Via Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune, here are a few notes from White Sox GM Rick Hahn, who spoke to fans at the team’s SoxFest yesterday.
- Kane writes that although the White Sox have added Todd Frazier, Brett Lawrie and others this offseason, much of the discussion Friday focused on players the White Sox have missed on, particularly Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Gordon and Justin Upton. Hahn says the White Sox were aggressive with free agent targets they ultimately missed out on. “Any of these players who decide ultimately they want to return to where they came from, I have to respect that and tip my hat to them,” he said, perhaps referring to Gordon and/or Cespedes. “It doesn’t mean we’re not going to continue to try to get it done.”
- Dexter Fowler and Ian Desmond remain on the free agent market, and it appears either one could help the White Sox. One potential problem for Chicago, though, is that both players rejected qualifying offers. The Sox’ top pick in the tenth overall and will therefore be protected, but the Sox also currently have the No. 28 pick as compensation for the loss of Jeff Samardzija. “The draft pick has real value,” said Hahn. “A couple of million dollars worth of pool money, which allows you to be flexible with that draft pick or pay some forward or pay some back. … At some level, you balance the ability to improve this club versus the long-term impact that losing a pick like that would have.”
- White Sox manager Robin Ventura says Adam LaRoche will have to win the starting DH job in Spring Training, Kane tweets. The 36-year-old LaRoche is coming off a miserable .207/.293/.340 2015 season in which, considering his lack of defensive value, he was arguably one of the least productive everyday players in the Majors. Of course, as Kane implies, the question is who might replace him if the White Sox decide he’s not worthy of regular playing time.
Hanley and cash for Laroche. Makes sense for both sides.
As a DH, yes, LaRoche lacks defensive value, but he did win a Gold Glove in 2012, though his dWAR was 0.0 that year. Guess because of the White Sox need for a comeback by LaRoche, I’m fishing for the positives.
Interesting. Who would LaRoche be competing with? Navarro? Garcia?
Likely Melky Cabrera. I think he was in the DH role a few times and did OK during the season. Plus he is a switch hitter. If Hawkins performs well in the spring, Garcia can actually find his bat, and LaRoche is LaRoche of 2015, then I can see Melky (or maybe Avi) as DH. Plus you will likely have Abreu batting a few time as DH, as well as some of the other boppers who may be ailing from time to time. I would rather see a dedicated solution at DH though.
I don’t know why everyone is so enamored with Courtney Hawkins. Not only has he never played in AAA, but he’s going to be repeating AA because he didn’t perform well enough there. Stop expecting him to do anything in the near future; if he ever even MAKES the majors, it probably won’t be until late 2017/2018.
LaRoche isn’t really competing with anyone at the moment, but that could change with another signing or two. Bring in Fowler/Jackson and that likely pushes Garcia into a DH platoon. LaRoche is going to have to be REALLY, REALLY bad for him to lose his job, because the other options are Garcia (if he’s replaced), Jerry Sands, and maybe a DH rotation with Carlos Sanchez and the other infielders.
Courtney would get embarrassed by major league pitching. I don’t have a lot of hope for him going forward but maybe something will click. I agree, LaRoche would have to be pretty atrocious to lose significant playing time. Steamer doesn’t like him, but I don’t put much stock into his projections. LaRoche should be back closer to his career averages this coming season. Less pressure, more comfortable, more protection in a deeper lineup. He’s not the one I’m worried about.
Signing free agent Dexter Fowler doesn’t thrill me, but a switch-hitting outfielder with a high OBP, decent power, good speed and the ability to play CF is better than the production the White Sox have been getting from Avisail Garcia to date. Clearly, I’d prefer a more significant power bat via a trade but Fowler would still be an upgrade to their batting order and, sad to say, their overall OF defense.
Signing Fowler would cost the White Sox money and currently, their #28 pick in the June Draft. They could still hang on to Garcia with the hope he eventually develops into the player they thought they were getting from the Tigers at the 2013 summer trade deadline. A trade, if even possible, might be too prohibitive in terms of return assets going back. That being said, I still believe the White Sox should prioritize the trade option, but if nothing materializes shortly they ought to jump in on both FA’s Fowler and SS Ian Desmond before they are off the board.
The ball boy or club house attendant….both of which could beat him out….
Heck, JB Schuk showed me more last year than LaRoach did
The White Sox have so many more problems than COF its unreal that no ones talking about that shoddy bullpen and lack of MLB ready depth. They simply arent a contender in 2016 even if they got Desmond or Fowler. Their problems are much larger in scope than worrying about one or two guys. That bullpen looks awful and the rotation depth and overall depth is poor. They shouldn’t make any big moves until after this year. Let the kids play and see what the have.
