White Sox sign Jarred Kelenic, non-roster invite

[WhiteSox2023]

3 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

It would be cool

He could even post the s%*# talk to us as he is driving his comfy Jeep Grand Wagoneer on the south side.

[southsider2k5]

8 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

The only point that I was making with Sosa and Vargas is that sometimes young players don’t pan out and excel immediately.

You and Chris Getz can continue to dumpster dive for this.

[Chicago White Sox]

1 hour ago, CWSpalehoseCWS said:

I don't they are necessarily assured a starting gig, but I do believe teams sign guys to NRI's with handshake agreements they have a higher chance to make the team in order to not disrupt or make any rash decisions regarding the 40-Man roster before heading into ST. It just seems like Kelenic has a great shot at making the team, they obviously really like his potential, and there are glaring holes in the OF. Baldwin is literally his only competition and he is most definitely not a RF. Montgomery is in the wings, but there is literally no reason to hand him the job or rush him to the majors after only 125 AB's in Birmingham.

We traded for Periera and gave him a 40 man roster spot.  Baldwin hit too good down the stretch to not get consistent at-bats somewhere and the lack of reps in the OF last year shouldn’t be used against him IMO.  And then you have Hill who was also tendered and given a 40 man spot.  If we assume Benintendi is the LF, it’s actually kind of a filled OF but with room for someone to overtake Periera or Hill.  If they plan to make Benintendi mostly DH, then Kelenic’s chance to make the OD roster vastly improve.  This is all assuming no other additions either.

Don’t get me wrong, I could see Kelenic making the OD roster, but I don’t think it should be expected.  And I don’t think that conflicts with Kelenic looking at the guys in front of him and saying “Chicago is my best spot for a major league job” with no guarantees he will got one.  The reality is everyone ahead of him was some combo of good in the majors or AAA last year and he wasn’t.  To me, it should be a cut and dry uphill battle for him to make the team, but one not impossible to imagine.

Edited 5 hours ago by Chicago White Sox

[WhiteSox2023]

37 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

You and Chris Getz can continue to dumpster dive for this.

Thus is the life of a Sox fan.  However, if Shaw is already considered to be a dumpster dive, then the Sox don’t have much hope.

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

2 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

We traded for Periera and gave him a 40 man roster spot.  Baldwin hit too good down the stretch to not get consistent at-bats somewhere and the lack of reps in the OF last year shouldn’t be used against him IMO.  And then you have Hill who was also tendered and given a 40 man spot.  If we assume Benintendi is the LF, it’s actually kind of a filled OF but with room for someone to overtake Periera or Hill.  If they plan to make Benintendi mostly DH, then Kelenic’s chance to make the OD roster vastly improve.  This is all assuming no other additions either.

Don’t get me wrong, I could see Kelenic making the OD roster, but I don’t think it should be expected.  And I don’t think that conflicts with Kelenic looking at the guys in front of him and saying “Chicago is my best spot for a major league job” with no guarantees he will got one.  The reality is everyone ahead of him was some combo of good in the majors or AAA last year and he wasn’t.  To me, it should be a cut and dry uphill battle for him to make the team, but one not impossible to imagine.

I think that's we differ - I don't really see Benny being the everyday LF. He just seems too broken and frankly too atrocious out there. I would assume it's increasingly likely we don't see Teel and Q both playing at the same time like we did at the end of last season. Venable doesn't seem to like having both of them in the lineup, and Romo (+ his option flexibility) really makes Lee expendable now. If we assume that ends up being the case, then they won't be carrying three catchers, and you gain another bench spot. You can get a lot of playing time for all those guys you mentioned if you have a rotating DH spot. I don't think this is that crazy to see as an opening day setup:

LF - Baldwin/Kelenic/Periera
CF - Robert
RF - Kelenic/Periera (this works as a platoon)
DH - Benintendi
BN - Hill (defensive replacement and pinch runner in late in close games + Robert's eventual replacement when he inevitably gets hurt again)

[Chicago White Sox]

7 minutes ago, CWSpalehoseCWS said:

I think that's we differ - I don't really see Benny being the everyday LF. He just seems too broken and frankly too atrocious out there. I would assume it's increasingly likely we don't see Teel and Q both playing at the same time like we did at the end of last season. Venable doesn't seem to like having both of them in the lineup, and Romo (+ his option flexibility) really makes Lee expendable now. If we assume that ends up being the case, then they won't be carrying three catchers, and you gain another bench spot. You can get a lot of playing time for all those guys you mentioned if you have a rotating DH spot. I don't think this is that crazy to see as an opening day setup:

LF - Baldwin/Kelenic/Periera
CF - Robert
RF - Kelenic/Periera (this works as a platoon)
DH - Benintendi
BN - Hill (defensive replacement and pinch runner in late in close games + Robert's eventual replacement when he inevitably gets hurt again)

Just to be clear, you think the Sox are going with a straight catcher platoon and won’t regularly have Teel & Quero in the lineup at the same time?

