The White Sox head into the offseason looking to turn things around under a new general manager after a disastrous 2023 campaign. Chris Getz, promoted from his prior post as assistant GM after the summer dismissal of Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams, met with reporters yesterday at the GM Meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. and discussed his team’s outlook. While the rookie baseball ops leader emphasized that there are winning pieces on the roster, he also acknowledged that on the whole, “I don’t like our team,” adding that it’s “not a well-rounded club” — a blunt recognition that broad changes are needed (link via Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times).
While Getz didn’t delve into specifics as to how those changes would be realized, he took an open-minded approach when asked about trade possibilities, conceding that there “are no untouchables” on his roster. That’ll surely lead to a frenzy of fan speculation regarding talents like Dylan Cease and particularly Luis Robert Jr., although Getz also noted that he won’t be “proactive” in exploring Robert trade scenarios and called the center fielder the type of player a team should build around.
The general tone of Getz’s comments, plus Robert’s talent and extremely appealing contract — he’s signed through 2025 at a total of $29.5MM guaranteed, plus club options for the 2026-27 seasons — will lead to ample interest. Still just 26 years old, Robert is fresh off a .264/.315/.542 showing in 145 games and 595 plate appearances with the South Siders. He popped 38 homers, swiped 20 bases and played standout defense in center field. It’s an MVP-caliber package of tools, and the fact that he’d earn a total of $67.5MM through 2027 if both his club options are exercised creates considerable surplus value for both the Sox or potential trade partners.
To be clear, a trade of Robert seems decidedly unlikely. Getz didn’t expressly rule it out, but it’s exceedingly rare for a player with this type of team control and affordability to be moved. Additionally, the Sox don’t appear to be embarking on another full-fledged rebuild so much as an effort to retool the roster. Names like Cease and Michael Kopech seem more attainable, speculatively speaking, as both are entering their second arbitration year and are controlled “only” through the 2025 campaign. Slugger Eloy Jimenez and lefty reliever Aaron Bummer are signed through 2024 and both have club option for the 2025-26 seasons.
Whatever trades do eventually materialize — and it seems inevitable that some deals will come together — the changes in Chicago have already begun. Hahn and Williams are out after more than two decades, and the team has already declined its $14MM team option on longtime shortstop Tim Anderson. That would’ve seemed unthinkable this time last year, as Anderson was MLB’s batting average leader from 2019-22, putting together a robust .318/.347/.473 slash in more than 1600 plate appearances over that four-year span.
Anderson’s 2023 season was an unmitigated disaster, however. The 30-year-old hit just .245/.286/.296 with only one home run on the year. His power completely eroded both due to a dip in hard contact and exit velocity but more troublingly due to a mammoth spike in his ground-ball rate. Anderson has never been a pronounced fly-ball hitter, but this year’s 61.1% grounder rate was the highest of any qualified hitter in baseball by four percentage points. Even with the ban of the most aggressive infield shifts, it’s quite difficult for any hitter to be a plus at the plate when putting such a stark percentage of his batted balls on the ground.
Despite the dismal season, the Sox haven’t ruled out a reunion with Anderson — presumably at a lower rate. Bruce Levine of 670 AM The Score reports that the Sox would consider bringing Anderson back later this offseason after he’s fielded interest from other clubs. Given the looming presence of top shortstop prospect Colson Montgomery, that might require a move to the other side of the second base bag, but Anderson has already publicly shown a willingness to make such a switch. Given the dearth of quality infield options in free agency, another club might place a bigger bet on Anderson’s track record than the Sox are comfortable making, but it’s a potential scenario to keep in mind if Anderson lingers in free agency and sees his price tag drop.
It’s also been an active week for the Sox on the coaching front, with several reported new hirings and changes to the staff. The Sox confirmed all of those previously reported new hires yesterday in announcing their finalized coaching staff for the 2024 campaign. Pedro Grifol is back for a second year managing the club, as expected. Also returning are bench coach Charlie Montoyo, pitching coach Ethan Katz, assistant hitting coach Mike Tosar and third base/infield coach Eddie Rodriguez.