The White Sox are in a frustrating position of having either elite talent or not much else. Depth is everything, and I can’t think of another team outside of the Angels who lack the all-round depth a team needs to be successful. I like the long term look for them, but 2016 is just not going to be their year. Watch the Cubs instead, Chicago.
“Watch the Cubs instead”? If only I had thought of that! I’ll just be a Cubs fan! Thank you for your helpful comment!
Lmao!!!
Except the Angels have a much better major league roster and can compete for the WC…
Shoddy bullpen? Really? If their current group is as bad as you say it is (it’s not, btw) I’d love to hear your adjective for their 2014 edition. (lol)
“That bullpen looks awful and the rotation depth and overall depth is poor.”
LOL!!
I swear ever time you post you look even more idiotic. There’s no doubt you’re a Cub fan.
As a Sox fan, its sad to say but your probably right. And thats mostly based on historical data of almost exact similar situations over the past 10 years (they always feel like they are 1-4 FA signings away from the WS) but after those FA or the team overall falls flat on its face then were left in the same position. I was in the same boat, I didn’t see an Upton/Cespedes/Gordon as the missing link to overlook the gaps at the middle to end of the rotation, SS, as well as decline or off seasons by our regular contributors. In fact, I think that almost all of those guys would fit into the category of big money and instant bust (i.e. Dunn, Laroche, Melky, Danks, Peavy, etc). Can’t wait for the full rebuild
Problem with the White Sox is they play in a tough division with the Royals and Tigers. The Tigers IMO have gotten a lot better with Upton and Zimmerman. They improved the bullpen which has been their problem for years.
Why do fans keep ignoring the Indians? Most sites that use advanced metrics to project the 2016 season have Cleveland at the top of a very competitive A.L. Central division. In fact, the division is so balanced on paper, the White Sox would likely leapfrog both the Royals and Tigers and, perhaps, match the projections of the Indians just by signing FA’s Ian Desmond and Dexter Fowler, to say nothing of some potential trades that may still be possible.
Most speculative “reports” suggest that the White Sox division rivals are likely done adding any significant pieces between now and the opening of spring training. Many of those same reports also infer that the White Sox might be the most likely landing spot for some of the remaining FA’s who can still impact the 2016 season.
People tend to ignore the Indians because they have no offense. They will also be without Brantley to start the season.
Again. metric projections favor the Indians as we post. Obviously their division best 1-5 rotation, their decent bullpen and defense must make up for any deficiencies int their lineup. At this time of the year and before a single pitch has been thrown in 2016, I’d just assume rely on those predictors than personal opinion or hope.
Detroit is aging fast. They had a productive Cespedes last season and got rid of him because of non contention. Cabrera was hurt, you say? I bet that becomes a recurring theme with him and Vfart . . . Oops . . . Mart.Verlander is in decline, and you watch how Zimmerman has his share of problems in a tougher hitting league with 1 thru 9 actual hitters in opposing teams lineups.Upton = Rollercoaster ride. Won’t be able to carry them thru their aging players hurts, as was the case with Cespedes. . . As for Mr watch the Cubs instead . . . Yep , watch them until the Mets kick their Cubbie blue butts again, brotha . Here’s a year for you . . . 1908 . . . Remember when?
You like numbers? 1/97. What’s that? That’s how many championships the Sox have in the last 97 years.
That is still a 1000 times more or better than your flubs in that time frame, Waa Waa Waa
@Ventura should have been fired a year ago. They could make a movie about him, “Clueless In Chicago”. Who cares if they lose that draft pick if they sign one of those guys. The sox scouting department sucks, and their player development sucks. Outside of a couple of pitchers they got early in the draft because of horrible records they have no prospects..Anderson the SS is getting hype but that’s all it is. The sox are in big trouble.
Strauss you hit it right on the head
The Sox scouting is beyond horrible and their farm system is abysmal no doubt. That’s why it makes no sense for them to rebuild. They have nothing to rebuild with. Their only ope of improving the team is through FA which is why it was essential to sign a big FA like Upton or Ces.
Anyone who states the Tigers are getting old has not done their research. Their team was younger than KC last year. Is KC old?
Overall they aren’t “old” but their main stars are. Signing Upton was a smart move to help them once their “old guys” start to decline.
If the Tribe could find a bat or two…they’d be a legit contender in the Central. As it stands, they’ll need to win a lot of 2-1 & 3-2 games to stay in the race.
How about we sign neither of them and keep the pick and try and make a trade..dickerson just got traded by the Rockies for next to nothing and everyone knew the Rockies had to move an OF after they signed parra, and needed pitching, but no.
