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What can the White Sox get back for Dylan Cease?
By Dom DalDegan | December 5, 2023
(Dylan Cease/Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) It was just a year ago at the Winter Meetings that the White Sox tried to rebound from a core-shattering 2022 season. 101 losses later, now new General Manager Chris Getz will be revamping the roster at this year’s Winter Meetings. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has gone on record in early September saying he plans to compete next year, but the White Sox signing SS Paul DeJong for 1 year/1.75 million earlier this offseason indicates that 2024 is most likely a bridge year to a competitive window starting in 2025.
Getz can jump start this roster change by trading away the team’s ace Dylan Cease. Despite control issues, the sky’s the limit for Cease. Cease was the Cy Young runner-up from a couple of years ago even while leading the MLB in walks. Several reports have indicated that a trade involving Cease is imminent, and it is more a matter of when than if. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale went on the White Sox Talk Podcast with Chuck Garfein and stated that six to eight clubs are interested in Cease. Teams would have two years left of control over Cease who would be making well below market value for a pitcher of his caliber, averaging 222 strikeouts over the last three seasons. Considering the Orioles and the Dodgers are the two most likely teams to land Cease, here are two comprehensive trade packages involving both teams.
Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are the most obvious trade partner for the White Sox considering their spending limits as well as their number 1 ranked farm system in baseball. But homegrown talent is what got Baltimore to 101 wins last season, so some prospects may be off the table even for someone such as Cease. The Orioles have such a wealth of prospects that even their mid-tier prospects can potentially contribute at a high level as early as next year. In this proposed package, the Orioles would send SS Joey Ortiz, 2B/OF Connor Norby, SP Cole Irvin, and SP Alex Pham to the White Sox.
(Joey Ortiz/Photo by Mark Goldman/Getty Images) Joey Ortiz is the number 6 prospect in the Baltimore Orioles system and possesses an outstanding glove at shortstop. Ortiz slashed .321/.378/.507 through 88 games at AAA Norfolk last season. Although DeJong will be starting this season at shortstop, Getz had previously informed DeJong to get ready to play third base if the situation arose. This move would likely make White Sox top prospect Colson Montgomery the team’s future 3rd baseman, as many scouts believe Montgomery would be a better fit at 3B due to his 6-3, 205 pound frame.
(Connor Norby/Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) Connor Norby played in 138 games at Norfolk last season and slashed .290/.359/.483 totaling 61 extra base hits, which is certainly impressive offensive output for a second baseman. Norby also swiped 26 bags over the last two seasons despite only having average speed, showing that he always looks to take the extra base. Although the White Sox traded for local product 2B Nicky Lopez earlier this offseason, Getz has in no way confirmed that he would be starting at the position. Lopez would be a great fit to be a utility player given his left-handedness and defensive prowess, so this acquisition would suit the White Sox nicely.
Cole Irvin has been a serviceable pitcher throughout his career. The soft-tossing lefty has a career 4.42 ERA over 77 big league starts, and features a fastball changeup combination to try and get hitters off balance. The White Sox desperately need starting pitching in 2024, and this would fill some of that need. Considering Irvin’s entering arbitration as well as the Orioles’ propensity to not spend, the White Sox would be acquiring three years of starting pitcher insurance. The 2021 19th round pick Alex Pham ranks 29th in the Orioles’ farm system, but his ERA and WHIP have decreased every season since he has been drafted. At 24 years old, Pham certainly has upside and we would see him by 2024’s end.
If this kind of trade package does become a reality, manager Pedro Grifol would have his hands full creating lineups on a day-to-day basis as there would be a lot of shifting parts depending on availability, performance, and planned workloads for younger players. Getz has even gone on record earlier this offseason that they may even try 3B Yoan Moncada out at first base, second base, or even the outfield, supporting the notion that 2024 is going to be a tryout to see who fits where going forward.
Dodgers
What was once an astonishingly deep starting rotation for the Dodgers is now just as astonishingly thin. Ace Walker Buehler is coming back from Tommy John surgery, Clayton Kershaw is a free agent, and Julio Urias is facing severe off the field issues. If the Dodgers hope to repeat their win total from last year and advance deeper into the postseason, they will need more top-of-the rotation arms. While the Dodgers have a deep farm system, it is not nearly as deep as the Orioles and it would certainly cost Los Angeles to land Cease. In this proposed trade the Dodgers would send over a package headlined by major league OF James Outman, followed by prospects RHP Gavin Stone and RHP Landon Knack.
(James Outman/Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images) James Outman saw success with the Dodgers, slashing .248/.353/.437 while finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. Outman exhibits strong on base skills that the White Sox so badly need, while flashing 20/20 potential, slugging 23 home runs and swiping 16 bags. Outman is also a very solid defender with 88 percentile sprint speed according to Baseball Savant and has a plus arm. Outman would be the finishing piece in what would be a fairly decent defensive outfield between him, Robert, and Benintendi.
Drafted in the fifth round in 2020, Gavin Stone made 19 starts in 2023 with a 4.73 ERA. Although the ERA is nothing special, Stone put up a favorable 120:46 strikeout to walk ratio with his filthy fastball and changeup combo and plus slider. Although his results were rocky, Stone has extreme arm talent and put it to use by logging 131 innings last year between AAA and the MLB. The Dodgers’ number five prospect may be just one change away from figuring it out.
