12 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I’d like to subscribe to your newsletter.

I don’t understand your desire to hand a starting major league job to Kelenic after how bad he was in AAA.

11 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I don’t understand your desire to hand a starting major league job to Kelenic after how bad he was in AAA.

I meant more cuz he moved Benintendi to DH.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Getz signs another outfielder.

Edited January 24Jan 24 by WhiteSox2023

Bryan Hudson, Ky Bush, Jedixson Paez, Prelander Berroa, Bryan Ramos, Tyler Gilbert would be my long shortlist for guys to cut to make room for Seranthony.

20 minutes ago, Jake said:

Bryan Hudson, Ky Bush, Jedixson Paez, Prelander Berroa, Bryan Ramos, Tyler Gilbert would be my long shortlist for guys to cut to make room for Seranthony.

I’d like to see what Paez can do in spring training as a Rule 5 guy. I also wouldn’t get rid of Berroa and Bush as they are coming back from TJ. The others I’m fine with losing.

5 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I’d like to see what Paez can do in spring training as a Rule 5 guy. I also wouldn’t get rid of Berroa and Bush as they are coming back from TJ. The others I’m fine with losing.

For me, part of the calculus is whether I think they are going to get claimed. I would guess neither Bush nor Berroa would given their continuing rehab and already-fringey status. Of course, they might choose to sign as a MiLB free agent elsewhere regardless. My thought process on Paez is that I'm pessimistic about both R5 guys sticking so maybe I'll just rip the band-aid off now. But I do think there's a decent argument for getting a look at the kid first if you can help it.

3 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I’m very happy with the “state of the nation”.  The Sox, not so much.

But why would it be crazy for fans to say that the Sox could rebreak a record they literally just set a year earlier?  It was the highest loss total in 125 years. I don’t think it was crazy to think the Sox could achieve any feat, no matter how awful.  Getz was literally trying to tank.  The Sox might get a phenom SS in a few months as a result.

I know you can't see this because you blocked me but this more a reminder to what we have been witnessing.

If you looked at the Sox and the mathematical chances of doing worse objectively you would have concluded, like many did, that it was close to impossible. 

In 2025 some of the highest ranked Sox rookies would be arriving, no one was ready in 2024. I don't honestly think Getz was ready either . A big job was ahead and he needed time to settle in and formulate what he could do and what he couldn't do. Budget restricted getting much 26 man roster help but likely didnt restrict hiring people he thought could be assets and help him restructure how things were done and promise new people they would have a voice. Maybe this was formulated by his time as Director of Player Development and Asst. GM if he didnt feel he had a voice or there wasn't enough information in the organization to operate as effectively as other teams did. 

Mathematically there were plenty here looking at the Pythagorean evidence that suggested the Sox had underachieved. Also if it took 125 years to be that bad , an even worse record the very next year seemed to have pretty long odds. Also you lose a lot of objectivity when you are embarassed, hurt and angry.  Bookmakers orginally had the 2025 win total originally at 49.5 if I remember right and it gradually increased as many flocked to the over. 

In 2024 the Sox had a lot of bad players and a lot of bad luck. In 2025 with a new manager, new players and some processes in player development started to take shape. Meidroth and Teel arrived from the Crochet trade.  Edgar Quero and other young hitters like Vargas and Sosa out of options and perhaps on their last chances with the Sox started to hit. We all make fun of the Vargas swing change now but it represented adevelopment that we weren't used to seeing and we were afraid to think it meant anything just as we were very resistant to  coaches actually making a difference with Crochet .They identified Shane Smith from the Rule 5 draft. And later Mike Vasil. They used a new coach in a private environment and pulled a struggling Colson Montgomery out of game action and got his mind right and then after he was called up said our analytics show you might benefit from the torpedo bat . And fans who had called him a bust suddenly had to cling to the notion that it might not last and because their negative world was crumbling in the face of some pretty strong evidence  in the development of young players in the new GM's vision of the modernized White Sox front office and behind the scenes analytics. 

All the luck was not good. Many pitching prospects were hit with injuries. Some hurt and frustrated fans started making up narratives that the pitching coaches were to blame. Yet Garrett Crochet who had previously also been injured came back with a vengeance and managed to somehow increase his workload tremendously when very few thought he could remain healthy and he also dominated hitters . He hit a rough patch at some point but more evidence turned up that the coaches helped him with his cutter and sinker  and he was challenged to be more efficient and worked with him on eliminating "cross-firing" tendencies so that he could improve command by tunneling his slider and fastball from the same arm slot.

If there are fans unwilling to trust the new regime because JR is still the boss that's understandable but there's no need to belittle the people doing their best, in restrictive circumstances to give you something to cheer for eventually.  It doesn't mean I'm an empty headed cheerleader falling for White Sox propaganda. There's been actual scouting and development evidence all over the place plus the opportunistic signing of an actual Japanese superstar.