Chicago confirmed previously reported hires of bullpen coach Matt Wise, hitting coach Marcus Thames, and Grady Sizemore (who’s listed as a “Major League coach” but will focus on outfield and baserunning work with the team). Also joining the staff is former big league catcher Drew Butera, who was the Angels’ catching coordinator last year and will be the Major League catching coach with the ChiSox. He joins Wise and Thames as the third coach hired away from the Angels. The Sox are also bringing former big league outfielder Jason Bourgeois aboard as their new first base and outfield coach. The eight-year MLB veteran (2008-15) had been coaching in the minors with the Dodgers prior to this move, most recently serving as the organization’s outfield and baserunning coordinator.
Hey White Sox fans does Vaughn Grissom & Darius Vines get Dylan Cease ???
No
Vaughn Grissom is the Braves fans Clint Frazier.
If Grissom is Clint Fraizer he needs a fitting nickname like Black Thunder
Or Miguel Andujar
Yikes. Clint Frazier comp has fans in any town running for the exits
Maybe Grissom and AJ Smith-Shawver
And at least Elder. They aren’t giving him up without an
established MLB arm.
You guys have to understand that Reinsdorf will not pay players what they’re worth. Like TA, I knew he was gone from spring training because that jerk of an owner doesn’t pay double digits salaries. If these guys from the Braves are willing to play for $3m a year, the Sox might give them a look. Oh, and, Reinsdorf does the same thing with the Bulls which is why they suck as well.
TA wasn’t and isn’t worth a double digit salary, which is why they could not trade him to ANYONE.
TA was a mess before last season, and it did not get any better. My guess is that TA will take a low offer from any other team willing to give him something instead of crawling back to the White Sox. He even knows it which is why he is OK with moving to 2nd. The White Sox are one of the doormat teams where winning does not matter, just be decent enough to get some fans in the stands for their owner to buy more cigars that he’ll smoke where he is not supposed to.
I respect Elder. Though isn’t he younger?
Avenger off his meds
Whole article is about if’s and and’s- let’s just wait and see. Are there any other KC and Angel coaches we can bring in?
If they don’t start a rebuild now they’re gonna suck for a long time.
Buzz: With the players they’ve got, their unwillingness to pay anyone a decent amount of money and no quality player in his right mind having any desire to join this mess of an organization, this IS a full rebuild done with low to mid level talent. Anderson will be snapped up by another team and he’ll wonder why he ever wanted to stay with this version of the Sox. As for Robert, any other team would have signed him to an extension by now. Cease is controllable through 2025, but Burger was Sox property through 2027 I believe and they traded him, losing one of their best power hitters for a pitcher who struggled in AA this summer. Not making a lot of money might make Robert safe, but trading Cease, who also doesn’t make what he’s worth, wouldn’t surprise me. I can see it now. A rotation of Toussaint, Kopech, who couldn’t get out of the first inning in most of his starts, Jesse Scholtens and anyone of a number of low level pitchers they can scrape up. The bullpen, as used by Grifol, consists of Bryan Shaw. Other than CF and LF, the defense is atrocious. Is Getz the guy to turn this sunk ship around? I don’t think so. I’m not concerned about who he’ll bring in, I’m just afraid of who he’ll let go. Thank goodness there are 27 other teams (minus the cubs and Yankees) for me to follow.
Sounds like a white Sox fan. On the rare occasion the team is good they show up at the ballpark and they’re loud and obnoxious, compared to most times when they don’t show up at the ballpark and they’re loud and obnoxious elsewhere
old guy: Yes, I’m sorry to say I am a WS fan and for a long time. Gary Peters, Pete Ward, J.C. Martin, Joel Horlen, those were the Sox I grew up with. They’re all dead now. So This is the team I am left with. I’ll always be a WS fan. I’ll wait it out until Reinsdorf sells the team or joins my previous named heroes. I have to admit, I don’t go to Sox games, but all of their games are televised. Logistics, money, etc., so I don’t know about any rampant obnoxiousness, which I’m sure goes on at every ball park. Fans still show up at the ball park, though I don’t know why. Maybe they’re like cub fans who only show up for the bleachers and the booze.
