White Sox agree to 1 year deal with INF Josh Rojas

[Chicago White Sox]

35 minutes ago, JUSTgottaBELIEVE said:

In a perfect world, Baldwin and Meidroth start the season in AAA. Vargas and Sosa have seen plenty of AAA already and will be 25 years old when the season starts. It’s make or break time for them.

I agree on Vargas & Sosa, but Meidroth is ready for his shot.

[Chicago White Sox]

31 minutes ago, JUSTgottaBELIEVE said:

And along the lines of the infield being too crowded, which I think is a big stretch, I’d still love to see the Sox sign Kim to play SS. I know it won’t happen cuz Jerry but he’d be a great fit and provide stability at the position that is currently missing.

SS is different than 2B / 3B.  If Rojas could play a decent SS then I’d feel very differently, but there is zero reason to believe that is the case.

[Chicago White Sox]

6 minutes ago, Fielder Jones said:

a lot of us would like the existing young guys to get all the burn this year but from Getz's perspective.. Hahn was responsible for some of these. Very evidently he's not a Colas fan. Not sure who now is supporting Sosa but Grifol clearly didnt like him. We probably cant expect Getz to want to have 162 games of all of Hahn's guys. If GMs are hired and fired eventually on win-loss record then I could understand him wanting a veteran in there to help grab a win or two (and he's a 2 win player, to boot). 

It might not be opening day but by second half of the season we could see 2B being entirely Meidroth and Rojas 

Lenyn Sosa is Getz’s greatest LatAm success during his entire time as the head of player development program.  Him turning him into a useful major leaguer would be a legit feather in the cap for Chris.

[WhiteSox2023]

53 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

This is definitely part of the issue.  Meidroth was the third piece of a Garrett Crochet trade.  He was 31% better than a league average hitter in his first go around as a AAA infielder.  What else does he have to do to earn an opportunity?  Baldwin was stellar last year in the minors.  Sosa was very good in AAA last year.  Vargas has destroyed the minors.  What else do those guys have to do to earn an opportunity?

My beef isn’t with Josh Rojas himself…he’s a perfectly fine role player and may end up being a nice little value signing.  The problem is whatever you might get for Rojas at the deadline is a fraction of the value of what it would be if one of the kids above worked out.  It’s simply poor and none of the rah rah Getz guys are going to convince me otherwise as I just witnessed how little Getz was able to extract for much better assets this past year.

BOOM.  💥 

Exactly.

Edited Friday at 05:20 AM by WhiteSox2023

[caulfield12]

We've been saying all off season long, shore up SS, if you're going to do ANYTHING...

But of course, we find a guy who just happens to play the two positions with the most depth on the roster in 2B and 3B.  Now we don't know for sure if it's quality depth or not, but one would have to imagine at least two of Montgomery/Vargas/Ramos/Gonzalez/Meidroth/Baldwin would be able to handle 2B and 3B.

If we go along with the theory that Vargas is slotted as the DH (and not a defined position), with Tauchman starting in RF and Baldwin at SS and Sosa at 2B...just let the kids play!!!  

If we've already given up on Fletcher and Colas for RF, fine.  But at least find a legit CF candidate for when you eventually trade Robert.  Don't suddenly act surprised and shift Fletcher there when his best position (and the only one where he has a positive asset/value) is RF.

Some are already suggesting that Rojas should get some play at 1B.  Why, why, why, when his biggest asset is being an above average field at third and second?   Why are we paying Vaughn $6 million or whatever it is and already trying to replace him with a hitter lacking much if any offensive upside?

Edited Friday at 05:55 AM by caulfield12

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

20 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

We've been saying all off season long, shore up SS, if you're going to do ANYTHING...

But of course, we find a guy who just happens to play the two positions with the most depth on the roster in 2B and 3B.  Now we don't know for sure if it's quality depth or not, but one would have to imagine at least two of Montgomery/Vargas/Ramos/Gonzalez/Meidroth/Baldwin would be able to handle 2B and 3B.

If we go along with the theory that Vargas is slotted as the DH (and not a defined position), with Tauchman starting in RF and Baldwin at SS and Sosa at 2B...just let the kids play!!!  

If we've already given up on Fletcher and Colas for RF, fine.  But at least find a legit CF candidate for when you eventually trade Robert.  Don't suddenly act surprised and shift Fletcher there when his best position (and the only one where he has a positive asset/value) is RF.