Im not expecting miracles and perhaps its for the best that Getz's on the job training was done with a tight budget so he couldnt make any major mistakes while he learned.  But even the most experienced GMs make decisions that don't pan out.

Who knows, maybe in a few years the Sox might actually develop a Dominican Republic International signee. That has never happened while JR's been here when DR stars were all over baseball for his whole tenure. Now a New Sox Academy in the DR is being build and maybe the Sox will field 2 teams eventually to give those players a chance to develop like other organizations do. 

9 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

I know you can't see this because you blocked me but this more a reminder to what we have been witnessing.

If you looked at the Sox and the mathematical chances of doing worse objectively you would have concluded, like many did, that it was close to impossible. 

In 2025 some of the highest ranked Sox rookies would be arriving, no one was ready in 2024. I don't honestly think Getz was ready either . A big job was ahead and he needed time to settle in and formulate what he could do and what he couldn't do. Budget restricted getting much 26 man roster help but likely didnt restrict hiring people he thought could be assets and help him restructure how things were done and promise new people they would have a voice. Maybe this was formulated by his time as Director of Player Development and Asst. GM if he didnt feel he had a voice or there wasn't enough information in the organization to operate as effectively as other teams did. 

Mathematically there were plenty here looking at the Pythagorean evidence that suggested the Sox had underachieved. Also if it took 125 years to be that bad , an even worse record the very next year seemed to have pretty long odds. Also you lose a lot of objectivity when you are embarassed, hurt and angry.  Bookmakers orginally had the 2025 win total originally at 49.5 if I remember right and it gradually increased as many flocked to the over. 

In 2024 the Sox had a lot of bad players and a lot of bad luck. In 2025 with a new manager, new players and some processes in player development started to take shape. Meidroth and Teel arrived from the Crochet trade.  Edgar Quero and other young hitters like Vargas and Sosa out of options and perhaps on their last chances with the Sox started to hit. We all make fun of the Vargas swing change now but it represented adevelopment that we weren't used to seeing and we were afraid to think it meant anything just as we were very resistant to  coaches actually making a difference with Crochet .They identified Shane Smith from the Rule 5 draft. And later Mike Vasil. They used a new coach in a private environment and pulled a struggling Colson Montgomery out of game action and got his mind right and then after he was called up said our analytics show you might benefit from the torpedo bat . And fans who had called him a bust suddenly had to cling to the notion that it might not last and because their negative world was crumbling in the face of some pretty strong evidence  in the development of young players in the new GM's vision of the modernized White Sox front office and behind the scenes analytics. 

All the luck was not good. Many pitching prospects were hit with injuries. Some hurt and frustrated fans started making up narratives that the pitching coaches were to blame. Yet Garrett Crochet who had previously also been injured came back with a vengeance and managed to somehow increase his workload tremendously when very few thought he could remain healthy and he also dominated hitters . He hit a rough patch at some point but more evidence turned up that the coaches helped him with his cutter and sinker  and he was challenged to be more efficient and worked with him on eliminating "cross-firing" tendencies so that he could improve command by tunneling his slider and fastball from the same arm slot.

If there are fans unwilling to trust the new regime because JR is still the boss that's understandable but there's no need to belittle the people doing their best, in restrictive circumstances to give you something to cheer for eventually.  It doesn't mean I'm an empty headed cheerleader falling for White Sox propaganda. There's been actual scouting and development evidence all over the place plus the opportunistic signing of an actual Japanese superstar.

Im not expecting miracles and perhaps its for the best that Getz's on the job training was done with a tight budget so he couldnt make any major mistakes while he learned.  But even the most experienced GMs make decisions that don't pan out.

Who knows, maybe in a few years the Sox might actually develop a Dominican Republic International signee. That has never happened while JR's been here when DR stars were all over baseball for his whole tenure. Now a New Sox Academy in the DR is being build and maybe the Sox will field 2 teams eventually to give those players a chance to develop like other organizations do. 

I will give Getz credit.  He lost at the right time and the Sox now have a chance at a franchise stud SS.  He is also not spending much money, whether that is by his own choice, or due to Jerry, or both.  But when/if this rebuild starts improving the team and Ishbia takes over hopefully as early as possible, he will have so much flexibility to spend money, I can’t see how the Sox shouldn’t improve quickly.

40 minutes ago, Jake said:

Bryan Hudson, Ky Bush, Jedixson Paez, Prelander Berroa, Bryan Ramos, Tyler Gilbert would be my long shortlist for guys to cut to make room for Seranthony.

I feel they’d drop Alberto before Paez if it came down to that given where they were selected in the R5 and nothing has changed since then.  We traded for Gilbert last offseason and he’s arguably our best LH reliever right now depending on what happens with Newcomb (which isn’t saying much, but makes him safer IMO).  I really hope they don’t drop Bush & Berroa when they’re now approaching a year into their rehab process.  Still think Ramos or Hudson are most likely.

Encouraging to see the team actually spending to make the team better.

Now get a solid SP.