Sox fans actually drink more booze per person than Cubs fans.
Some good points here.
However, I don’t get the Luis Robert Jr. comment, “any other team would have signed him to an extension by now.” Robert Jr. is currently under an extension he signed in January of 2020, more than 6 months prior to his July 24 MLB debut. Many fans were skeptical this could be accomplished considering ‘La Pantera’ had already inked a $26M signing bonus in April of 2017 after defecting from Cuba.
Many teams still don’t sign their premium young talent to long term extensions ahead of or during their arbitration years, let alone before making their big league debuts. One of the few things the White Sox have been proactive about is inking selected young talent to early extensions, warranted or not.
Eloy Jimenez was another projected core player the White Sox locked up before he actually made his MLB debut. Many more key players were extended early in their careers dating back to the pre-rebuild deals given to Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and Adam Eaton. The plus value of those deals expedited their last rebuild.
Current players extended early include Yoan Moncada and Aaron Bummer, neither of whom have fared well since those signings. Recently released Tim Anderson was another extension that gave the White Sox premium value until injuries and other factors set in a couple of years ago.
Yeah, and most of those contract extensions showed that some players are happy getting a number big enough to take care of their family then forget how to play.
Asaps has nailed it- one area where the Sox have been way ahead of the curve is identifying young talent and mutually agreeing to avoid arbitration by signing them to long term deals. Sale, Eaton, Quintana all had surplus value which the Sox converted into other prospects. It’s what the Sox do. Where the Sox went down the road to perdition was hiring drunken Tony to be the moosh on a core that as recently as 2 years ago was a solid playoff team and then spend recklessly on a bullpen by rewarding guys for past performance. Am
Roberts did get signed to an extension by the White Sox, hence the two option years. That he is likely regretting that he signed that extension is why he won’t sign another.
Maybe, but my point is, even though he’s controllable through 2027, when a player has a season like Robert just had, he would be given a raise of some kind. The Sox could not give him more years, but they could reward him by raising his low salary. But it’s the WS, they don’t spend money anymore, so I guess all Robert will get for his 2023 production is a hearty handshake from Reinsdorf, whose hand must be hurting from holding onto his wallet so tightly.
Avenger must be fun at parties
They need to pull a Seattle and do a smaller rebuild on top of the one that recently ended.
How would we know the difference?
The Red Sox should go after Luis Roberts. They start their offer with Roman Anthony (#2 prospect), Luis Perales (#7 prospect) and then throw in another 2 prospects in the 15-30 range.
Ridiculous.
That’s not gonna get it done Mantooth, Robert is getting down-ballot MVP votes this year and as long as he stays healthy , he will always be in the MVP picture. He’s a star. And those guys you offered are schlubs/scrubs.
And as the wise philosopher TLC noted (or was that the edifying and entertaining cable channel I forget) no I don’t want no scrub a scrub is a guy that won’t get no love from me
Will gladly take all 3 for a guy named Luis Roberts. Win-win, esp if the White Sox get to keep their all star CF
Luis Robert to LA at the deadline
I would love it if they traded Robert and Cease (and really anyone else from the MLB team, though aside from maybe Santos, who would have any real value?), but I don’t see JR greenlighting such moves. Vaughn is a bust, Cease is durable with top of the scale talent but no consistency, and everyone not named Robert or Santos is either underperforming or just not talented.
I like some of the staff decisions Getz has made, but there’s way too much work to do with this team to make them competitive before 2026, even in the ALC.
Cease’s velocity was down in 2023. Might be the time to move him to get the maximum return
No, hold on to him for ’24. The team won’t compete, even with him, but everyone on this site proposes the most amazing trades for rental players, so that must be when his value will be highest.
hyrax: Santos? Really?
Blow out the rest of the East. I say Robert and Cease to the Orioles. Maybe for Hall, Santander and a prospect or two.
Not nearly enough lmao Robert is under control for 4 more years!