So let’s make a trade. I’ve been pushing for us to raid the cubs fridge for a while. Now to get any of their prospects we are gonna have to give up Quintana. So how about Quintana for schwarber and mckinney, or Baez and McKinney. Or maybe Soler and Contreras. Or Torres and Contreras..schwarber and Contreras. Schwarber is a DH and needs to come over to the AL eventually. Im really not big on Soler but I feel the cubs would let him go easier then most. I doubt they would move Torres but they have Russell as the future SS so maybe they would. And Contreras they prolly wouldn’t move either but it’s hopeful wishing.
I know the white sox are in a “win now mode” or so they say, so dealing Jose shouldn’t be in the cards but we have a surplus of pitching and the cubs have a surplus of prospects and it would help both teams out.
If the white sox are going to sign fowler or Desmond while surrendering the 28th pick in the draft. Why not sign both? Either keep all your picks or just continue to give them away. Don’t pick the typical white sox approach to everything glass half full. This organization is a mess thanks to Jerry reinsdorf. His family has messed up the Chicago Bulls as well.
Personally, I don’t think Fowler is worth the pick period, And they will both regret turning down those QO’s and hopefully so. Desmond, I am still barely hanging onto, but have never seen him play that I know of. Another thing you have to take into consideration is the changing of leagues, hence Dunn & LaRoach, the pitching is a lot better in the AL, as noted in almost all the transfers. Cepedes hit better for Mets than he did for the Tigers. Look what Murphy did for the Mets in the playoffs, and what did he do against the Royals in the WS. That is only a few, another good example, from what few cub games I seen highlights on, on Comcast it seemed like JA always pitched against opposing teams 3 – 5 starters and the lower teams in the standings usually, instead of taking on the oppositions #1 starter usually, just an observation, may have just been a fluke.
As for the Bulls & JR, not a Bulls fan period, but they will never win another title as long as D. Rose is on the team, hell he is still trying to find that ink pen he took his SAT test with, and even though he still has 2 yrs. remaining on his Bulls contract, he is working and preparing for his free agency and a new life else where with a big contract. YOW RIGHT!
“This organization (White Sox) is a mess thanks to Jerry Reinsdorf. His family has messed up the Chicago Bulls as well.”
Well, “The Chairman” may have his flaws but fact is, no other baseball owner has won a championship in Chicago since 1917 except for Mr. Reinsdorf. The Bulls have celebrated six NBA championships, all with JR as their owner.
Soxcess nothing you stated was incorrect at all. However my issue is Jerry has had issues just assembling a white sox team that can reach the playoffs. Bulls success in a large part was thanks to MJ. Your correct though he has won 7 world championships. Maybe I’m to greedy, but I demand better personal from the organizations I love. Jerry has a mess of an organization with the white sox. The Bulls are a mess as well because Jerry and his loyalty has cost this city even more success or shots at bettering themselves. Wrong decisions have continually been made under his ownership. Hiring ex players to run the team or being loyal to individuals who don’t belong in the position they are in has me calling for the man at the top to step down. In what business is zero accountability acceptable?? Hopefully that elaborates my opinion a little better.
How are you going to blame jerry when all he is doing is signing the checks? If you’re going to put the blame on someone it would have to be Kenny and Hahn. Those 2 are the ones running the team, not jerry. Jerry sets a budget and the other 2 go about building the team. We complain that he’s cheap but he’s really not. He opens his checkbook for Kenny every year, Kenny just makes bad decisions with the money he’s givin. sure it might not be enough but they atleast try. Kenny and hahn and the scouts just make really bad decisions and that leads us to having to go cheap. The white sox, no matter how much I hate to admit it, are not the cubs. We can’t afford to miss on free agent signing and unfortunately that’s exactly what we have done, and the consequences last for years.
But We cant be compared to the cubs bc The cubs are unique. They have that whole loveable loser thing that’s gotton so old nonbaseball fans will root for the cubs.
They also play in a tourist destination. They have a historic park, that any casual baseball fan who comes to Chicago wants to see. Not only that but it’s in a great part of the city, surrounded by bars and so people want to go catch a day game and people watdh and be able to walk out the park and and keep the party going. So even if the team is horrible not trying to win, they still can pack the park with tourists at the least. The white sox don’t have that luxury. If we don’t win our fans don’t show and and you know no tourists are going that far south especially after dark unless they are on their way to midway. People seem to forget, this isnt video games and that the team is a business. Yes you want to win but you are not going to lose money to do it, and if the moneys not coming in, you can only dig into your own pockets so much. The fans want him out there signing players to 100mil contracts every year but don’t want to support the team and go to the games. Put 30-40k butts in the seats everygame, win or lose, and I bet he cuts a few more big checks.
