is why mediocre to bad walk numbers are a big red flag

[GreenSox]

2 hours ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

I think he'll be up pretty quickly. I don't think Hagen develops his third pitch while throwing in the minors. There's just not enough opportunity to throw it 

No. He's the 2B. 

Acuna will basically be the every day CF. Antonacci is definitely pushing guys though. 

I'd be surprised if the Sox carried Lee. I'd also think Cannon gets optioned and they keep a R5 arm. 

Smith was consensus top 10 if not top 5...is it normal for college pitchers ranked so high to not have a 3rd pitch?  MLB is a tough place to learn.  But he needs one.  And the Sox need some 1s and 2s.

I guess the ideal would be for the Sox to rehab Fedde again, move him in June or July, and have room for the young aces (hopefully).  

Edited 12 hours ago by GreenSox

[Chicago White Sox]

12 hours ago, WestEddy said:

LaMond Pope writes up the positional and pitching battles shaping up in camp

Chicago White Sox: Who will make the opening-day roster

His guess:

Rotation - RHP Shane Smith, LHP Anthony Kay, RHP Davis Martin, RHP Sean Burke, RHP Erick Fedde
Bullpen - Newcomb, Murphy, Vasil, Cannon, RHP Grant Taylor, RHP Jordan Leasure, RHP Jordan Hicks, RHP Seranthony Domínguez
C - Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Korey Lee
IF - Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, Lenyn Sosa, Curtis Mead
OF - Andrew Benintendi, Austin Hays, Brooks Baldwin, Luisangel Acuña

Too many infielders IMO if you plan to also roster Lee.  I feel pretty strongly the Sox carry five OFs if you include Baldwin & Acuna (who obviously will be mostly used out there).  Benitendi will be DHing a decent amount and the above roster would leave no OF backup on those days.  As such, one of Pereira, Kelenic, or Hill is a safe bet to make the OD squad.  I think Mead only makes the team if they the Sox trade or cut bait on Lee.

[Chicago White Sox]

10 hours ago, WestEddy said:

If they keep Lee on the roster, that means they want to put Teel and Quero at DH on their catching off days. That makes Benintendi useless. Sosa also has to play as often as possible. The other thing about Pope's guess is that the outfield has 4 OFs, two of which will back up the infield, and one of which they want to primarily DH.

I don't believe they're going to eat 2 years of Benintendi's salary. Lee and Mead both have to be raking to make the roster. I'd say one of Lee or Mead has to go to make room for Kelenic or Pereira. I'd expect Pereira to open the season on the IL. 

I suppose in a perfect world, they'd cut Benintendi, trade Lee, then roster Kelenic and Hill (or Pereira if he's fit). 

Didn’t see this until now, but fully agree.  To me, we can either keep Lee or Mead, not both of them.

[Chicago White Sox]

17 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Smith was consensus top 10 if not top 5...is it normal for college pitchers ranked so high to not have a 3rd pitch?  MLB is a tough place to learn.  But he needs one.  And the Sox need some 1s and 2s.

I guess the ideal would be for the Sox to rehab Fedde again, move him in June or July, and have room for the young aces (hopefully).  

I don’t see Fedde as someone that the front office brought in with high hopes of rehabbing and eventually trading for something of real value.  He’s a dirt cheap placeholder to buy a few weeks or months until the bigger name prospects or the TJS guys are ready for a rotation spot.  Obviously they worked with him before and may feel there is a non zero chance to get him back on track, but that’s factored into his $1.5M.  My point is once a better, younger option is ready, I don’t see us hesitating cutting bait on Fedde or moving him to long relief.  I pray he’s out of the rotation well before July or a lot of things have likely gone wrong IMO.

[ChiSoxFanMike]

8 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I don’t see Fedde as someone that the front office brought in with high hopes of rehabbing and eventually trading for something of real value.  He’s a dirt cheap placeholder to buy a few weeks or months until the bigger name prospects or the TJS guys are ready for a rotation spot.  Obviously they worked with him before and may feel there is a non zero chance to get him back on track, but that’s factored into his $1.5M.  My point is once a better, younger option is ready, I don’t see us hesitating cutting bait on Fedde or moving him to long relief.  I pray he’s out of the rotation well before July or a lot of things have likely gone wrong IMO.

I honestly wouldn’t be that surprised if the rotation by the end of the season is entirely different than what it will be on Opening Day, except for maybe Shane Smith. 

[Chicago White Sox]

14 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I honestly wouldn’t be that surprised if the rotation by the end of the season is entirely different than what it will be on Opening Day, except for maybe Shane Smith. 

Shane Smith and maybe Sean Burke are the only two guys I expect to still be in the rotation by year-end.  Otherwise, there is a long list of names who should eventually uproot or force a trade of Fedde, Kay, & Martin.