Maybe just Cease for Dean Kremer, Joey Ortiz and Ramon Urias. That takes care of the left side of your infield / up the middle D and Kremer is a solid pitcher in his own right.
Nah to Kremer, tho if you throw in Costanza and Benes- whose brothers Andy and Alan were solid arms- you may have the makings of something
Insane: I don’t understand why Orioles fans keep wanting them to trade Santander. He was a big part of their success this season. Why would you want them to cut him loose?
Other OF talent is progressing thru their system and needs a place to play. His years of control is limited, and he’s getting more expensive. The Orioles are unlikely to sign him long term. Its not a “want” by fans as much as its a realization.
U.R. insane
Trading Robert who is cost controlled for 4 years? No
Unless it’s a Herschel Walker of Andy Van Slyke five for one
Interesting how it’s phrased on Anderson. Basically, it sounds like the White Sox have told him no other teams are very interested, but “Go ahead and look around. We’ll be here when you discover nobody wants you.”
The prediction of 1yr / $12MM by MLBTR on Anderson seems far-fetched to me. Andrelton Simmons’ deal with the Twins a couple years ago was for $10.5MM and Simmons was far, far better than Anderson.
2017 a27 Simmons 7.9 bWAR, 4.9 fWAR
2021 a28 Anderson 4.7 bWAR, 4.6 fWAR
2018 a28 Simmons 5.7 bWAR, 4.5 fWAR
2022 a29 Anderson 1.3 bWAR, 2.0 fWAR
2019 a29 Simmons 1.5 bWAR, 1.9 fWAR
2023 a30 Anderson -2.0 bWAR, -0.5 fWAR
Anderson getting more than Simmons got seems… nutso. I think Anderson could get a MiLB with MLB opt out or maybe a loaded incentives MLB deal or a flat $4-6MM for a single year.
The SS market is rough this winter. I could see a team giving 12 for one year or Anderson and hope he bounces back
How does the SS market apply? TA isn’t a SS. Neverwas! (Maybe he stayed at a holiday inn, tho)
From 2019-2022 he was a very good hitter. That’s not a small sample size. He might be a steal to play second base or dh and a spot start at ss. Simmons was a defensive dynamo but couldn’t hit out of a wet paper bag.
@lml12 – Simmons hit around league average in the years prior to his contract.
wRC+ 96 over the 2016-2020 5 year span. Never lower than wRC+ 90, never higher than 106 (save for 2020 where he was wRC+ 78 in just 30 games)
Tim Anderson’s trend is different.
wRC+ 2019 128, 140, 118, 110, 60
Throwing out the partial year in 2020, that’s a heck of a trend if you’re hoping for a rebound to something in the neighborhood of wRC+ 105 to justify his poor defense and a $12MM contract.
A wRC+ of 60 is remarkably terrible, and it wasn’t small sample size considering he was a qualified hitter. His xwOBA of .279 and BABIP of .323 supports the number, too. A heck of a leap of faith some GM is going to have to make. Wouldn’t a GM be way better off bringing in a guy like Kyle Farmer at $6MM and potentially a lowbie prospect than Anderson at $12MM?
There are a lot of bargain bin shortstops to be had on free agency who will cost dramatically less than $12MM, who produced value like Anderson a couple years ago. They’re a bit older, but didn’t fall as fast or hard.
Andrus, Kiner-Falfa, Crawford, Hernandez, Rosario, Mondesi plus low cost trade targets.
I guess I feel like the teams who have money to blow on Anderson also expect to make the playoffs, and they don’t need to sign players who might not be good. Teams who can afford to bring in a player who might not contribute don’t have $12MM to waste.
We’ll see.
You forgot DeJong and Ahmed.
