South Side Hit Men

I don’t get involved in trade discussions until they are finalized, when I want to learn more about what transpired. I’m grateful we have Getz who has been patient. I believe the prior regime would have already dealt Cease, perhaps also Eloy, for whatever they considered the best package in December followed by a five week vacation leading up to ST. I prefer keeping Cease and Robert unless they are literally blown away. We can continue to enjoy the great players while we can each Summer. Just clinging to hope Getz will be able to make changes to improve drafting, international signings and player development. I liked the first wave of signings announced last week, and the fact they look to be expanding their horizons beyond Cuba, and hopefully spending their full allotment from now on. The last part depends on Jerry allowing Getz to do so. Hoping the new FO people brought in will help with the domestic draft, and with free agent acquisitions when the current or new owner commits to competing in the future. Hope we don’t have to wait until after a new ballpark as what happened 1986-1989 until the surprise 1990 season and Himes’ core players were promoted at the new park.

Sounds like a great event. I encourage everyone who has a chance to take advantage of evenings (or just attending if you haven’t been for a while) our treasures such as the Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, the Chicago Historical Society and others. Sounds like a great event last night as well. The season ticket holders deserved it for their loyalty, and I hope they restore other perks such as the event you can go play catch on the field. The corporate sponsor events are great as well and include the chance at batting practice. I’ve never been to SoxFest beyond meeting people after it was over for drinks, but glad they are restoring it for people who like to interact with the players and staff.

Any news or photos from tonight?

Current 40 Man Roster 24 Pitchers Starters (9): D. Cease (28); J. Cousin (25); S. Drohan (25); J. Eder (25); E. Fedde (30); M. Kopech (27); C. Mena (21); J. Shuster (25); M. Soroka (26) Swing (7): J. Brebbia (33); G. Crochet (24); C. Flexen (29); D. Garcia (24); D. Martin (27); J. Scholtens (29); T. Toussaint (27). Relief (8): T. Banks (32); M. Foster (28); T. Hill (33); J. Lambert (29); S. Peralta (25); L. Ramsey (27); G. Santos (24); A. Speas (25). 16 Position Players Catchers (3): K. Lee (25); M. Maldonado (37); M. Stassi (32). Infielders (8): P. DeJong (30); N. Lopez (28); Y. Moncada (28); B. Ramos (21); J. Rodriguez (22); B. Shewmake (26); L. Sosa (24); A. Vaughn (25). Outfielders (3): A. Benintendi (29); O. Colas (25); L. Robert Jr. (26). Designated Hitters (2): E. Jimenez (27); G. Sheets (27).

Over half the 40 Man in just over five months counting the three players both acquired and released, Changes since the jump: 8/22/23 - 1/26/24 16 Total Chris Getz 40 Man Roster Player Acquisitions Free Agent Signings 12/13/23 SP Erick Fedde (31) 12/28/23 RP Tim Hill (33) 12/30/23 SP Chris Flexen (29) 1/5/24 C Martin Maldonado (37) 1/26/24 SP/RP John Brebbia (33) Promotions 11/14/23 SP Jake Eder (26) 11/14/23 SP Cristian Mena (22) 12/20/23 SP Josimar Cousin (25) Rule 5 Draft 12/6/23 SP Shane Drohan (25) - Boston Red Sox Trades 11/16/23 SS Braden Shewmake (27) - Atlanta 11/16/23 SP Michael Soroka (27) - Atlanta 11/16/23 SP Jared Shuster (26) - Atlanta 11/16/23 SS Nicky Lopez (29) - Atlanta 11/28/23 SS Paul DeJong (31) - Atlanta 12/9/23 C Max Stassi (32) - Atlanta Waiver Claims 10/3/23 RP Alex Speas (26) - Texas Rangers 19 Total 40 Man Roster Player Removals (DFA/Demotions/Players Electing FA) 8/25/23 RP Brent Honeywell (29) 9/4/23 C Seby Zavala (31) 11/2/23 C Yasmani Grandal (36) 112/23 RP Bryan Shaw (37) 11/2/23 SS Elvis Andrus (36) 11/3/23 OF Clint Frazier (30) 11/3/23 OF Trayce Thompson (33) 11/3/23 RP Liam Hendriks (35) 11/3/23 SP Mike Clevinger (34) 11/4/23 SS Tim Anderson (31) 11/16/23 RP Aaron Bummer (31) 11/28/23 CF Adam Haseley (28) 11/30/23 RP Nicholas Padilla (28) 12/8/23 RP Edgar Navarro (25) 12/20/23 RP Luis Patino (24) 12/28/23 RP Declan Cronin (26) 12/30/23 C Carlos Perez (27) 1/5/24 3B Zach Remillard (29) 1/26/24 3B Romy Gonzalez (27) 3 Total Chris Getz 40 Man Roster Players In-n-Out In 9/26/23 Out 10/3/23 Tyler Naquin (33) In 9/9/23 Out 11/2/23 Jose Urena (33) In 9/5/23 Out 12/13/23 RP Yohan Ramirez (29)