Landon Knack is further down the Dodgers’ prospect list at number 9 but possesses well above average command, hitting his spots more often than not. Knack would represent the first White Sox top pitching prospect to feature such strong command of the strike zone since Dane Dunning. This is not Knack’s only attribute however, as he gets batters out with his plus fastball-slider combination. Although his fastball is not overpowering, he is able to consistently spot it at the top of the zone wreaking havoc for hitters. Knack finished 2023 with a 2.51 ERA over 100 innings logged.
The Winter Meetings are underway, and the White Sox have just added starting pitcher Erick Fedde. Lets see if the Cease trade is next.
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Three positive takeaways from Chicago’s slow start
Yoan Moncada in Pittsburgh | Photo taken by me | Sony A7III | Tamron 70-300
The White Sox closed out a disappointing road trip after losing 3-1 on Wednesday. Despite starting the season 5-8, we have seen some good developments that can bode well for the future. Here are some positive takeaways from the White Sox season so far.
The White Sox are more conservative when treating injuries
We are only two weeks into the season and the Sox are already treating injuries to Jimenez, Moncada, and Anderson. The White Sox have opted to rest these players completely and not allow them to play banged up. Last season, we saw some terrible injury management – from Yasmani Grandal playing on two bad knees, to Luis Robert Jr. swinging with one hand. The flat offensive production the last couple games have been proof of what the Sox would be if any of these players are lost for any extended period of time.
Tim Anderson | Photo taken by me | Sony A7III | Tamron 70-300mm
The Sox have a very tough schedule in April, and they are probably going to be without Anderson for the rest of the month. Moncada and Jimenez are returning this weekend, and it is crucial they stay on the field to try and make up for Anderson’s lost production. While it may be strange that injury management is a positive takeaway, it is nice knowing that Yoan and Eloy are going to be at 100% coming back from injuries rather than trying to play hurt. The best we can hope is that these early injuries are just a stretch of terrible luck and not a continued trend from 2022.
The Rotation will be good despite tough outings
Michael Kopech, Lance Lynn, and Lucas Giolito all got completely rocked in previous outings but each of them responded well in the following outings.
Michael Kopech bounced back in a big way in Pittsburgh by going six innings and giving up only one run after clearly tipping his pitches during the home opener. Talent-wise, Kopech is just about everything you can ask for in a starter. He has some of the nastiest stuff in the game and a concise, repeatable delivery to the plate. Kopech had one of the most valuable fastballs in the league last year, and this year he’s still topping the charts in fastball spin rate according to Baseball Savant. But can he stay healthy? Kopech has had trouble staying on the field throughout his career, but he mentioned in the preseason that he’s tired of being unavailable and that he is striving to throw 180 innings this season. This number seems high, but even if he threw 160 innings it would greatly help the Sox.
Lucas Giolito is as cerebral a player as anybody on the White Sox. He has reinvented himself multiple times both physically and pitch mix-wise to try and get to the best form of himself. This attention to detail transfers to the game, but oftentimes he does not carry his best stuff to act on his strategy against hitters. With Lucas, there is a fine line between succeeding or failing, and it usually has to do with a 1-2 mph difference on his fastball. Oftentimes, Giolito comes out flat and his fastball is simply too straight to be sitting at 91-92. In his last start, Giolito was sitting 94 with his fastball which allowed hitters to whiff badly against his wicked change-up. Hopefully his performance in Minnesota was the product of him feeling stronger due to his 20 pound weight loss transformation over the offseason, and he has rediscovered his former self.
Lance Lynn had a nice comeback start against Minnesota as well, but there are scary peripherals against his 4-seam fastball and cutter which are his most used pitches. Hitters are currently torching his 4-seamer to the tune of a .368 batting average and his cutter is not faring much better. Lynn’s fastballs are far more effective when he is painting the corners, but so far Lynn has struggled with command, giving up seven walks through three starts. Lynn relies on mixing up hitters with his fastball variations, so it is paramount that Lynn hits his spots. Lynn is a crafty veteran with an extensive resume, so he may change up his pitch sequencing and go more often to his new breaking pitches or his sinker which has been his most effective fastball variation.
Mike Clevinger | Photo taken by me | Sony A7III | Tamron 70-300mm
Luckily, this staff is anchored by early Cy Young favorite Dylan Cease, and his stuff looks straight up unhittable even when he’s in the strike zone. Clevinger has also been steady in the early going. So despite some tough outings early on, there are reasons to be optimistic about the rotation.
Luis Robert Jr. can live up to his potential
Luis Robert Jr. | Photo taken by me | Sony A7III | Tamron 70-300mm
Luis Robert Jr. has been on an absolute tear. Robert Jr. currently has a 1.038 OPS and has put up a defensive clinic in center field. Even if it has been a small sample size of twelve games, it has been eye-opening to see his potential be fully realized.
Robert Jr. has always been a mega talented player, but he has had stretches in his career where he looks lost at the plate. This year, instead of relying on just his ability, Robert Jr. is coming to the plate with a gameplan. Friday at Pittsburgh, Robert Jr. took a 70 MPH pitch thrown to the outside corner from Rich Hill over the right field wall. Robert identified this as a very hittable pitch, but he still chose to wait back on it and drive it the other way. Most of the time though, he looks to pull the ball. This approach bodes well for Robert Jr. as he consistently ranks in the top 3 percent in the league in max exit velocity. He even has a couple infield hits beating out plays at first base with his lightning speed when he tops off low and away breaking balls. When all his tools are clicking, Robert Jr. is far and away the best player on the diamond.