Key word: was
Think Getz did right by TA. Basically told him candidly that we value you as a fan favorite and popular teammate, but based on your slide, and the holes on this porous ship, we just don’t think we can afford you. So be free young Luke to pursue opportunities. But if like other aging millennials you can’t find other employers willing to meet your own sense of self worth, you’re welcome to come back home and crash in the basement. So a reunion on the South Side in 24 and beyond is not out of the question. It’s like when the concertmaster on the titanic thanked his teammates for their camaraderie and contributions over all those years and encouraged them to fly away and take refuge. But when said c-master proceeded to sadly fiddle away while Nero burned, the other band mates decided they had nowhere to go and shuffled back. May be TA’s future in a nutshell. Back w the Sox in the not too distant future
It’s a good start so far with new GM Chris Getz and his frankness in discussing the White Sox. I also like some of the new front office and coaching additions he’s implemented.
Unfortunately, Jerry Reinsdorf still looms. The embattled owner can, and likely will, put the kibosh on any good plan Getz may have going forward that involves a significant outlay of dollars.
Not many buy tickets to watch an improved coaching staff.
I do not trust this org as long as Reinsdorf is there.. Until proven otherwise, Getz is Hahn 2.0.. At least they don’t have KW overriding the GM to make dumb trades anymore, so there is that. But keeping a guy from the last failed regime to start the next one should not instill confidence in anyone.
Asaps- Indeed. Contrary to the dour fun-at-party type self loathing Sox fans, it hasn’t been about not spending enough in a still winnable ALC, esp w a frugal Cleveland and Minnehaha as your closest competitors, but not doing so wisely on the complementary pieces. Also being one of the worst at player development and advance scouting. Hiring a solid executive and coaching staff up and down the organization can have a transformative effect: lot to like about importing minds from the DBacks, Giants, Yankees and Dodgers. Daresay a bigger impact than simply poaching a rival by doubling the salary of a manager with only modest postseason success?
Robert is that good in spite of whatever the Sox “taught” him in the minors (such as the 6 to 1 K:BB ratio). Wow
BizzyDat: Power hitters usually have a low average and a lot of Ks.
1-Cease should’ve been traded at the last deadline, but it is probably too late now, and they would probably be selling low. Wait until the ASB and then sell.
2-Robert should be traded today. Too much likelihood of regression.
The team is an absolute mess, bordering on NYM and Rox dysfunction.
1 -Cease was not going to get them anything pitching like he did last season.
2-Robert is one of the few bright spots in the Org, and has a few years left of control, the Sox would never get enough back for him right now.
Though I agree, this org is a mess, and should be viewed as ‘prove it’ and not have the blindly loyal fans show up hoping for anything. Hoping is what got the Sox org into this predicament
nerd: It wasn’t hope that got the Sox where they are today, it was Reinsdorf refusing to spend money anymore. From 2017 to 2020, which was their last rebuild, he did spend money, allowing Hahn to get the players the team needed to contend again. But Reinsdorf won’t pay anymore. He gave Hahn a very low budget, which is why he signed so many dfa’s last off season with the exception of Benintendi. It’s going to take years to clear out the deadwood from the farm system and build it back up with quality prospects who might actually turn the Sox from the laughingstock of mlb to a viable contender.
Steve, you thoroughly cover everything except Robert’s clubhouse reputation and attitude. This is the elephant in the room for teams contemplating making an offer. If it were not for his “issues”, why would the White Sox consider trading him?
I guess it’s because they are so bad, that his talent is going to be wasted for the next four years? It just seems to me that not mentioning his reputation and the clubhouse issues in Chicago misses a big part of what’s going on here.
I occasionally look at MLB Trade Simulator to see who the Brewers could get for Corbin Burnes. When I looked at the White Sox they didn’t have any one or combination of players that I thought would be worth it/meet the Brewers needs. And the Brewers have plenty of needs. They don’t seem to be in a very good place.
What do the White Sox need for Cease and Robert Jr. .? Would Baty, Vientos, Allan, Ramirez, Megill and a SS prospect do it, if so I would do it, Mauricio can play 3b, Acuna at 2b, Robert in LF, Gilbert in RF, trade Marte and McNeil.
Mauricio would be in any trade for Robert.
No need for a SS prospect. Colson Montgomery is the future there and the 1st round pick this year is rated as their #5 prospect at the same position and could be in the majors pretty soon.