Some are already suggesting that Rojas should get some play at 1B.  Why, why, why, when his biggest asset is being an above average field at third and second?   Why are we paying Vaughn $6 million or whatever it is and already trying to replace him with a hitter lacking much if any offensive upside?

This certainly is the most logical the plan, with the expectation that Montgomery takes over SS for the long term once they ensure an extra year of control.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

2 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

We've been saying all off season long, shore up SS, if you're going to do ANYTHING...

But of course, we find a guy who just happens to play the two positions with the most depth on the roster in 2B and 3B.  Now we don't know for sure if it's quality depth or not, but one would have to imagine at least two of Montgomery/Vargas/Ramos/Gonzalez/Meidroth/Baldwin would be able to handle 2B and 3B.

If we go along with the theory that Vargas is slotted as the DH (and not a defined position), with Tauchman starting in RF and Baldwin at SS and Sosa at 2B...just let the kids play!!!  

If we've already given up on Fletcher and Colas for RF, fine.  But at least find a legit CF candidate for when you eventually trade Robert.  Don't suddenly act surprised and shift Fletcher there when his best position (and the only one where he has a positive asset/value) is RF.

Some are already suggesting that Rojas should get some play at 1B.  Why, why, why, when his biggest asset is being an above average field at third and second?   Why are we paying Vaughn $6 million or whatever it is and already trying to replace him with a hitter lacking much if any offensive upside?

Lol I said he could be used at 1st because he could be.I didn't say anything about replacing Vaughn. Rojas is a good glove. 1st is easier than SS. I think it's ok for me to envision better defense in late innings with a lead at multiple positions for Rojas. Take it easy. Watch your blood pressure.

[Boopa1219]

18 hours ago, Johno said:

When does Getz step up to the plate and go after a player who can actually swing the bat and produce on offense?   I’m not against this signing, but it would be nice if F’ing once we signed a player who can flat out rake!!!

Too early for that in terms of free agents. Embrace the suck

[joejoesox]

17 hours ago, Nardiwashere said:

So what does the infield look like now?

C- Lee/Thaiss

1B Vaughn

2B Meidroth

SS Baldwin

3B Rojas

Where are Sosa and Vargas and Ramos?

who gives a f***, really 

[Chicago White Sox]

Steamer 600 projections for the various 3B / 2B options on the roster:

• Meidroth: 107 wRC+ | 2.8 fWAR
• Baldwin: 92 wRC+ | 1.9 fWAR
• Rojas: 95 wRC+ | 1.9 fWAR
• Vargas: 103 wRC+ | 1.8 fWAR
• Sosa: 95 wRC+ | 1.7 fWAR
• Ramos: 91 wRC+ | 1.7 fWAR

Six of our top 10 projections are guys who play those two positions.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think all these guys would hit these projections if given a full season worth of at-bats and Meidroth in particular is such a unicorn that he’s clearly breaking their model.  However, the point here is that we have enough young internal options worthy of a legitimate look that we don’t really need a veteran stopgap.  And if you’re signing Rojas as a potential flip piece, I don’t think the juice will have been worth the squeeze come July.

Again, the story is different for RF.  Tauchman has a Steamer 600 projection of a 109 wRC+ and 1.8 fWAR.  Fletcher, DeLoach, & Colas all project to be at 0.0 to negative fWAR players.  At their ages, they are simply not worthy of committing serious playing time to on a team in desperate need of competent bats and they should have to force their way into earning opportunities.  As such, a Tauchman / Slater platoon for RF makes sense as a stopgap since they are blocking guys very unlikely to be productive major leaguers.

Edited Friday at 11:02 AM by Chicago White Sox

[TaylorStSox]

6 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

Look having Josh Rojas isn't a problem for me in general.  He was a free agent signing who cost you nothing but money.

But there are two things of note here. 

1.Decent organizations have all kinds of good fielding/no hit utility guys falling out of their trees.

2. These kinds of guys aren't used to block guys who need ABs during historically bad seasons for exactly the value proposition you just outlined.  They are literal roster filler.

The Sox aren't a decent organization. 

[TaylorStSox]

8 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

You have clearly never seen Baldwin play once in your life

Are you saying that Baldwin isn't a much smaller human than Zobrist? It's a really bad comparison because they're about 4 inches and 50 lbs apart. 