Here are the final terms: January 26: Robertson has passed his physical, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (X posts). The righty will be guaranteed $11.5MM, which takes the form of a $5MM salary in 2024, a $1.5MM buyout on a $7MM mutual option for 2025 and then annual $1MM deferred payments from 2027-2031.

If he formally files for retirement, I believe he loses his guarantee, similar when Adam La Roche selected retirement to escape having to be with the White Sox for another minute. There is also the ongoing Nationals Stephen Strasburg retirement debacle. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/nationals/2023/09/07/stephen-strasburg-retirement-washington-nationals/70788914007/ Not sure if Aaron passed the 10 year service time mark for a full MLB pension, but that would be one mitigating factor on choosing to play this season. He may have clinched it with Baltimore last year.

Gross, unsubscribe.

If he doesn't want to play anymore, or only want to play for a contender, I can see him passing on playing for the White Sox, unless they made it worth his while (picking up his 2025 option or gave him some other incentive). I doubt he plans to try a 2025 comeback, so beyond a contender or place he actually wants to play, he can join Kenny and Rick and get paid to stay at home in 2024 and prepare for what he wants to do next in life.

Thanks for moving. Since several players are projected to be with the team in 2024, I wasn't sure where to place the article. I liked reading the neutral perspective, and while there aren't many major contributors based on the current FV scores, they are not set in stone. Hoping the Sox continue to bring in quality external people to better select and develop players over the next few seasons. It's the only legitimate path to creating the team we all want in Chicago.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/chicago-white-sox-top-27-prospects/ FG Listed Position / Player (Current Age) Current Level Estimated MLB Promotion Year Position Players 55: Above Average Regular (2.5-3.3 fWAR): 3B Colson Montgomery (21.9) AA 2025 50: Average Regular (1.6-2.4 fWAR): 3B Bryan Ramos (21.9) AA 2024 C Edgar Quero (20.8) AA 2025 45+: Low End Regular or Platoon Player (0.8-1.5 fWAR): SS Jacob Gonzalez (21.7) A 2026 40+: Bench Player SS Ryan Burrowes (19.4) R 2027 C Calvin Harris (22.2) A 2026 RF Wilfred Veras (21.2) AA 2026 1B George Wolkow (18.0) R 2028 CF jacob Burke (22.9) A+ 2027 35+: Up & Down 2B Javier Mogollon (18.2) R 2028 3B Eduardo Herrera (17.3) R 2030 Pitchers 50: #4 Starter 4.00 FIP SP Noah Schultz (20.5) A 2027 45+: #4-#5 Starter 4.20 FIP SIRP Nick Nastrini (23.9) AAA 2025 SP Jake Eder (25.3) AA 2024 SP Jonathan Cannon (23.5) AA 2025 SP Cristian Mena (21.1) AAA 2025 40+: Backend Starters 5.00 FIP SIRP Alex Speas (25.9) MLB 2024 SIRP Jordan Leasure (25.4) AAA 2024 SP Peyton Pallette (22.7) A 2026 MIRP Shane Drohan (25.1) AAA 2024 MIRP Ky Bush (24.2) AA 2025 SIRP Grant Taylor (21.7) R 2026 MIRP Sean Burke (24.1) AAA 2025 SIRP Seth Keener (22.3) A 2026 35+: Up & Down SP Tanner McDougal (20.8) A 2026 SP Maximo Martinez (19.6) R 2026 SIRP Eric Adler (23.3) A+ 2026 Other Prospects of Note Sleeper Arms with a Plus Breaking Ball Juan Carela, RHP Connor McCullough, RHP Jonah Scolaro, LHP Mason Adams, RHP Shane Murphy, LHP Well-Known Fallen Prospects Braden Shewmake, SS José Rodríguez, 2B Norge Vera, RHP Matthew Thompson, RHP Kohl Simas, RHP Jared Kelley, RHP Yoelqui Céspedes, RF Wes Kath, 3B Bat-to-Ball Sleepers Ronny Hernandez, C Brooks Baldwin, CF/INF Mario Camilletti, 2B/3B Rikuu Nishida, LF Developmental Arms Christian Oppor, LHP Luis Rodriguez, RHP Mathias LaCombee, RHP Bryce Collins, RHP