Wherever Tim Anderson ends up, I predict a big 2024.. He had a bad year, everyone does…his track record says this is probably more a blip than a transformation.
And I’d take the other side of your bet.
Mark Grace is a drunk. Though not as handsie as Rick Sutcliffe
As an Orioles fan my best advice would be to tear it all down. Take the assets you have to rebuild your farm/International system. We traded Dylan Bundy for throw in Kyle Bradish. Take time to revamp your scouting and developmental department. Find the right minor league coaches that believe in the information taught from the top. Give up on the next 2-3 years. Accumulate draft picks and extra draft picks through the collective bargaining agreement. I’ve been through 20 years of the Miguel Tejada, Javy Lopez, Kevin Millar type quick fixes. It sucks because Cease, Robert, Jiménez, Vaughn all had promise. Now it’s time to restart the process the right way.
There’s a big problem saying accumulate draft picks because this organization, my home town team, CANNOT draft well!
Fact!
On top of that, they’ve also proven (under now GM Chris Getz) they are pretty awful at developing drafted prospects.
It’s a deadly 1-2 punch that will only change with new faces handling those duties.
I’m not very confident in Getz but changes were certainly needed and some new coaches is a good start. Personally I think the Sox will be better next year but probably not post season better. It’s difficult to be optimistic but I suppose we’ll see once the roster begins to take shape between now and opening day.
He still has TLR there to help him.
I think they can be markedly better in 23: health, removal of sleepy drunken Tony from the dugout and sound analytically minded front office and coaching staffs and advance scouting can easily get them to an 85 win level which is competitive in the ALC. The clubhouse party stoppers were mostly on the staff: no more Keuchel or Lynn to bring the party down by throwing teammates under the bus. Regression to the mean is a reality- look at the dead cat bounces of the DBacks, Rangers and Twins in 23
Is Andrew Vaughn available for the Pirates ?
If so what gets it done ?
Vaughn is a good young player. Being a Chicago fan seen him play a lot. Last season he finally settled into the 1st base position when Abreu wasn’t resigned. They moved him around a lot before last season. Obviously the price would be a couple of decent prospects as a starting point. He’s relatively cheap and young. Vaughn will be the type of player that gets better both on offense and defense. Being from Chicago I’m guessing the Cubs should look into that trade. Like the Pirates they have a good prospect pipeline.
The Sox had their chance to move Vaughn for Murphy, I think the peak on Vaughn has past.
I disagree that Vaughn who’s only 25 and finally settled into 1st base last season has peaked. Vaughn on a better team and lineup around him will improve offensively and his defense will improve in time. Likely not a 40 hr player or gold glover but a solid contributor.
Vaughn can hit, though not as well as we had been told. He did out-homer Abreu last year, but his defense is nowhere near Abreu’s.
I would move Vaughn if they can get a return as they have valuable lefty bat Gavin, who’s never been afforded regular at bats , to man 1b.
He must be on a trade candidate list because of his obvious limitations.
He’s all bat, adds no other tools that help win games.
And that bat looks like a 25hr max who clogs bases and plays awful OF and average at best 1b defense.
You can live with Avg 1B defense if it provides the power they need.
No, you cannot, this team does not need ‘OK’ players as the rest of the team sucks. If you have a team like the Astros or Braves, you can afford to have one guy like that, but not this club.
I don’t know much about the Chi Sox, but what’s their depth like at catcher & middle infield? Pirates could work a deal for Eloy to DH/RF. Use his down year to their advantage.
I think Henry Davis is going to be in RF when it’s all said & done. And I feel McCutchen will be back to DH. Huge fan favorite great leader & wants to be there for the young kids coming up.
I see 2B & 1B as the clear cut areas the Pirates need to improve in the line up.
2B probably a short term piece with Johnson coming up in a year or 2.
White Sox just traded for 2 catching prospects at the deadline with one finishing the year in Chicago and the other is rated as their #3 prospect with an ETA for 2025. I think they are set there. As far as shortstop they seem set there too with Colson Montgomery most likely making his Major League debut sometime this upcoming season and their past year 1st round pick not far behind.