[Chicago White Sox]

I think with this signing, you are looking at the following infield to start the year:

• 3B: Rojas*
• SS: Baldwin#
• 2B: Sosa

Vargas likely becomes the primary DH who fills in at 3B against LHP as Rojas has strong platoon splits.  Amaya starts the year as the main backup infielder and slots in at SS against LHP.

This leaves a AAA infield of the following to start the year:

• 3B: Ramos
• SS: Montgomery*
• 2B: Meidroth

All three of those guys likely receive a call-up by June with hopefully Rojas being part of an early trade to clear a spot (he does have an option FWIW) and Amaya likely the odd man out unless he quickly shows something, injuries happen, or one of Sosa or Baldwin flops.  And with the inflow of so many infielders, my hope is Baldwin eventually moves into a mini Zobrist role and plays all over the IF & OF while still getting mostly everyday ABs.

Lots of moving pieces here, but at least I can see some semblance of a plan.  I still don’t love adding Rojas, but it does make more sense if you have decided Vargas can’t stick at 3B and you view Ramos as being the likely heir apparent.

[Chicago White Sox]

30 minutes ago, TaylorStSox said:

Are you saying that Baldwin isn't a much smaller human than Zobrist? It's a really bad comparison because they're about 4 inches and 50 lbs apart. 

I’m referring to the “175 pounds soaking wet” comment.  He’s clearly a much smaller player than Zobrist, but that doesn’t mean he’s some scrawny little slap hitter which is how I have taken your series of comments to imply.  Baldwin can actually impact a baseball.

[JUSTgottaBELIEVE]

8 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I agree on Vargas & Sosa, but Meidroth is ready for his shot.

Meidroth will get a shot in 2025 but he’s fine starting the season in AAA. He’s only 23 and I’m not in a hurry to start the clock on any of these prospects if there are viable short term vets in front of them. I’m hoping they add a SS next but also wouldn’t be surprised if they roll with the Baldwin/Amaya combo there. I know Miami’s system has sucked recently but it’s still hard to believe Amaya was a T10 prospect for them. I guess the glove is good and that has some value.

Edited Friday at 01:08 PM by JUSTgottaBELIEVE

[Chicago White Sox]

53 minutes ago, JUSTgottaBELIEVE said:

Meidroth will get a shot in 2025 but he’s fine starting the season in AAA. He’s only 23 and I’m not in a hurry to start the clock on any of these prospects if there are viable short term vets in front of them. I’m hoping they add a SS next but also wouldn’t be surprised if they roll with the Baldwin/Amaya combo there. I know Houston’s system has sucked recently but it’s still hard to believe Amaya was a T15 prospect for them. I guess the glove is good and that has some value.

Amaya was a top 15 prospect for the Dodgers for a couple years.  Obviously those days are long gone, but he can actually play a decent SS and he did crush LHP back in 2022.  He probably ends up being the odd man out, but I’m ok with him starting the year as the backup IF and weak side platoon at SS.

I don’t think we need a veteran SS though.  I totally get not wanting to start the clock on certain guys, but we can’t keep releasing controllable talent for two month stop gaps while also blocking other prospects who are already worthy of playing time.  Trading for Gilbert resulted in us cutting the one positional guy on the 40 man roster who was an obvious cut in Shewmake.  The only pitchers you could argue are easy cuts are Murfee and maybe Scholtens, although we just carried that dude an entire year despite being injured and he might have some value to us as a guy who can soak up innings in a pinch.  Beyond those two, you are probably looking at Colas as the next most obvious cut.  I wouldn’t lose sleep over him being DFAed, but I’d rather keep him at AAA and see if Fuller can work some magic than add a dumper dive, stopgap SS in free agency.

[Boopa1219]

I think Meidroth is going to win the 2B job outright in camp 

[WhiteSox2023]

1 hour ago, JUSTgottaBELIEVE said:

Meidroth will get a shot in 2025 but he’s fine starting the season in AAA. He’s only 23 and I’m not in a hurry to start the clock on any of these prospects if there are viable short term vets in front of them. I’m hoping they add a SS next but also wouldn’t be surprised if they roll with the Baldwin/Amaya combo there. I know Miami’s system has sucked recently but it’s still hard to believe Amaya was a T10 prospect for them. I guess the glove is good and that has some value.

Agreed, no reason to rush Dark Lord Meidroth, or any other younger prospects with the current state of this team.

[ChiSox59]

57 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Amaya was a top 15 prospect for the Dodgers for a couple years.  Obviously those days are long gone, but he can actually play a decent SS and he did crush LHP back in 2022.  He probably ends up being the odd man out, but I’m ok with him starting the year as the backup IF and weak side platoon at SS.