4 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I feel they’d drop Alberto before Paez if it came down to that given where they were selected in the R5 and nothing has changed since then.  We traded for Gilbert last offseason and he’s arguably our best LH reliever right now depending on what happens with Newcomb (which isn’t saying much, but makes him safer IMO).  I really hope they don’t drop Bush & Berroa when they’re now approaching a year into their rehab process.  Still think Ramos or Hudson are most likely.

In about 3 weeks, the 60-day IL opens up. There's really no need to start cutting guys, especially the Rule 5 dudes. They'd at least want to get a live look at them before waving goodbye. Hudson wasn't exactly lights out in his 2025 cup of coffee, and Ramos took 3 cycles through the option list and still hasn't established himself at AAA. The Sox also got a long look at Mead last year. I threw out Iriarte. Those are 4 guys who could go if they don't trade somebody this week, and if they don't wait until spring training to use the 60-day. 

I'd also think they'd want to hang onto Lee deeper into camp. They're going to need catchers, and the World baseball tournament's going to create a bunch of playing time. They'll need bodies. Maybe a trade of Sosa or Cannon is brewing. 

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I feel they’d drop Alberto before Paez if it came down to that given where they were selected in the R5 and nothing has changed since then.  We traded for Gilbert last offseason and he’s arguably our best LH reliever right now depending on what happens with Newcomb (which isn’t saying much, but makes him safer IMO).  I really hope they don’t drop Bush & Berroa when they’re now approaching a year into their rehab process.  Still think Ramos or Hudson are most likely.

You're right regarding R5, I was mixing up their names. It's Alberto I think they are more likely to drop (although you could argue that Alberto may be a little more MLB-ready).

4 minutes ago, Jake said:

You're right regarding R5, I was mixing up their names. It's Alberto I think they are more likely to drop (although you could argue that Alberto may be a little more MLB-ready).

I personally think they will want both of these guys in camp though.  I will say that adding Dominguez will make it harder to roster both of them to start the season.

Of course, all of you are assuming a 13 man staff, which I think is ridiculous.  Just don't need that many pitchers, IMO.

11 minutes ago, oldsox said:

Of course, all of you are assuming a 13 man staff, which I think is ridiculous.  Just don't need that many pitchers, IMO.

Starters are going shorter than ever which forces a bullpen to play a bigger role.

Let me ask you this, what value is there in having a 5th bench piece vs. an extra reliever?

1 hour ago, oldsox said:

Of course, all of you are assuming a 13 man staff, which I think is ridiculous.  Just don't need that many pitchers, IMO.

In the "old days," I would agree with you.  With today's 5-inning starts, if we are lucky, it's practically mandatory.

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Starters are going shorter than ever which forces a bullpen to play a bigger role.

Let me ask you this, what value is there in having a 5th bench piece vs. an extra reliever?

Instead of “bullpen days”, we’re gonna start having “Rule 5 days”. Paez pitches the first inning and Alberto pitches the second. Then the R5 veterans come in with Smith going innings 3-8 and Vasil closing it out in the 9th. 

35 minutes ago, SoxBlanco said:

Instead of “bullpen days”, we’re gonna start having “Rule 5 days”. Paez pitches the first inning and Alberto pitches the second. Then the R5 veterans come in with Smith going innings 3-8 and Vasil closing it out in the 9th. 

And waiver claim Gage Workman hits a dong

We should hear about corresponding move today most likely right?

5 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

We should hear about corresponding move today most likely right?

Maybe they are waiting because they are announcing signing Bader today. 

2 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Starters are going shorter than ever which forces a bullpen to play a bigger role.

Let me ask you this, what value is there in having a 5th bench piece vs. an extra reliever?

Reliever, if keep both Rule 5 guys, which I hope they do.
Otherwise bench player because the Sox have a lot of position  players to audition; 

26 minutes ago, PaleAleSox said:

Maybe they are waiting because they are announcing signing Bader today. 

I don’t see the Bader fit now that we added Acuna.  Cheap corner outfield who can be a stop-gap for Braden makes more sense now.

33 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

We should hear about corresponding move today most likely right?

I’m assuming it will be early this week when guys are technically working.

1 hour ago, Bob Sacamano said:

We should hear about corresponding move today most likely right?

With the weather, it might be a while if this requires anything in person.  The Eastern half of the US is a disaster right now.

On 1/23/2026 at 2:09 PM, southsider2k5 said:

Let's be honest.  This team is still hot garbage, and will be for the foreseeable future.  If you are waiting for the Sox to be good again before you invest, believe me you aren't alone, and you might as well check out for the next couple of years at least.  I can give credit to progress, and this is a move that can at least pay a dividend more than filling innings in 2026.

This is why I laugh at Passan for even mentioning the word contender in his post. Good sining, positive move? Sure. They are still closer to 100 losses than .500, and a far cry from 'not contenders yet.'

On 1/23/2026 at 11:23 AM, PaleAleSox said:

This reliever will appear in more games than Robert will. 

not unless the mid relief guys put it out of hand