Sox enter spring training with ‘a lot to prove to themselves’
General manager Chris Getz is aware of the projections of a dreary season ahead for the White Sox.
“Our goal is to go beyond what the projections are,” Getz said Monday during a video conference, “and I think most teams could say something like that or believe in something like that. You know what it takes — it takes a team to come together.”
That process begins Wednesday, when pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Glendale, Ariz. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 19.
The Sox are coming off a 101-loss season. Recently released preseason PECOTA projections placed the Sox last in the American League Central with a 0.3% chance of capturing the division title and a 0.0% chance of winning the World Series.
“I’ve never been part of a team where … anyone within our roster steps into the clubhouse and says, ‘Hey, we want X-amount of wins this year,’” Getz said. “It starts with the day in front of you, and when the season begins and opening day hits, you want to win that game. And then you just want to continue to play quality baseball and then the wins start stacking up.”
Getz wants the Sox “to play cleaner, winning-type baseball.” After finishing tied for 10th in the AL with 95 errors, the Sox emphasized defense with a number of their offseason moves. They signed catcher Martín Maldonado and shortstop Paul DeJong and traded for catcher Max Stassi and infielders Nicky Lopez and Braden Shewmake.
Offensively, they’ll look to improve after placing 12th in the AL with a .384 slugging percentage and last in the majors with a .291 on-base percentage.
“You look at (third baseman) Yoán Moncada for one,” Getz said. “When healthy, when he’s at his best, he can be a very productive offensive player and he’s a switch hitter. He’s in a very good position based on his offseason work. He’s a player that has a lot to prove. I know (left fielder Andrew) Benintendi, who had a fine year last year, still wanted to do better than what he performed. He’s committed to
finding ways to improve.
“(All-Star center fielder) Luis Robert, if he does what he did last year, he has potential to do even more. We have the right field position — (Zach) DeLoach, Gavin Sheets, (Dominic) Fletcher and we’ve got Kevin Pillar that’s in camp — we feel like right field was an area which certainly needed to take a jump forward. We’ve got personnel that, if they play to their capabilities, they can do that.
“(First baseman) Andrew Vaughn, he expects to take a step forward. Paul DeJong has been productive at the major-league level. Does he need to make adjustments in his offensive game? Absolutely. Nicky Lopez, he needs to do the same thing. A couple of years ago (2021), he was a .300 hitter. He brings that to the table.”
Getz added that the Sox will need to create runs.
“We are putting a lot on (new hitting coach) Marcus Thames and our hitting coaches to get the most out of these guys,” he said. “But most importantly, these players are ready to go. They know the adjustments they need to make and it’s going to be a battle out there and we are going to push these guys and do everything we can to score runs.”
As for run prevention, manager Pedro Grifol recently pointed out the Sox entered camp last spring with six or seven possible starting pitchers. This spring, the number is in double digits.
“To have as many options as we do have can be a competitive advantage for us,” Getz said. “Michael Kopech, we’ve seen where he’s at from a starting standpoint. Garrett Crochet is stretching out, feels really good. I look forward to seeing how that plays out. (Michael) Soroka (and Jared) Shuster are new to the organization. Chris Flexen, after having a frustrating year last year, we’ve identified some things within his arsenal to get him back on track.
“Erick Fedde is going to be a great story after having a historic performance in the KBO, and now getting a chance to come back to the big leagues and prove that he’s able to do that here is exciting. We have younger pitchers, it’s going to be fun to see them get to work. Nick Nastrini, (Jake) Eder, (Jonathan) Cannon and others.
“There’s going to be competition. I don’t view it as competition with each other. I view it as competition with themselves. If they stay within their capabilities, they will position themselves for a successful year.”
As for Dylan Cease, who has been mentioned in trade speculation throughout the offseason, Getz said he expects “at this point” for Cease to be the opening-day starter.
“He’s had an awesome offseason,” Getz said. “I’ve been in contact with him regularly and I know his name has been out there publicly with potential trades, and unsurprisingly it hasn’t affected him. He’s so professional and just focused on the task at hand. I certainly feel like he’s well-positioned to have an excellent year.” It all starts Wednesday. “I anticipate this group blending in together, working together toward what it takes to be successful as a major-league club,” Getz said. “Do I think we are, as an organization, where we need to be to be a championship-caliber club? We’re not there yet.
“Now, we do have a lot of players that have a lot to prove to themselves. Players that … are highly motivated to prove not only that they’re major-league-caliber players but they want to come together. They know that they have to come together for us to be successful.”