Robert Jr. will have to stay healthy if he wants to continue this pace he’s on. Contrary to many Sox players, most of Robert Jr’s injuries have not been a result of wear and tear but rather specific instances that are often contact-related. While Robert Jr. has to prove that he can avoid these kinds of injuries, I would not label him as injury prone as others on the team who have nagging injuries that seem to constantly hamper them.
Team celebrating | Photo taken by me | Sony A7III | Tamron 70-300mm
Opening the season 5-8 is not what we all had in mind. This has been a tough start for the White Sox, but it is simply too early to consider this a lost season this early on. Hopefully these positive takeaways bode well for the rest of the season. That said, we have seen plenty negative from the White Sox too, and they will need to start playing better to prove to fans this will not just be a repeat of 2022.
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Rookie Oscar Colas wants to leave his mark
By Dominic DalDegan | March 29, 2023
(Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) Much of the White Sox’ storied history has involved Cuban ballplayers. From Minnie Minoso getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, to Alexei Ramirez fielding the last out of Mark Buehrle’s perfect game. Even the current White Sox roster has multiple Cubans on the team. This lineage will continue on Opening Day when Oscar Colas gears up against fellow countryman and White Sox legend Jose Abreu and the Houston Astros.
After playing for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks for Japan’s Nippon League in 2019, Colas defected from Cuba. In order to become eligible for MLB free agency rather than the draft, he then had to declare residency in a third country. His goal was to play in the MLB, but Colas had aspirations to play for the White Sox to join the long line of Cuban players that have played for the franchise. In the meantime, the White Sox already had agreements in place with certain international players for the 2021 class by the time Colas was eligible to sign. When Colas learned the White Sox were interested, he waited until January 2022 when the White Sox had enough international bonus pool money to sign him. The pact was official on January 25th 2022, and Colas signed with the White Sox for $2.7 million.
Colas has the potential to be a huge difference maker for the White Sox. Colas brings skills to the table that the White Sox severely struggled in last season. To start, he brings left-handed power to the team. This spring, Colas has put up hefty numbers against righties, slugging .543 with 3 home runs. The 24-year old also exhibits solid plate discipline. When facing lefties, Colas does not sell out for power and shortens up his swing. This approach has garnered him only 9 strikeouts in 66 at-bats. To go along with his offense, Colas is an above average defender with a cannon of an arm. Last season, Colas soared through the White Sox farm system from High-A to AAA, slashing .314/.371/.524 across all levels.
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) It is clear that Colas has talent in abundance. But Manager Pedro Grifol wants to make sure Colas gets the most out of his ability. Grifol has stressed fundamentals to Colas all throughout Spring Training, “Everything is important – To him backing up a base, to him throwing to the right base, to him not being flat footed on a fly ball.” Last year, Grifol noticed from the Kansas City dugout even the most talented players on the White Sox making mental blunders both defensively and on the base paths. Grifol understands that “doing the little things” and having situational awareness on the field is a deciding factor between winning and losing. After stressing this to Colas, Grifol acknowledged his improvements later in the Spring, “His secondary leads a week ago or five days ago are not even close to his secondary leads yesterday – He knows where the cutoff guys are going to be and what distance they’re going to have. Absolutely he’s getting better.”
(Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) Grifol felt that he could challenge Colas to get better due to his strong make-up. In a recent interview between Chuck Garfein and General Manager Rick Hahn, Hahn mentioned that Colas pulled new hitting coach Jose Castro aside after a preseason game and went over his at-bats to perform better against the types of pitches he struggles with. Colas has also gone on record talking about his burning desire to win. Considering this and how Colas waited a whole year just to sign with the White Sox, Colas strikes me as somebody who knows what he wants. He wants to leave a mark in this league.
The ability Colas possesses as well as his desire to get better can make him a very exciting watch for a long time. His skill set and make-up is reminiscent of Jermaine Dye, with a difference being that Dye was right-handed. Dye was good for 30 homers a year, came up in the clutch, and played strong defense in right field. This is all achievable for Colas. If his career turns out anything like Dye’s, the White Sox will have a good player on their hands for the foreseeable future.
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What Elvis Andrus brings back to the Southside
By Dom DalDegan | February 24, 2023
(Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/Getty Images) Last weekend, The Chicago White Sox brought back a familiar face to play second base. Elvis Andrus will be switching off his usual position of shortstop on a one-year deal.
Andrus brought the energy and passion that was hard to come by all of 2022. Prior to joining the Sox, it had been a while since Andrus was on a contending team. Andrus recognized the White Sox’ potential and tried getting them out of their perpetual rut by making bold claims to the media to try and pump up the team. For instance, he called the White Sox the most talented team he had ever played for. He also stated the Guardians would crumble and give up the division lead. Even though this did not come to fruition, the Sox could have finished a lot worse than .500 if not for Andrus’ presence and performance on a day-to-day basis.
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) Andrus also possesses the leadership that the team is lacking. The 14-year vet learned what it takes to win from MLB legend Adrian Beltre. To Andrus, Beltre was much like a big brother to him, showing him the ropes of the league. It was not a one-way street though, as Beltre credits Andrus for bringing out the best in him as well. The infield duo fed off each other and had unprecedented chemistry on the diamond. Perhaps Andrus and Tim Anderson can develop a similar rapport. After all, Anderson has had a multitude of different double play partners throughout his career. Maybe Andrus can be the one who sticks.