[Bob Sacamano]

3 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Just to be clear, you think the Sox are going with a straight catcher platoon and won’t regularly have Teel & Quero in the lineup at the same time?

Hasn’t Getz said Benni is going to DH more? It sure seems like it’ll be 2 catchers. I don’t like that idea but yeah, it would probably be a platoon with Quero getting some ABs against righties (it would be unavoidable with days games after night games and more righties).

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

1 minute ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Just to be clear, you think the Sox are going with a straight catcher platoon and won’t regularly have Teel & Quero in the lineup at the same time?

I'd play both, but I don't think it's a slam dunk will see both in the lineup on a regular basis. If they think that freeing up the third catcher spot to another position player makes more sense for their roster flexibility, I think they will do so. I think that's also why we've heard so many rumors about them shopping Quero - because they realize the excessive value they have behind the plate, and wanted to see if they could pivot that value to another position of need instead of possibly wasting it on the bench.

[Chicago White Sox]

3 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Hasn’t Getz said Benni is going to DH more? It sure seems like it’ll be 2 catchers. I don’t like that idea but yeah, it would probably be a platoon with Quero getting some ABs against righties (it would be unavoidable with days games after night games and more righties).

I see no way that Teel & Quero get significantly less playing time than they did last year.  Combined they had 973 PA’s across AAA and the minors.  The White Sox only had 654 PA’s from their catchers combined like year.  If you’re keeping both, you have to find a way to get them another 300+ PA’s and that means both playing at the same time about half the time.  My guess is Benintendi splits time between DH and LF in hopes of less outfield usage keeping him healthier and making him less bad out there.  That would probably open up enough at-bats for Teel & Quero at DH.  But again, they both have to be in the lineup or else we are just wasting them.

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

13 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Hasn’t Getz said Benni is going to DH more? It sure seems like it’ll be 2 catchers. I don’t like that idea but yeah, it would probably be a platoon with Quero getting some ABs against righties (it would be unavoidable with days games after night games and more righties).

He has, and that's what I'm trying to get at - if Benny sees increased time at DH, that automatically gives both Teel/Quero less time together in the same lineup.

[Bob Sacamano]

35 minutes ago, CWSpalehoseCWS said:

He has, and that's what I'm trying to get at - if Benny sees increased time at DH, that automatically gives both Teel/Quero less time together in the same lineup.

Yep

[Bob Sacamano]

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I see no way that Teel & Quero get significantly less playing time than they did last year.  Combined they had 973 PA’s across AAA and the minors.  The White Sox only had 654 PA’s from their catchers combined like year.  If you’re keeping both, you have to find a way to get them another 300+ PA’s and that means both playing at the same time about half the time.  My guess is Benintendi splits time between DH and LF in hopes of less outfield usage keeping him healthier and making him less bad out there.  That would probably open up enough at-bats for Teel & Quero at DH.  But again, they both have to be in the lineup or else we are just wasting them.

They weren’t at the same level the entire time. Plus, in AA where you have a bigger roster, they were alternating at C and DH every day when they were. If they don’t alternate on a game to game basis, one will be sitting.

Edited 2 hours ago by Bob Sacamano

[Chicago White Sox]

28 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

They weren’t at the same level the entire time. Plus, in AA where you have a bigger roster, they were alternating at C and DH every day when they were. If they don’t alternate on a game to game basis, one will be sitting.

I’m not following.  Are you suggesting we are going to restrict these guys to like 330 PA’s each?  Getz should be fired immediately if that’s his plan.  I don’t think you are actually suggest that though.

[Bob Sacamano]

15 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I’m not following.  Are you suggesting we are going to restrict these guys to like 330 PA’s each?  Getz should be fired immediately if that’s his plan.  I don’t think you are actually suggest that though.

Don’t really know how it’s going to shake out but in a platoon, one will have a better chunk of than the other so no, don’t really think it’ll be 50/50 split. Doesn’t sound like they’re committing to both primarily being in the lineup either though saying Benintendi will DH more.

[Chick Mercedes]

7 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Maybe there's more to this signing than a body to rotate in the OF during the WBC. 

 

 

Logical reasoning says he came to the Sox because they basically have him making the team already. I doubt it’s the Chicago of it all. Which I love don’t get me wrong.

[Chick Mercedes]

6 hours ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Kelenic speaking on culture is like Mussolini speaking on liberal democracy. 

I thought he was a hard worker. He’s got some kind of emotional issue, which is not the same thing as “culture”. We have some people talking about him like he is Josh Donaldson.

Edited 1 hour ago by Chick Mercedes

[Chicago White Sox]

FWIW, Alberto had an introductory Zoom call and Paz will have one next week.  I’m not sure I recall Rule 5 picks having these types of media sessions either.

[Autumn Dreamin]

16 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

FWIW, Alberto had an introductory Zoom call and Paz will have one next week.  I’m not sure I recall Rule 5 picks having these types of media sessions either.

I'm almost certain Smith had one