Las Vegas unions blocked the much larger and profitable Wild Wild Wild landsite across I-15, which would have enabled a large real estate development. They barely pushed this weaker deal through the Nevada legislature. The approved land is abutted by McCarran Airport and two main arteries (Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana), is very small, and there isn’t a lot of flexibility to alter. They play without a dome in Summerlin for their AAA team, but not sure MLB would sign off on those conditions for so called (with Fisher involved) Major League games. I personally hope Nevada and Clark County are able to get out of the deal, as MLB is forcing John Fisher to not sell as part of their approval, and no city or fan base including my beloved Las Vegas deserves his product. It’s bad enough they got Mark Davis, though he has won two rings with his lesser known franchise with Tom Brady holding a minority stake. They hold the highest WNBA attendance at 9,551, which might beat the White Sox and is also more the the Hawks deserve.

Last update before the start of Spring Training. Salaries will have increased year over year after Cot's updates the next $13.6M in signing(s). Cots Contracts 2024 & 2023 Teams which have increased year over year OD payroll as of 1/25/24: Net $328.6M $74.6M Los Angeles Dodgers (2) $62.4M Houston Astros (4) $28.5M Washington Nationals (19) $23.4M Atlanta XXXXXX (6) $21.8M Kansas City Royals (22) $20.4M Baltimore Orioles (28) $19.5M Tampa Bay Rays (26) $17.3M Arizona Diamondbacks (16) $17.1M Texas Rangers (8) $15.5M New York Yankees (3) $10.6M Toronto Blue Jays (7) $8.6M Cleveland Guardians (24) $6.8M Cincinnati Reds (27) $1.5M Milwaukee Brewers (21) $0.5M Miami Marlins (25) $0.1M Chicago Cubs (9) Teams which have decreased year over year OD Payroll as of 1/25/24: Net $342.2M $90.9M San Diego Padres (14) $48.9M Chicago White Sox (18) $40.0M Los Angeles Angels (11) $27.7M New York Mets (1) $26.7M Minnesota Twins (20) $26.6M Colorado Rockies (15) $21.6M Detroit Tigers (23) $21.5M San Francisco Giants (13) $13.7M Oakland Athletics (30) $9.9M Boston Red Sox (12) $4.5M Philadelphia Phillies (5) $4.4M Seattle Mariners (17) $4.2M Saint Louis Cardinals (11) $1.6M Pittsburgh Pirates (29) Remaining Players with a projected 1.0 + fWAR 3.3 SP Blake Snell (31) 3.2 SP Jordan Montgomery (31) 2.6 3B Matt Chapman (31) 2.4 OF Cody Bellinger (28) 2.3 SS Amed Rosario (28) 1.9 DH Jorge Soler (32) 1.8 SP Hyun Jin Ryu (37) 1.8 SP Clayton Kershaw (36) 1.6 SS Tim Anderson (31) 1.6 SP Trevor Bauer (33) 1.5 SP Julio Urias (27) 1.3 SP Mike Clevinger (33) 1.2 SP Michael Lorenzen (32) 1.2 SP Domingo German (31) 1.2 SP Jakob Junis (31) 1.1 SP Zach Greinke (40) 1.1 INF Gio Urshela (32) 1.1 SP Carlos Carrasco (37) 1.0 OF Tommy Pham (36) 1.0 CF Michael A. Taylor (33) 1.0 SP Alex Wood (33) 1.0 INF Jean Segura (34)

