South Side Hit Men

Our governor could have used those port-a-potties for his mansion based on his prior real estate exemption filings.

This was our prior GM’s top job priority, but he lasted just under eleven seasons. Obsessing over, responding to, and throwing shade at White Sox fans’ social media posts, and making absurd claims with the teams he assembled like “multi-championship competitive window” and “meet me at the parade”.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh holds PiratesFest. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/pirates-notes-cherington-cruz-keller.html GM Ben Cherington made it clear that the Pirates’ offseason work is far from over, stating “We’re engaged on a number of fronts, and certainly my hope is that there’s going to be more happening between now and Spring Training.” Pirates Manger Dan Shelton stated “Our goal was to play playoff games in October. Whether that’s winning the Central, which is definitely the goal, or being a playoff caliber team, that’s something we’re striving for.” The Pittsburgh Pirates are top five in MLB Player Development spending. They finished 76-86 last season, but haven’t advanced in the playoffs since their 2013 Wild Card win. That said, the White Sox may never accomplish any of these three accomplishments / accomplish again (Top 5 Player Development spending, 76 wins, advancing in the playoffs for the first time since 2005) with current ownership. It will be interesting if White Sox payroll drops below Pirates payroll in 2025 and beyond. The Pirates last topped the White Sox in Opening Day payroll in 2018, and finished with a higher final payroll in 2018 and 2017.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/white-sox-sign-chad-kuhl-to-minors-contract.html

Greg, They signed three pitchers since the post you quoted (Hill, Kuhn and Flexen). These are the types of pitchers I expected in terms of price range. They can add a few more similar pitchers and hopefully a few pan out and have positive contributions in 2024, perhaps beyond. They also signed a backup OF (Brett Phillips). We received mixed signals in terms of whether they are considering Colas as a possible starter next year, so the RFers I discussed as reasonable were Gallo or Duval if they are not counting on Colas. The return on a possible Cease trade is the last unknown factor. Will they receive strictly A-AAA prospects, or will the return also include a RF and or starter who can contribute in 2024. Im going to Vegas for a few weeks and I’m considering betting over 64 1/2 wins. I feel this team will likely win 65-70 + wins next season, perhaps more. Want to see what they get for Cease first, and or if they sign a RFer or anyone else (I’m there through late January). And thank you for the explanation @ChiSox59!

So if he clears waivers, since he doesn’t have enough MLB service time, and has not been out righted to the minors previously, I believe the White Sox can assign him to Charlotte. My question is if at some point he is reinstated to the forty man roster, does a player’s minor league options reset, and if so over a single season or three seasons? Just looking to understand the process. Thanks in advance for anyone clarifying.

I’m glad they brought in Bannister, restored the catcher coach position, hopefully Drew Butera and the veterans can develop the young catchers. Matt Wise and Marcus Thames and the others should help as well. I don’t believe they are done, will like to have a final Top 10 between Getz hire and Opening Day, including international signings such as Herrera and Profar, and if Cease is traded. I’m hoping they wait until July unless they get what Getz is holding out for. Also want to enjoy 2024, so a RF and a couple other invites may help as well.

I rarely get Sox TV beyond the highlight clips, so I’m very happy Len and DJ are returning together in 2024. I hope they can get a solid broadcaster who fans enjoy, and not some connected crony hire. The radio teams have nearly always been superior to the television crews, IMO, with the caveat Harry and Jimmy had a dual radio / tv broadcast back in the day. @WestEddy- I should have added Bannister to my top ten. I’ll slot him 6th, and remove Grandal to accommodate.

"I can't think of another example of a fan base which invested in a team for six years and were given jack s%*# in return." "What you guys have been subjected to over the past decade, the extreme tease and the pain that comes from that tease afterward. I think it's unparalleled in baseball." "I think judging somebody by his transactions in a year where he's (Getz) starting what may not be a tank, but may very well be a tank, is a very, very bad way to judge a President of Baseball Operations or a General Manager. I think you need to give him time before you render an opinion on his moves." - Jeff Passan 1/4/24

Including additions by subtractions starting with regime change / Getz transition: Rick Hahn Daryl Boston Mike Clevinger SP Mike Soroka SP Erick Fedde Kenny Williams C Max Stassi Yasmani Grandal SP Shane Drohan SP Chris Flexen

Yep, keep all games off of WGN and watch interest in your product and attendance to continue to erode short and long term. Cord cutters within a large Chicago radius + Iowa, most of Indiana and a good chunk of Wisconsin's can't pay MLB.com to watch games White Sox games because blackouts. How dumb is that? Jerry turned Chicago from a 50/50 split to a 67/33 Cubs advantage. Needs to go. in the interim, the commissioner needs an edict to all 30 teams that all new local television contracts including JerryVision to provide fans the option to pay for streaming. Could include an extra fee for local games, but it is completely asinine to lockout out ever growing numbers of fans from your product. My brother lives in Vegas and has six teams blacked out. WTF.