I don’t think we need a veteran SS though.  I totally get not wanting to start the clock on certain guys, but we can’t keep releasing controllable talent for two month stop gaps while also blocking other prospects who are already worthy of playing time.  Trading for Gilbert resulted in us cutting the one positional guy on the 40 man roster who was an obvious cut in Shewmake.  The only pitchers you could argue are easy cuts are Murfee and maybe Scholtens, although we just carried that dude an entire year despite being injured and he might have some value to us as a guy who can soak up innings in a pinch.  Beyond those two, you are probably looking at Colas as the next most obvious cut.  I wouldn’t lose sleep over him being DFAed, but I’d rather keep him at AAA and see if Fuller can work some magic than add a dumper dive, stopgap SS in free agency.

Sox currently holding 24 pitchers and 16 position players on the 40 man.  It almost certainly has to be a pitcher.  Murfee or Scholtens make the most sense, but obviously Murfee was just claimed, and Sox liked Scholtens enough to hold him on the roster all last year. Obviously this isn't a good roster, but you're getting to the point where you're going to have to cut interesting young guys you recently brought in if you continue to acquire middling veteran talent.  

This also hamstrings the Sox availability to be aggressive on the waiver wire, which frankly is one of their competitive advantages from being so awful. 

Edited Friday at 02:55 PM by ChiSox59

[Bob Sacamano]

16 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said:

Sox currently holding 24 pitchers and 16 position players on the 40 man.  It almost certainly has to be a pitcher.  Murfee or Scholtens make the most sense, but obviously Murfee was just claimed, and Sox liked Scholtens enough to hold him on the roster all last year. Obviously this isn't a good roster, but you're getting to the point where you're going to have to cut interesting young guys you recently brought in if you continue to acquire middling veteran talent.  

This also hamstrings the Sox availability to be aggressive on the waiver wire, which frankly is one of their competitive advantages from being so awful. 

Yeah they should do this.

As for the 40-Man roster, bump off some of those around 30 or older relievers like the guys you mentioned. Even Varland or Justin Anderson as well. Have as many younger, upside guys as possible instead.

Edited Friday at 03:06 PM by Bob Sacamano

[Balta1701]

3 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

All three of those guys likely receive a call-up by June with hopefully Rojas being part of an early trade to clear a spot (he does have an option FWIW)

Rule check here - if a guy has signed a full free agent contract do options still do anything? 

[ChiSox59]

25 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Yeah they should do this.

As for the 40-Man roster, bump off some of those around 30 or older relievers like the guys you mentioned. Even Varland or Justin Anderson as well. Have as many younger, upside guys as possible instead.

Sox just decided to not non-tender Justin Anderson.  And he's probably current leader in the clubhouse for the closer role.  I doubt he's on the chopping block. 

Edited Friday at 03:21 PM by ChiSox59

[ChiSox59]

6 minutes ago, Balta1701 said:

Rule check here - if a guy has signed a full free agent contract do options still do anything? 

Absolutely.  He doesn't have the requisite service time to not be optionable.  He also has just 4.1 years of service time, so he's controllable for 2026 as well even though it was just a 1 year deal. 

[Chicago White Sox]

23 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said:

Sox currently holding 24 pitchers and 16 position players on the 40 man.  It almost certainly has to be a pitcher.  Murfee or Scholtens make the most sense, but obviously Murfee was just claimed, and Sox liked Scholtens enough to hold him on the roster all last year. Obviously this isn't a good roster, but you're getting to the point where you're going to have to cut interesting young guys you recently brought in if you continue to acquire middling veteran talent.  

This also hamstrings the Sox availability to be aggressive on the waiver wire, which frankly is one of their competitive advantages from being so awful. 

Fully agree, it’s not a great 40 man roster but most of the relievers at least are somewhat interesting and/or performed well in small samples.  They also all have options which is a nice plus.  I’d rather keep them then add a true dumpster dive SS.

[WestEddy]

25 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said:

Absolutely.  He doesn't have the requisite service time to not be optionable.  He also has just 4.1 years of service time, so he's controllable for 2026 as well even though it was just a 1 year deal. 

As indicated in the latest SoxMachine article, 5 years of service time seems to dictate that Rojas would have to accept an option. 

https://soxmachine.com/2025/01/following-up-what-even-is-the-white-sox-infield-right-now/