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/rangers-to-sign-david-robertson.html Old and expensive set up man. Texas may as well add a few more players now that this pushes them over the CBT for a second year. 2024 $10M + AAV FA Signings Arizona Eduardo Rodriguez (31) $20.00M (4) Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (30) $14.00M (3) Joc Pederson (32) $12.50M (1) Atlanta Reynaldo Lopez (30) $10.00M (3) Baltimore Craig Kimbrel (36) $13.00M (1) Boston Lucas Giolito (29) $19.25M (2) Chicago N. L. Shota Imanaga (30) $13.25M (4) Cincinnati Frankie Montas (31) $16.00M (1) Jeimer Candelario (30) $15.00M (3) Nick Martinez (33) $13.00M (2) Colorado Charlie Blackmon (37) $13.00M (1) Detroit Jack Flaherty (28) $14,00M (1) Kenta Maeda (36) $12.00M (2) Houston Josh Hader (30) $19.00M (5) Kansas City Michael Wacha (32) $16.00M (2) Seth Lugo (34) $15.00M (3) Los Angeles A. L. Robert Stephenson (31) $11.00M (3) Los Angeles N. L. Shohei Ohtani (29) $46.08M (10) Yoshinobu Yamamoto (25) $27.08M (12) Teoscar Hernandez (31) $20.43M (1) James Paxton (35) $11.00M (1) Milwaukee Rhys Hoskins (31) $17.00M (2) New York A. L. Marcus Stroman (33) $18.50M (2) New York N. L. Sean Manaea (32) $14.0M (2) Luis Severino (30) $13.00M (1) Harrison Bader (30) $10.50M (1) Philadelphia Aaron Nola (31) $24.57M (7) Pittsburgh Aroldis Chapman (36) $10.50M (1) Saint Louis Sonny Gray (34) $24.95M (3) Kyle Gibson (36) $13.00M (1) Lance Lynn (37) $11.00M (1) San Francisco Jung Hoo Lee (25) $18.83M (6) Jordan Hicks (27) $11.00M (4) Seattle Mitch Garver (33) $12.00M (2) Texas David Robertson (39) $11-$12M (1) Tyler Mahle (29) $11.00M (2) Toronto Kevin Kiermaier (34) $10.50M (1) Teams Not Participating: Chicago A. L. Cleveland Miami Minnesota Oakland San Diego Tampa Bay Washington

There are several teams trying to win a championship in 2024 that might be willing to take on whatever the Sox don't (weighing cash vs. prospects) at the deadline (about $8M + $5M BO) depending on 3B health / hitting needs at the deadline. Threw the Mets in there for Cohen wild card. Would say the Yankees or a non Chapman signing Blue Jays may be the two most likely interested based on their incumbents. Dodgers because they don't give a s%*# about the "Luxury" tax. Atlanta - Austin Riley (27) Houston - Alex Bregman (30) Los Angeles N. L. - Max Muncy (33) New York N. L. - Brett Baty (24) New York A. L. - DJ LeMahieu (35) Philadelphia - Alec Bohm (27) Texas - Josh Jung (26) Toronto - FA Matt Chapman (31) or Cavan Biggio (29)