The Organization has five teams not counting rookie ball. If Hahn left 30 serviceable players throughout the entire organization, Getz needs to find up to 100 better players via draft, international signings, trades. waiver wire dumpster dives and FAs. We are going to see quite a bit of this over the next few years.

They still need to cut someone to accommodate Martin Maldanado, unless some medical issue emerges. Current 40 Man Roster: 23 Pitchers, 2 Catchers, 10 Infielders, 2 DHs (counting Sheets in this bucket) and 3 OFers.

Chris Getz is Lorde! In the defense of the Royals, you don’t need to be 21 to remember their last World Series win, or mid 40s for the Orioles.

Getz will lose credibility if they play Sheets anywhere but 1B or DH beyond some emergency. Gallo is my first choice for a starter for under $10M among available capable RF. Duvall is cromulent because he can also cover CF with a Colas call up, might be a better option in that aspect. Think you can better flip Gallo if he can find his HR stroke, abs he’s a better bet to last the season.

I think a lot of people here would embrace Martin Maldonado if he was named player manager. I believe Don Kessinger was the last American League Player Manager, and Pete Rose the last one period.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/white-sox-agree-to-deal-with-brett-phillips.html It’s a minor league deal. He’s a can cover CF, about the level of player I expected for 26th man (Billy Hamilton). I suggested Jonathan Davis in my budget shopping list. He’s within 1.0 career bWAR of Eloy (BP 4.7 vs. EJ 5.6) with half the at bats and 43 less MLB games played than Eloy. They still need a guy who can start in RF until Colas comes up (or if he doesn’t make it).

Yes, but you get even more savings keeping 2-4 quality MLB players long term. I’m not convinced Baltimore would go far beyond $22M / 2 years for Cease if he was a non QO FA today, because ownership is perfectly happy cashing $320M in revenue and only spending 1/6 or 1/5 of that amount on players. The most probable suitors are ones actually trying to compete and also potentially impacted by the luxury tax. A team like the damn Yankees, Red Cubs, Braves, Cardinals and of course the Dodgers (with SD and NYM handcuffed this off-season). Tampa would be my wildcard in exception, even though Cease is at their ceiling in salary. With Franco likely dropping off their payroll and settlement of the stadium issue, their budget should allow them to pick up a piece like Cease if they are interested. I thought Cincinnati was the other legitimate option until they signed Montas.

Not only would Jerry Reinsdorf sell his mother, he'd send her C. O. D..

Updates: Wander’s court date was changed from today until Friday. Wander continues to be held in jail, for failing to appear for a summons, not for any change in information regarding his case. A mother of one of the alleged victims was detained this afternoon.

I wonder if Will Leitch spent more than 30 minutes concocting the ratings.

Getz has some ability to assess baseball talent, Hahn had zero. Getz hasn't done anything stupid his first six months. Getz brought in experienced external people for key positions. Just trying to remain optimistic with an open mind. I understand many expect 100 + losses in 2024, just as many expected 100 + wins and a World Series in 2022. I expect a few holdover players to outperform their 2023 output, and a portion of the new players to contribute. I also expect a better team / player attitude this season, and hopefully all of this leads to a much more enjoyable season for everyone. It's also too early to tell what Getz' long term mindset is. You can't say what players he would like for a competitive team on a long term basis based on a severe cost cutting of payroll this offseason. There aren't many players who want to come to an 100 loss team if they have better options.

He could have a $30M-$40M payroll like Oakland but I don't see that happening. His new network needs to sell advertisement, they will want to end the regression of season ticket sales. I don't watch games, but on the radio broadcasts unions and Jesus ads were at least 50% of the inventory sold, so I'd assume there wasn't a lot of TV advertisement demand in 2023 or heading into 2024. I hope they keep Cease and everyone unless they are blown away by an offer. There is no desperation to cut payroll further, or sell the remaining decent plus players for a deal the FO and fans aren't satisfied with. There are still two more months, and I would like to see them bring in two more OFers, a playable RF and a bench OF who can defensively cover RF and CF. Even with $50M-$60M to work with, he is still better at roster construction than his predecessor who spent nearly every penny and draft pick on DHs and RPs, and had the same holes in the lineup each and every season. I'm more satisfied this offseason than I have been since the 2016 tanking trades and before that the 2000s.

Agreed. Fans would respond and return in the Summer if they were playing decent / near .500 ball and looked competent. Not saying they would significantly add at the deadline, but they wouldn’t necessarily be in complete tear down mode that they were in in 2023 and 2016. Fans responded in 2021 and again in 2022, but the attendance collapsed last and into this year with the implosion of the rebuild, which is why they are cutting payroll.