But it is more than just intangibles that Andrus brings to Chicago. The motivated Andrus backed up his talk on the field, posting a 1.8 WAR in only 43 games played with the White Sox. In such a small sample size Andrus hit a whopping nine home runs. Andrus attributed his sudden success in the power department to just now feeling like he can drive the ball again after he fractured his right elbow back in 2019.
“Since I got hurt and broke my arm, it’s been a constant fight with my approach and my swing and just trying to feel like I am right now.”
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) Nobody should be anticipating Andrus to match his 2022 effort, but his performance at the end of last year is certainly in line with him feeling better health-wise. Even if Andrus regresses to his career averages, he would still represent a nice upgrade for the Sox at second base both offensively and defensively. He also stole 11 bases for the Sox. Combining this stat with the new rule changes meant to promote steals, Andrus should be able to swipe at least twenty bags this upcoming season.
After playing close to 2000 games at shortstop throughout his career, the 34-year old thinks that playing second base will help with his longevity. He believes it will be easier on his body. The throws are shorter, the ball is generally hit less hard on the right side of the infield, and the position requires less quickness to first base.
From a depth perspective, the White Sox just got a whole lot deeper up the middle. Romy Gonzalez, who was the favorite to start at second base, can now compete with Leury Garcia for the utility spot on the roster according to new Manager Pedro Grifol. If Tim Anderson gets hurt, Andrus can fill in at shortstop while Romy, Leury, or prospect Lenyn Sosa patch up second base.
(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) Despite not making the playoffs, Elvis Andrus’ impact on the White Sox did not go unnoticed. Andrus fit in well in the clubhouse last season and sparked the team to make a final push toward the postseason. If Andrus proves that his play last year was no fluke, he may be sticking around for longer than just one season.
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Pinning Morality and Team Performance Against Loyalty
By Dom DalDegan | February 10, 2023
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) It was not all that long ago that the White Sox protected their brand. Through the thick, the thin, and the mediocrity the Sox have been mired in since post-2005, the team would at least not get tied up with the wrong people. In recent years though, it has been difficult for the team to not be involved with problematic individuals.
As of January 24th, 2023, newly signed pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, Mike Clevinger, is facing allegations of domestic violence and child abuse. The accuser, Olivia Finestead, took to Instagram to show off prior incidents involving Clevinger that took place last June. There appears to be overwhelming evidence against the Sox pitcher. Clevinger and his legal team continue to build a defense case into early February.
The White Sox used to not get wrapped up in situations like this. Sure, the team did not know Clevinger was involved in any of this when they signed him, but Clevinger did not exactly have a clean track record even prior to this news coming out. The White Sox should have shown a little restraint toward signing the controversial figure so early in the offseason. If General Manager Rick Hahn had spent the team’s budget more wisely, then perhaps he would not have been banking on the upside of somebody who is coming off a bad season and likely out of his prime.
Hahn also seems keen on bringing in personnel that have connections with the White Sox coaching staff. Prior to being the pitching coach for the White Sox, Ethan Katz was previously a coach for the San Francisco Giants. The White Sox have already acquired three pitchers, including Clevinger, who were formerly in the Giants’ system. If Katz being familiar with a pitcher wasn’t such a huge criteria for Hahn, he probably would not have been so eager to sign Clevinger in November. Similarly, it is possible that Clevinger jumped on a one year deal just a few weeks after MLB free agency opened up because of the incident. Hahn has had a longer rope than most. We saw Kansas City move on from General Manager Dayton Moore last September, and it was under Moore that the Royals made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2014 and 2015. Whether you like him or hate him, the fact is that Hahn has accomplished far less since he was promoted to General Manager in 2012. The White Sox are certainly loyal to their employees.
Loyalty trumps more than just winning though. Recent actions by the White Sox have me questioning the moral character of the organization. Certainly they don’t want people with poor character to be affiliated with the organization. But can they tolerate it? There’s no way to pinpoint when this ethical shift would have taken place, but in recent years the White Sox have knowingly hired and kept on personnel with troubled pasts and priors that ordinary people would face jail time for.
The most known example of this is former Manager Tony La Russa. Already pleading guilty to a DUI charge back in 2007, La Russa was able to plead guilty to a lesser charge for reckless driving rather than being hit with a second DUI which most people have to go to jail for. This is despite the night ending with him smashing his vehicle into the curb after possessing a BAC well over .08 on February 24th, 2020. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf knew about the incident prior to hiring La Russa to be manager.
CONTENT WARNING: The reading below may be disturbing.
(Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) The lesser known example of this would be first base coach Daryl Boston. A New York Met at the time, Boston, along with two teammates, allegedly r—d a woman during Spring Training of 1991. Cindy Powell, the victim, notified police, specifically citing Boston as somebody who said a particularly harmful quote to her on the night of the incident. Boston has somehow survived multiple coaching staff turnovers as he has been the first base coach since 2013. The White Sox have kept Boston around for what exactly? Boston coaches outfield defense, and we know how that has been for the Sox.
(Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) There have been instances of misconduct in the minor leagues as well. In 2019, Omar Vizquel, former successful MLB player and then-manager for the Birmingham Barons, sexually harassed an autistic batboy. When Barons bench coach Wes Helms stepped in as manager after Vizquel was put on paid leave, he mocked the batboy over the harassment. Helms is also accused of laughing at the batboy during just one of the acts of sexual harassment committed by Vizquel. Frustratingly, the Sox don’t condemn anyone publicly when ridding themselves of poison like this. When the organization dismissed Vizquel, head of player development Chris Getz reflected on the positive influence that Vizquel had, saying that he “created a good environment for our players”. While this probably does not mean that Getz is an apologist for such behavior, how is it not apparent that you don’t publicly praise somebody who is accused of something like this? In Helms’ case, he continued to work within the White Sox system as manager of the Charlotte Knights even though the team was aware of Helms’ involvement. Feeling the heat of a lawsuit filed against the White Sox in August 2021 by the victim, the team finally terminated Helms last May.
The White Sox do not need to bring in more personnel with criminal behaviors. This was already a difficult offseason for White Sox fans, and the Clevinger news did not make it any easier. These stories reflect poorly on the organization even if they only involve a few individuals. The White Sox should recognize this and be more active in displaying their morals to the public. Too often it feels like loyalty outweighs morality.
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The White Sox stabilize with the addition of Andrew Benintendi
By Dominic DalDegan | December 22, 2022
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) The White Sox added some much needed stability to the roster. On December 16th, left fielder Andrew Benintendi and the White Sox agreed to terms on a five-year deal worth $75 million. This is the largest ever contract signed in franchise history.
Benintendi acts much like a dangerous power hitter at the plate. Rather than hitting home runs though, he generates productive base hits with runners in scoring position. Ranking in the top 16% of the league in chase rate, he waits for his pitch to drive. The White Sox had no trouble getting hits last season. When it came time for them to deliver with runners on base though, the White Sox faded due to their high chase rates. During high pressure situations, Benintendi stays calm and composed. Last season, Benintendi hit .300 with runners in scoring position.
The White Sox were dreadful against right-handed pitching last season. Benintendi can help remedy this. Rarely caught off balance at the plate, Benintendi hit .352 against opposite-handed changeups. He hit fastballs similarly, and punished sliders at the tune of a .512 slugging percentage. Benintendi’s ability to attack pitches well is proven credible by his 89.2 MPH average exit velocity, which is high for a contact hitter. Considering all of the swing paths he uses to combat various pitches, it’s impressive that he can frequently make solid contact. Overall, Benintendi slashed .318/.384/.428 versus right-handed pitching in 2022.
Though his power numbers may have not jumped off the page in 2022, that may very well change. Throughout his career, Benintendi has played at very unique parks with many nooks and crannies. With Guaranteed Rate Field not being as unique and smaller overall, Benintendi should be able to put it on the board more often. Specifically, Guaranteed Rate Field has more shallow center field dimensions than Fenway Park, Kauffman Stadium, and Yankee Stadium. This is an area where Benintendi has clanked many doubles off the wall. According to Baseball Savant, Benintendi would have 31 more home runs for his career if he played every game in Chicago. While this is an unrealistic circumstance, it suggests that the 28-year old can at least get back to his 15-20 home run form he had in Boston.
(Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) Defensively, the former gold glove award winner grades out as an above average left fielder. Benintendi ranked in the 59th percentile in outs above average among all players, committing zero errors in 2022. If Benintendi did have any defensive shortcomings, it would be his arm strength. Luckily, he can hide it decently well in left field. More importantly for the White Sox, Benintendi is a corner outfielder that stays on the field. Not counting the COVID-shortened 2020, Benintendi has never played fewer than 127 games in a season and usually plays around 140 games or so. Considering the annoying tendency of current Sox players to get on the injured list, we welcome Benintendi’s healthy track record.
Benintendi can also take pressure off some White Sox players. Eloy Jimenez can primarily DH, Andrew Vaughn only has to focus on playing first base, and prospect Oscar Colas does not have the weight of being the only meaningful addition to the team as a rookie next season. Plus, this moves Gavin Sheets to more of a bench role, and it’ll be a luxury having him pinch-hit in key situations.
Overall, the addition of Andrew Benintendi to the White Sox is a breath of fresh air. We know the consistent presence that Benintendi can bring. When it comes to signing new players, Sox fans are usually left wondering if we can tap into somebody’s hidden potential or if a player past their prime still has something in the tank. This time, we are bringing a guy in his prime to the south side.
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The White Sox do very little at the Winter Meetings
By Dominic DalDegan | December 14, 2022
(Brian Cassella/Getty Images) The Winter Meetings in San Diego proved to be an active time for general managers across baseball. Many clubs with aspirations for 2023 made additions to improve their major league rosters. The AL Central Champion Cleveland Guardians signed left-handed slugger Josh Bell much to the dismay of White Sox fans. Even teams who did not make the postseason went to work. The Texas Rangers signed generational pitcher Jacob deGrom despite already taking on multiple 9-figure deals just last offseason.
For the White Sox, the Winter Meetings came and went. General Manager Rick Hahn pointed out at the Winter Meetings that you do not get any bonus points for signing somebody on December 6th versus December 16th. What you do get however are the scraps that are left on the table when you wait that long. We have already seen a number of premium free agents sign on with other teams, many of whom were included in my free agent wish list for the White Sox. To combat the notion of the team’s limited spending budget, Hahn mentioned that they went out and signed Mike Clevinger before the Winter Meetings. In my opinion, Hahn felt there was no chance to out-negotiate the other teams at the Winter Meetings.