Jerry is a good owner, he just relies to much on his buddys who seem not to know shit. Fire kenny, robin and Hahn and get some young fresh minded people to run the team. I think by cleaning house like that is the one way our simple minded fans can get it threw our thick skulls, that’s its time to rebuild from the bottom and actually support it. Trade sale and quintana for a kings ransom and lets start from the bottom and work our way up again. It worked for the cubs, royals, pirates, boston, san Francisco, Astros and the blackhawks to name a few. With the right group of smart people, i don’t see why we can’t do that too.
Or better yet how about he justs sells the team to rocky and let rocky take care of it for us. yeah that sounds like a much better option
@ thepapacy: How can you not blame Jerry? Who’s working for who in the white sox organization?? Jerry employees williams and promotes him to vp. Jerry is involved with the hiring of Ventura and is one of the reasons Ventura was extended when he should have been canned. Jerry is writing checks but his checks are that of a small organization in a big market. You speak of cleaning house and make mention of his buddies still being employed. You continue to miss the point like many other people, this guy only hires his friends and ex players. That is is exactly why Jerry needs to go. He holds nobody accountable for there numerous mistakes. He fails to pay free agents or any big time contracts which are only increasing each offseason as this is the direction baseball has been trending for years. Jerry’s got to go for the white sox to clean house the right way. Don’t use the Cubs comparison as saying we are not the Cubs, we as a society compare everything so that’s just garbage. Everything you say you go on to contradict yourself towards the end of your post. I can’t argue something so simple that your failing to see. Just keep thinking Jerry isn’t the problem.
Is Jimmy Haslam running the sox? They are certainly as bad as the Browns
Just to clarify my stance on Dexter Fowler. He was never my top choice for the White Sox and still isn’t. As I’ve said numerous times, I had preferred the signing of Yoenis Cespedes or Alex Gordon among the free agent OF’s. I have also laid out a number of trade scenarios throughout the offseason that might have been more beneficial than any of the FA options. Many of those potential deals are still possible and should be exhausted before signing Fowler or even SS Ian Desmond.
In regards to Fowler specifically, my opinion has always been that he would be an upgrade over Avisail Garcia based on the latter’s performance to date. Also, signing Fowler doesn’t mean that Garcia has to go. There would still be an opportunity for Garcia to show the White Sox something as a platoon partner with left-handed hitting Adam LaRoche at DH, as well as a backup corner outfielder. The ideal scenario would have LaRoche gone at some point this season, which would then allow Garcia to garner most of the at bats as the DH. Manager Robin Ventura has already gone on record during SoxFest saying that Laroche isn’t guaranteed to be the primary DH. If he doesn’t produce, he will find somebody else to take his place. I also never said that the White Sox should sign Fowler at any cost. If I were the GM he’d be offered a two year deal at most, with a player opt-out after this season and maybe a third year team option with a minimal buyout.
As a Cubs fan also, my preference is to see Fowler sign on the northside for a similar short term deal. At that point, the White Sox should then jump in and make their best effort in trying to acquire one of the Cubs corner OF’s (Kyle Schwarber or Jorge Soler) or SS Javier Baez, along with right-handed starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks and perhaps some of their top prospects since the Cubs would likely demand a Chris Sale or Jose Quintana in return.
Bottom line: If Dexter Fowler can still find the multi-year contract most expected him to recieve this offseason he should take it because I don’t want the White Sox or Cubs signing him under those terms.
If the White Sox don’t sign Fowler, I have no interest in any of the remaining FA options and would just assume Garcia be given another chance to prove he is the player the White Sox thought they were getting at the 2013 summer trade deadline. That being said, any and all trade options should also be exhausted before Garcia is annointed the starting right fielder in 2016. Some of those trade possibilities, especially any involving non-contenders or rebuilding teams might include Garcia going back as part of any package. This would likely be true in the case of a trade to the Rockies involving Carlos Gonzalez or the Brewers in a deal for Ryan Braun. Each of those teams should have an interest in replacing an aging and expensive RF with a 24 year old who still holds a great deal of potential.
If the Cubs don’t sign Fowler or find another short term veteran to play CF it won’t be the end of the world. Jason Heyward should be more than capable of holding the fort down until top prospect Albert Almora is deemed ready, likely by 2017. The White Sox only wish they had a consolation prize of Kyle Schwarber, Heyward and Jorge Soler as their starting outfielders in 2016. (lol)
Are you a sox fan or Cubs fan?