He played well to close the season, and I'm hoping he has a great 2024, and possibly yields a solid prospect or two at the deadline if he has a good first half. From Lip's ST article:

Assuming the MLB White Sox article is true, he passed the Steve Stone, Jerry Reinsdorf and most importantly, the food eating test via the three hour dinner in Arizona. I prefer listening to radio baseball broadcasts followed by watching highlights on MLB.com, but hope to enjoy Schriffin’s work when I’m able to catch games on TV. This article gives some background on his work including beyond sports. He started as a pitcher at Dartmouth before being injured, followed by announcing games for the Big Green before graduating. https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/01/25/john-schriffen-white-sox-broadcaster

Three games (Gold Package) vs. five (Green Package) in Green Bay. I enjoyed many Packers games at Milwaukee County Stadium before the jump.

Anyone snags a photo of Carl Everett and Sue, please post.

Available Pool: $5,925,000 - $3,005,000 = $2,920,000 remaining. Four confirmed amounts in the Sun Times Article. Eduardo Herrera, 3B: $1.8M Judrick Profar, SS: $0.6M Jesus Premoli, 3B: $0.55M Jeziel Boekhoudt, RHP: $55K Four without disclosed $s from the Sox on 35th article: https://www.soxon35th.com/2024-international-signing-tracker-all-white-sox-agreements/ Orlando Suarez, RHP, Venezuela Juan Berroteran, SS, Venezuela Alexandre Valdiviezo, RHP, Venezuela Manuel Rumbos, RHP, Venezuela

LF Joe Jackson 1B Rafael Palmeiro SS Alex Rodriguez DH Barry Bonds RF Carlos Beltran CF Andruw Jones C Thurman Munster 2B Bobby Grich 3B Craig Nettles Utility: Pete Rose SP Roger Clemens Swing Curt Schilling 7th Joe Nathan 8th Francisco Rodriguez 9th Billy Wagner

Dude, perhaps you should stick to posting on your Cubbie message board ,because best case scenario is they swap out the Japanese pitcher for Stroman, and overpay to keep Bellinger. They have literally have done Jack s%*#, and have been shredding players for years to pay debt on the team and Wrigleyville while raping fans over past several seasons. The Sox gained by shedding complete horseshit like Lynn and Kelly at the deadline, and Grandal, Elvis and hopefully Sheets after year end. Whatever they play will be an improvement at SS. Not only addition by subtraction, but a few of their pickups will outperform expectations, and Moncada and others should play well for their next contracts. Perhaps reply to actual post content next time.

Team Total INF OF SP RP 42.9 Cleveland 15.9 8.4 14.3 4.3 42.3 Minnesota 15.1 8.9 13.6 4.7 30.6 Detroit 7.5 8.0 11.2 3.9 24.0 Kansas City 11.4 5.3 7.4 (-0.1) 23.5 Chicago 6.5 7.5 7.8 1.7

It’s a guess for a lot of these guys at this point, with flexibility for those who are healthy and pitching well out of camp. They can move him down if he makes it through camp. I like the fact the bullpen is mostly young, and 25% + of payroll isn’t committed to it. Depending on how the season goes, a few guys should be pleasant surprises who can continue here or be flipped depending on how things go. I hope they sign / invite a few more guys. Still think 80 ish wins can take the division, thinking the Tigers most likely to add before ST and at the deadline.

Going off the current roster / invitees: x = player with minor league options Rotation: Dylan Cease x Michael Kopech x Erick Fedde Michael Soroka Chris Flexen Bullpen: John Brebbia Tanner Banks x Tim Hill Deivi Garcia Jimmy Lambert Lane Ramsey x Shane Drohan (Rule 5) x Touki Toussaint (Swingman) Injured Reserve: Matt Foster x Davis Martin x Gregory Santos x Open season in AAA: (All x) Cousin, Crochet, Eder, Leasure, Mena, Nastrini, Peralta, Scholtens, Shuster, Speas