In the same interview, Hahn stuck to his guns about potentially making an impact trade. Hahn said, “We have seen a little movement in the shortstop market, obviously one that we’re not currently in. But perhaps that has some impact on some of the other clubs that we’re talking about in terms of pivoting towards some trades.” Many White Sox fans believe that Hahn was alluding to trading White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson. But considering the White Sox need a second baseman, Hahn could have meant that teams who acquire shortstops may look to move on from their middle infield depth. The Giants, Phillies, and Padres have all acquired premium shortstops. I listed an intriguing middle infielder from the Phillies to acquire via trade in last week’s post.
The White Sox did make some minor league signings to improve the team’s depth. The Sox signed former Tigers outfielder Victor Reyes to a minor league deal. Reyes can be a serviceable player at times being a career .264 hitter, but should only be relied upon occasionally. The White Sox also signed right handed relief pitcher Nick Avila during the Rule 5 Draft, giving the team some bullpen depth.
(Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) We could be seeing some more interesting action on the White Sox front soon though. According to Herb Lawrence on a recent CHGO podcast, outfielder Joey Gallo could be joining the White Sox. Lawrence stated that the signing is “imminent”. If this rumor is true, signing somebody like Gallo would fall right in line with the White Sox’ spending habits. Gallo will likely command a one year deal, and would be yet another rental in a corner outfield spot for the White Sox. That said, Gallo would solve some needs for the White Sox. Despite having holes in his game, Gallo possesses elite gold glove defense, massive power, and swings the bat from the left-hand side.
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Overall, the White Sox did nothing of impact at this year’s Winter Meetings. Between the front office’s glaring inactivity and the canceling of SoxFest a couple months ago, there is a lot of unrest among White Sox fans.
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Liam Hendriks trade possibilities headed into the winter meetings
By Dominic DalDegan | December 6, 2022
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) This week, the winter meetings are taking place in San Diego. The winter meetings represent a pivotal time during the offseason. All thirty teams come together to discuss trade ideas while agents find the best fit for their free agent clients.
Burdened by a reluctance to spend with the current payroll at about $171 million, it is difficult for the White Sox to sign a high impact free agent. Still, these meetings present an opportune time to shake up their messy roster and possibly shed some payroll. The White Sox have too much invested in the bullpen and need to reallocate their resources to areas of need. By making a trade, the White Sox may be able to do just that. After all, general manager Rick Hahn mentioned earlier this offseason that the trade market would be more fruitful for the Sox. So who is on the trading block?
That player may be Liam Hendriks. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports that the all-star closer may be on the move. Dominant for the last number of years, Hendriks has done a great job of retaining his value while fighting off age regression. Plus, in a market where closer Edwin Diaz just got inked to a $102 million dollar deal with the Mets, Hendriks’ attached two years for $29 million seems more affordable.
Let’s discuss trade ideas with teams that can use Hendriks.
Yankees Receive RHP Liam Hendriks
White Sox Receive 2B Gleyber Torres
2023 Estimated Payroll after trade: $167 Million
The Yankees can use a reliable closer in Liam Hendriks after Clay Holmes wore down at the end of last season. Gleyber Torres would be a risky acquisition for the White Sox given his player profile and inconsistent career.
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) When Torres is right, he can be a very effective hitter. Last season, Torres slashed .257/.310/.451 with 24 bombs. Torres’ slashline was anchored by his ability to dominate the fastball, slugging .522 against the pitch. There is still room for more growth as well, as Torres generated a hard-hit baseball 9% more often than his banner year in 2019. It is impressive that Torres was able to put up this kind of year after the disappointing seasons that came before it. Torres also projects quite well at Guaranteed Rate Field. He would be approaching 30 home run power if he were to join the White Sox.
However, the right-handed Torres can fall right into a lot of the same issues that current White Sox players face. Due to selling out on the fastball, Torres can look underwhelming versus breaking pitches and outright dreadful against offspeed pitches. Torres also does not take the free base often, walking in only 8.4 percent of his at-bats.
After losing Jose Abreu, the White Sox should be interested in Torres. Due to the high ceiling he set in 2019, Torres is the kind of player that can fill the void that Abreu left from a pure production standpoint.
Phillies Receive RHP Liam Hendriks
White Sox Receive 2B, SS Bryson Stott
2023 Estimated Payroll after trade: $158 Million
After Philadelphia signed Trea Turner to a $300 million dollar deal on Monday, former first round pick Bryson Stott will see a lot less playing time with the Phillies. Stott would give what the White Sox need with solid defense at second base to go along with speed.
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) Only a rookie last season, the left-hander struggled at the plate but still showed some positive developments. Stott showed a willingness to hit to all fields, swinging for power pull-side and getting half of his hits the opposite way. Stott also sees breaking pitches quite well, slugging the curveball at a .667 clip.
Stott struggled when it came to velocity, only hitting .167 against the fastball. It is normal for rookies to struggle with velocity, and they usually improve against fastballs the next season. The rookie has also shown the ability to come up in the clutch. On two different occasions, Stott hit go-ahead home runs late in the game to lend the Phillies the win.
