Winter of discontent for sox fans?
Those expecting team to make a big-money splash at meetings are forced to settle for nomar mazara
Those were some wonderful winter meetings, weren’t they? For the White Sox? Not so much. They made one trade, an uninspiring deal for underachieving Rangers right fielder Nomar Mazara, the news breaking at the same time as Gerrit Cole’s $324 million deal with the Yankees. From the Sox’ vantage point, that one moment presented a snapshot of the four-day get-together.
Some would say the Sox underachieved at the meetings, where they became spectators to signings of top free agents Cole (Yankees), Stephen Strasburg (Nationals) and Anthony Rendon (Angels) at a time when much of the baseball industry was expecting the Sox, with money in their pockets, to aggressively begin putting finishing pieces on a rebuild entering its fourth year.
The Sox can point to signing All-Star catcher Yasmani Grandal to a fouryear, $73 million deal, first baseman Jose Abreu to a three-year, $50 million deal and offering right-hander Zack Wheeler around $120 million but losing out to the Phillies as doing just that.
Those questioning the Sox’ resolve can say why not Nick Castellanos in right field and why not Madison Bumgarner, Hyun-Jin Ryu or Dallas Keuchel for a rotation that is crying for proven help?
Perhaps they will. There’s still a lot of offseason left. But general manager Rick Hahn’s message during these meetings never proclaimed a push for the postseason in 2020. He dropped several more reminders that the plan is to build championship rosters for multiple seasons.
Over dinner with executive vice president Ken Williams, while discussing a trade that was on the table, Hahn said they had to pull back and discern “where this really fits in terms of what we’re trying to accomplish for the long term and being true to the longterm plan versus maybe a short-term hit or a short-term fix that jumps us forward for next year but might compromise us for an extended period.”
And so the Sox left the meetings with broadcaster Ken Harrelson winning the Ford C. Frick Award and becoming a Hall of Famer as their biggest headline.
As Hahn said, Opening Day is more than three months away. Don’t judge just yet.
“We have the same motivation [as the fans] in the office,” Hahn said. “If we have three or four needs and we get them all done the way we want with our priority targets in November, fantastic. But you can’t force the pace of this. And certainly if we hit on the right targets, come next June or July, nobody’s going to have any issue with whether we acquired them on Dec. 13 or we acquired them on Jan. 13.”
Sox fans will be watching, knowing there are upgrades to be made if the Sox, 72-89 in 2019, are going to contend for the .500 mark, let alone contend in a vulnerable AL Central.
Here’s how the Sox’ rough draft for 2020 looks right now on paper:
Rotation: Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech, Dylan Covey.
(Put an asterisk on Kopech’s name because while he physically might be ready by Opening Day, he might start at Class AAA Charlotte because of his long layoff from Tommy John surgery. Carlos Rodon can’t be counted on until midseason coming off TJ surgery, and well-regarded prospect Dane Dunning is coming off the same major elbow operation.)
Bullpen: Alex Colome, Kelvin Herrera, Evan Marshall, Aaron Bummer, Jace Fry, Carson Fulmer, Jose Ortiz.
Lineup: Leury Garcia, 2B; Yoan Moncada, 3B; Jose Abreu, 1B; Yasmani Grandal, C; Eloy Jimenez, LF; Tim Anderson, SS; Nomar Mazara, RF; Zack Collins, DH; and Adam Engel, CF.
When minor-league player of the year Luis Robert gets called up to play center field early in the season, and 2018 first-round draft pick Nick Madrigal to play second base, Engel and Garcia would add some depth to a bench that includes James McCann in a backup role at catcher and DH.
For all of the optimism about the Sox turning a corner, it’s evident this is far from a winning roster as constructed. Too many uncertainties in the rotation have to click, which is why not landing Wheeler in the free-agent market stung, and why it’s crucial a starter or two get added.
The question of the hour is what level of quality starter the Sox plan to pursue. Aside from national pundits calling the Sox potential landing spots for many of the top free agents, they were not linked to the big names this week. The speculation was based on Sox needs, the timing of their rebuild and plenty of available money. But all week, Hahn seemed to be saying “be patient, we’re aiming for 2021 and beyond.” ✶
‘‘you can’t force the pace of this. And certainly if we hit on the right targets, come next June or July, nobody’s going to have any issue with whether we acquired them on Dec. 13 or we acquired them on Jan. 13.”
Rick Hahn (above), sox general manager