Chicago White Sox

That’s generally true, but in this case, I think Getz wanted to add a veteran RH OF to help against LHP (since all our OFs except Robert are LH) and didn’t want to spend big on it. As such, Slater became the “top target” for this very small, specialized role. But no doubt there is a sales element at play here as well that people are latching onto due to their frustration with the org.

We are coming off the worst season in baseball history and have been lambasted in the press since it ended. We clearly will have to overpay to land free agents. In this case, we’re talking paying a $1M above league minimum for a role player that our new hitting coordinator just worked with and probably feels is undervalued and potentially a good clubhouse fit. Who really cares if he was our “top target” for a weak-side platoon OF on cheap? I will happily criticize Getz for many of things, but this is a big nothing in the grand scheme of things.

I think Quero is up by May 1st if not OD knowing this org. And I still think Lee can be a very solid backup catcher. I’d personally investment my limited money into a 1B / DH upgrade and give Robert some much needed protection.

The pessimism around Montgomery is primarily related to his struggles with velocity. And candidly speaking, those concerns are warranted until he proves otherwise. I’m optimistic he can adjust and become a very productive major leaguer, but he certainly has lost some of his prospect shine and no longer looks like a potential superstar IMO. Hopefully he proves me wrong though.

He probably isn’t and that’s really unfortunate.

In that type of package I would certainly welcome Abreu, but worry he’d be a major part of any potential package.

Abreu is a fine player, but five years of control isn’t great when your team is very far away from competing. Having him and Vargas (also with five years of control if he works out) be two key pieces of a potential rebuilt lineup seems a bit shortsighted IMO.

Colson Montgomery put up an 88 wRC+ in AAA while playing half his games in an absolute bandbox. To think he’s ready for the majors is wild to me and to think he’d have any chance of winning ROY next year is even crazier. I’m glad he had a nice AFL stint but it was 42 plate appearances. He needs to have an extended stretch of success in AAA before we consider calling him up. There is zero benefit of burning a year of service while he hoping he’ll complete critical development in the majors. Baldwin can and should start for a month or two or however long it takes for Colson to legit be ready for a shot.

I saw this the other day and was going to post it here, but obviously not even remotely realistic. Mayo would be an awesome addition despite his corner profile. And I do like Beavers as a secondary piece. But no way they do Mayo & Basallo in the same deal.

So Harold’s game plan for the Sox this offseason is: Rush Colson Montgomery to the majors Trade Robert + prospects for Lux Trade Crochet + Benintendi for crap Definitely seems like a foolproof plan!

Would be an incredibly dumb decision based on the last 12 months

This deal is a $1M above league minimum. And we’re talking about a weak-side platoon OF, so it’s not like he’s even blocking any of the AAAA OF prospects we have anyways. Honestly, this is actually a pretty solid move to potentially add some offense against LHP. May not work out but worth the gamble at the price.

Fair price and worthy addition IMO.

I just can’t see it. The only way you can keep both is if you can find a position for Vargas outside of DH (not sure an obvious one exists) and, if so, you plan on making no other upgrades at 1B / DH this offseason. At some point, you’re not even trying as GM if you’re willing to accept below league average production at 1B / DH for another season. Sheets at a minimum is gone IMO. He’s very hard to roster as a role player with the addition of Slater as a legit bench piece for the OF. Again, unless Getz is ok with Gavin as our primary DH, I just don’t see how he fits. And let’s be honest, Sheets wasn’t even a league average hitter against RHP last year. He’s literally a zero dimension player at this point. The concern with them keeping Vaughn is he is arguably our best hitter against LHP. Paying $6M for a weak side platoon 1B would be the definition of insanity, but he is still young and maybe they think Fuller can unlock something there. While I really want to see Vaughn gone myself, it’s not a stellar FA class for 1B and we don’t exactly have a ton of in house options (sorry Elko fans). Ultimately it’s a tougher call to keep him vs. Sheets who is simply bad at everything.

I don’t think so. The team is going to make other moves in the coming weeks and months. Those two spots will be used soon enough and they don’t need to unnecessarily protect guys if they don’t view they as risks of being selected. I’m not sure either of the two main relievers in question qualify as guys I’d be overly concerned about protecting.

The lack of development is more on Hahn than Getz. Having him skip all of the upper minors because our major league LF got injured in spring training was an all time stupid decision and almost certainly stunted his growth to some extent.

I hope both are gone, but have a bad feeling that Getz hangs onto Vaughn for another year despite zero reason to believe he’ll ever be a productive player.

I doubt both Sheets and Vaughn are back.

Honestly, if it’s $2M or less, then I hope it stops some of the complaints.

Still no dollar amount here?

People keep saying this but I really doubt it’s true.

Yup, we need to see the price tag before complaining.

Slater had a 137 wRC+ vs. LHP from 2019 to 2023 and then put up a 66 in 2024. He did put up a 114 wRC+ with the Orioles, so there is some reason to believe a partial bounce back is very possible. Depending on the price, there is some logic to the signing, especially when almost all our non Robert OFs are lefties in Benintnedi, Fletcher, DeLoach, & Colas. Again, just depends on the price.

We really need bats. I get Painter could be awesome, but we got to find a way to add some high impact offense.