Acquiring Stott would give the White Sox a potential long-term solution at second base while shedding a lot of payroll for 2023.
Dodgers Receive RHP Liam Hendriks
White Sox Receive 1B, 2B, 3B Max Muncy
2023 Estimated Payroll after trade: $172 Million
The Dodgers may be calling the White Sox again for another closer after Craig Kimbrel did not handle closer duties well last season. Despite a down year in 2022, Muncy still showed flashes of what has made him a successful major leaguer.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Muncy exhibited excellent plate discipline as he was in the top 1% of all players in chase rate, walking at an elite 15.9% clip. Muncy still made solid contact often, posting a hard hit rate of 45.6%. This was only one point lower than 2021 when he finished tenth in MVP voting. The left-hander will be able to get on base more often with the shift out of the picture in 2023.
One problem last year is that Muncy’s launch angle sky-rocketed to 20.9 degrees from 15.2 degrees the year before. Perhaps Muncy was looking to put the ball in the air a little too often. Muncy can also be too selective at the plate. Similar to Moncada, he is prone to striking out looking and often whiffs late at fastballs in the zone. Still, the White Sox can use more power and plate discipline. The former all-star would fit right in at second base and is poised for a comeback.
Alternatively, the White Sox can trade for second baseman Gavin Lux who is a solid player despite performing below expectations. The left-handed former top prospect is more affordable, so the Sox would gain a lot of spending power for this impressive free agent class.
Astros Receive RHP Liam Hendriks
White Sox Receive CF Chas McCormick, RHP Jayden Murray (Astros #12 Prospect)
2023 Estimated Payroll after trade: $158 Million
After winning the World Series the Houston Astros were clearly not satisfied, signing White Sox great Jose Abreu to a deal worth $60 million. They can still get even better by acquiring a dominant, name-brand closer.
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) For the White Sox, McCormick would slot in perfectly at left field and play excellent defense. McCormick finished in the 93rd percentile among all players in outs above average, possessing one of the best outfielder jumps in the game. McCormick also grades out well offensively as he is proficient at drawing walks and is very quick on the basepaths. The White Sox will need to sign multiple outfielders this offseason, so McCormick would be a welcome addition if they sign an outfielder that is more high-profile to go along with him.
Jayden Murray is a great looking pitcher in the Houston Astros minor league system. Murray utilizes a solid late-moving fastball and a slow, sweeping slider anchored by a deceptive delivery and stellar command. Murray made it to Triple-A last season and is not too far from the majors.
Overall, these trade possibilities would deeply help out the team’s organizational depth while adding more money to spend on free agents.
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Is Mike Clevinger a good fit for the White Sox?
By Dominic DalDegan | November 29, 2022
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) Sunday night, the White Sox agreed to terms with starting pitcher Mike Clevinger on a one year deal worth 12 million dollars.
A name that White Sox fans may be familiar with, Clevinger was a dominant pitcher for Cleveland until 2020 when he got traded to San Diego.
Last season, Clevinger performed well below his career averages. Clevinger allowed home runs at an alarming rate while not striking out nearly as many hitters. Both of these factors contributed to a career-worst FIP approaching 5. The overarching reason for this can be control issues, which led to more hit batters in 2022 than he had for his whole career.
In his defense, Clevinger had only thrown 64.1 innings in 2020 before missing all of 2021 due to undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. Only tossing 114.1 innings in 2022, it is clear that his arm was not quite built up yet. Fortunately, it is possible for pitchers to see a sudden surge in innings pitched despite extended layoffs. In his age-31 season, fellow Tommy John recipient Zack Wheeler tossed 213.1 innings following a COVID-shortened 2020. Hopefully the last couple years of work can lead a higher inning total for Clevinger in 2023.
(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) The 2022 season was not all bad though, as he experienced some positive developments. Most notably, Clevinger added a sinker to his pitch arsenal and threw it 15% of the time. Opposing hitters had a terrible time trying to square it up, putting up only a .136 batting average and never hitting a home run. The sinker proved to be much more useful than his 4-seamer. Clevinger threw his fastball 36.7% of the time and was met with a .497 slugging percentage. Factoring in Chicago’s extensive history with sinker-ballers, we can expect to see an increase in Clevinger’s sinker usage in 2023.
Time will tell whether or not this ends up being a good signing for the White Sox. Spending 12 million on somebody who is technically a flier is too much considering the cost restraints the team seems to be under. However, if the White Sox do spend big this offseason to add pieces around Clevinger, this signing will look a lot better. Either way, Clevinger will help solidify the back-end of the rotation for the White Sox who badly lack organizational depth at the position.
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Free Agent Wish List for the White Sox
By Dominic DalDegan | November 22, 2022
Photo by Harry How | Getty Images For the last two years, the White Sox have made acquiring bullpen arms a priority over position players. In doing so, the team has targeted free agents past their prime such as Josh Harrison and Adam Eaton hoping to fill out second base and right field. To no surprise, the White Sox did not pick up team options on either player.
It is time for the White Sox to look toward more long term solutions to fill out their roster holes. There is some uncertainty about how much ownership will be willing to spend due to not generating any playoff revenue last year. Fortunately, outfielder A.J. Pollock declined his player option, giving the White Sox more money to spend.
Pollock after striking out | Photo taken by me | Sony A7III | Tamron 70-300
Here are some free agents the White Sox should target. It would go a long way in renewing my belief in the organization if they were to sign a couple of these players.