The one who played in Chicago is Korey Lee. His defense is average and he didn’t even hit .100. The Sox are still very unsettled at catcher.
Still a rookie man. Rather see him in the lineup then Grandal.
Sox just traded for a Top 20 catcher prospect from the Angels in the Giolito deal so he’s their catcher of the near future.
2b is potentially filled by a FA signing like Whit Merrifield who is needed as a top of the order table setter as well as a veteran who gets his uniform dirty and would be an influence on younger players.
I would love Whit in that lineup. I been wanting them to get him for years.
Only so he’ll stop hitting game-winning HRs against the Sox.
Eloy didn’t have a down year- just wasn’t healthy for the whole season. If you can get him to a 140 gm level, you’re looking at a consistent middle of the order .800 OPS guy who’s great with fans and in the clubhouse with the potential for breakout MVP seasons
This team had viable window if the owner had even a passing interest in Trying to win. Instead, the window slammed shut within the space of A season. One of the worst owners in sports
I would love to see Robert Jr on a winning team with help around him. 38 homers and 20 stolen bases for the only guy producing is insane. Imagine if he was hitting between a couple of healthy guys like Ohtani and Trout, what those numbers could be.
Look at his HR to RBI ratio. The guy is Mr. Solo HR. He doesn’t hit with runners on, period. Regardless of TA being abyssmal, the lack of RBIs from someone who hit for average and power, from a production spot in the order, is insanely bad.
Hard to get RBIs when no one is on base.
Thats crap, there were PLENTY of at bats for Robert with runners on and him striking out, fouling out, popping out, etc. and this is from someone who thinks Robert should stick around, but lets not put him in the vein of Trout or Ohtani yet.
RBIs: classic old man stat. What about his batting average?
2023 he was noticeably worse with runners on, but career numbers he isn’t Too much worse with runners on
Cease’s value will go up as free agency starts to pan out. Teams like STL, BOS, NYY and LAD are going to be careful with money for some are close to the luxury tax and STL just not high on everyone wish list. If you get back 2 top 100’s or 1 with two projectable MLB contributors I say you do the deal. In FA I’d fill the void with guys on 1 year deal mutual option 2 year and over pay the first year. Like 2 year $30M Giolito or Flaherty, Mahle etc. Hope that Kopech shines in 2024 and trade at the deadline, because he doesn’t seem like I guy that wouldn’t go to free agency.
The problem is the Sox have to sell him low due to this past season, never mind even if Cease gets you ‘top’ prospects Im not sure such players pan out in this org.
I can’t imagine a team not wanting Cease no matter the season he had this year. They would look at what he’s done throughout his career and his arm. You don’t trade away a pitcher who pitches well every year, then has one down year. He has the kind of talent to come back better last year. Also, it’s hard to judge him considering the players behind him. He can’t be blamed for that.
Cease is gifted and an interesting cat with his poetry and painting side hobbies tho he might drift off into Aaron Rodgers weird with his vax theories.
If a prospective team’s Pitching Coach had confidence to tune him up, Dylan Cease would be a great addition. His performance dropped last season.
Elite stuff, that slider is unhittable- one of the best pitches in baseball. Unfortunately had a tendency to go all out instead of pitching economically. Control but not command- meaning he was unhittable but walked too many leading to high pitch counts. Even at his most dominant he rarely finishes the 6th inning. The new combo of Banister-Katz should hopefully fix that.
Don’t trade Cease or Robert Getz, show us you know how to build a team!!!!
They should try to trade Robert Getz. Robert Getz any relation to Robert Goulet Bobby Sands or Bobby Deniro?
Reading through these posts, I’m pretty impressed with these White Sox fans, you guys are well informed, frank, and dryly funny. Enjoyed my time here this evening.
Yup Ignorant, dry wit but not dry at the speakeasies. Such is the lot of White Sox fandom
Old man rant but you’re not wrong. The worst is that Allesandro dude on film site Deadline. It’s like an entire article composed of text abbreviations and emojis.