Let’s get into it.
Cody Bellinger – Outfielder
Cody Bellinger has fallen from grace in a big way, being non-tendered by the Dodgers last week. After 2019 in which he had an OPS of 1.035, Bellinger’s numbers have completely fallen off, slashing only .210/.265/.389 in 2022. This range of potential outcomes is what makes Bellinger a high risk-high reward proposition for any team who chooses to take him on.
Cody Bellinger | Photo by Harry How | Getty Images The one consistency about Bellinger’s game is his defense. Even if he does not return to his 2019 or even 2020 form offensively, the gold glove outfielder can at least help in the outfield and on the base paths with his plus speed.
Another desirable trait of Bellinger’s is his lengthy playoff experience being a former Dodger. Bellinger delivered a game-winning home run in game 7 of the NLCS, sending Los Angeles to the World Series before winning it all.
What’s intriguing is that he is going to be relatively affordable for somebody who is a former MVP going into his age-27 season. Bellinger’s agent Scott Boras has indicated that they are looking for a one-year contract in an attempt to raise Bellinger’s value for the following season. An opportunity to sign somebody of Bellinger’s potential to a one-year, noncommittal deal may be just what the White Sox need.
Xander Bogaerts – Shortstop
This free agency class has an influx of extremely talented shortstops, with Xander Bogaerts being one of them. Not known for his defense, what sets Bogaerts apart is his consistency at the plate. Finishing with an OPS above .800 for five consecutive seasons, Red Sox fans have gotten used to Bogaerts hitting frozen rope doubles off the green monster. A career .292 hitter, Bogaerts also possesses elite bat-to-ball skills, using the opposite field whenever he is pitched outside.
Xander Bogaerts | Photo by Billie Weiss | Getty Images Heading into his age-31 season, perhaps Bogaerts would slide over to second base. The idea of getting so much offensive production at a position that usually does not generate a lot of power is certainly enticing. It is worth noting though that Bogaerts had a better fielding percentage than Tim Anderson last season. If we can improve the team by adding somebody at the caliber of Bogaerts, Anderson should be open to moving over to second base.
Best of all is his ability to stay on the field. Bogaerts has managed to stay healthy his entire career avoiding any long-term injuries. Playing in 150 games last year, the White Sox would get their money’s worth.
Brandon Nimmo – Outfielder
Possessing solid plate discipline, Nimmo boasts a career .385 on base percentage. In 2022, he only offered at 21.2% pitches thrown out of the strike zone which is well over league average. The White Sox, who were near the bottom of the league in pitches seen per game, can use his patience in the box.
Nimmo would do well at Guaranteed Rate Field compared to Citi Field. As a left-handed hitter who generates his power pull-side, he can take advantage of Guaranteed Rate Field’s shorter walls and shorter distance to right-center field. Nimmo would be knocking on the door of twenty home runs if he were to join the White Sox.
Nimmo would shore up the defense in the outfield as he committed zero errors in 2022. Using his plus arm and solid fundamentals, he ranked in the 90th percentile of all center fielders in outs above average. The White Sox, who only have one true outfielder in Luis Robert, can use Nimmo’s steady defensive output.
Brandon Nimmo | Photo by Rich Schultz | Getty Images Accumulating an all-star level 5.1 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in 2022, Nimmo offers solid defense and a well-rounded approach at the plate.
Sean Manaea – Starting Pitcher
White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz made it clear in a zoom press conference last Thursday that the White Sox need another starting pitcher. Out of all the starting pitching candidates, Sean Manaea makes the most sense for the Sox.
Sean Manaea | Photo by Norm Hall | Getty Images Although he had a subpar 2022, Manaea still had some positive peripherals to hang his cap on. Manaea, who has possessed solid command throughout his career, walked only 50 batters. Manaea’s velocity largely stayed the same, as his sinker was performing slightly better than it was in 2021 and was still sitting 91-92. Where he really struggled last year was his changeup. Opposing hitters were slugging a whopping .528 against his changeup compared to 2021 where the pitch was only met with a .327 slugging percentage. Regaining the effectiveness of his changeup seems doable compared to completely reinventing himself. Maybe a couple of tweaks by Ethan Katz can get Manaea back to his dominant self.
Even after a 2022 season where he finished with an ERA of 4.96, Manaea has still put up a respectable 4.06 ERA for his career. The White Sox can seriously use a left-handed starting pitcher considering they only have right-handers in the rotation.
Adam Frazier – Second Baseman & Raimel Tapia – Left Fielder
These two players offer very similar skills at different positions. They even have the exact same career slugging percentage at .392.
Frazier and Tapia would give the White Sox a lot of what they need despite having capped ceilings. Both players are left-handed and do not strike out much. The only difference between the two is that Frazier has elite defense and gets on base while Tapia offers more speed. Frazier is preferred, but either would be solid pickups if the Sox were to add more key pieces around them.
Raimel Tapia | Photo by Dustin Bradford | Getty ImagesWhile it is typical for the White Sox to sign the latter of these players, why shouldn’t the front office be more ambitious and sign a premium free agent during their contention window? The White Sox can afford them as they are well under the luxury tax. Aaron Judge is probably out of the picture. But everyone else?
The White Sox should do everything they can to improve the product on the field in 2023.
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