The White Sox announced a series of roster moves this afternoon. The club placed right-hander Michael Kopech on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. To fill Kopech’s spot on the active roster, Chicago selected the contract of right-hander Bryan Shaw. To clear space for Shaw on the 40-man roster, infielder Romy Gonzalez was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Kopech, 27, was a first-round pick by the Red Sox in the 2014 draft and came over to the White Sox in the Chris Sale trade prior to the 2017 season. Kopech had a brief cup of coffee in the majors in 2018 that lasted four starts, but became a more permanent fixture of Chicago’s pitching staff in 2021 as a member of the bullpen, where he posted a 3.50 ERA and 2.97 FIP in 69 1/3 innings. 2022 saw the right-hander move to the rotation.
Since then, Kopech’s performance has been solid if unspectacular. In 205 1/3 innings of work across 41 starts, the young hurler has posted a 3.77 ERA and 4.95 FIP. He’s posted a solid 23.3% strikeout rate during that time though his 12.2% walk rate leaves something to be desired, particularly when paired with a groundball rate of just 35.6%. Still, he’s provided solid stability at the back of the club’s rotation. With Kopech joining Mike Clevinger on the shelf, the Sox figure to rely on Tanner Banks and Jesse Scholtens to handle starts in the run-up to the All Star break.
As for Shaw, the veteran hurler was a second-round pick by the Diamondbacks in the 2008 draft and was a steady relief option for Arizona and Cleveland from 2011-17, with a 3.13 ERA and 3.52 FIP in 446 1/3 innings of work. In five seasons since then, Shaw has been far less effective, with a 5.23 ERA in 268 1/3 innings of work. He signed with the White Sox on a minor league deal back in April and has delivered a solid 4.03 ERA in 22 1/3 innings of work at the Triple-A level since then. Now, Shaw will join the club’s bullpen mix, covering the middle innings alongside the likes of Gregory Santos and Aaron Bummer.
Gonzalez, meanwhile, heads to the 60-day IL a few weeks after being placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, a designation that will keep him out until late August at the earliest. The utility man hit a paltry .194/.208/.376 in 97 plate appearances for the Sox this season prior to his placement on the IL.
SELL THE TEAM AND FIRE THIS PATHETIC FRONT OFFICE
POLICE: Sir, move away from the keyboard and let your hostages go at once! We will NOT negotiate with you.
You know, if you tap the ‘caps lock’ button again, everything will be fixed. You’re welcome.
What about the hostages? There must be at least a dozen of them in there with the way he’s
shoutingtyping.I don’t get it. Why is this the move that sets off a drastic response?
We are all hostages on the South Side…
good luck
– a cleveland fan
Washed up vet to eat innings/blow games when they offload guys like Lopez/Kelly at the deadline…and maybe Bummer for those who think he’s good.
JR would have to do the unthinkable and hire sharp baseball people from other successful organizations who can build a true positive culture and know how to draft/develop/teach/have guiding philosophies….the “boring” details he doesn’t care about. He’d also have to get out of a smart new regimes way when they bluntly say the orgz itself is messed up.
Just read comment by cwsOvrrhaul. that was without a doubt one of the smartest comments I’ve read about the White Sox in years. I only hope someone reads it to the chairman.
They need to give him a Cleveland jersey to wear underneath his WS jersey. That’s the only uniform in which he’s been able to pitch well.
— A Rockies fan, recognizing that at least the Shaw contract did not waste as much money as the one for Wade Davis
As I stated in May, the season is over for the White Sox. They prove me right each and every day with their putrid and feeble at bats with a runner at 3rd and less than 2 outs. I have heard for years , pressure is on the pitcher. Sox hitters look like they want home run or nothing. Hopefully, they can trade off some guys and restart for next year.
I’m far from a baseball expert. Just a long time Chicago sports fan. I have no confidence in the White Sox or Cubs front office. Time for a change on both sides of Chicago. Just watching these teams play is frustrating.
Its too quiet for this White Sox org. Where are the moves? Like teams are not lining up for player for their runs?I get the Sox do not have A listers, but they have some pieces that someone should want. I mean the Sox just lost 2 of 3 (at the time of this post, maybe getting swept today, by the doormat A’s) and its obvious this team is going nowhere and clearly not motivated to play well. They finished out as they started June with an abysmal (fairly sure it was 13 games under when June started and they finished the same) under .500 record. It does not matter if the Sox are only 5-6 GB in this division, this is a really awful team, not all of it, certain players need to go either by trade or release to send a message to the rest of this… ‘under performing’ (the nicest way I can put it) team. The Sox need to start selling now, and retooling. Unless Hahn and company are simply in ‘CYA’ mode to look good for the ‘chairman’. There are about 9-10 players they may get something for (not a lot but something). Fire Grifol (I do not care if its only half a season, its clear he really has no clue to manage a club, another bottom dollar misfire) and really most if not all of the coaching staff (or have Montoyo finish out the rest of the year as manager), get a new conditioning staff (Id be combing the country for a guy like Herm Schneider).. and, lets be honest, it would be great if they would get an actual ball buster of a GM and manager and maybe, MAYBE they can build this team into something good fairly quickly.. or at least look like a competent team being put out there.
Sadly most of this will not happen (Im not sure if any of this will happen actually) in which case, get ready for more mediocrity for next season.
This season has been an absolute disaster thus far for this team. This is the “rebuilt” team that fans suffered for? They should be dominating their division by at least a twelve game lead. Instead they’re fighting KC for last place and losing series to Oakland. Very disappointing.
I disagree with calling them a team. Teams do whatever it takes to get the job done. These are just individuals. For the most part, the starting pitchers have upheld their obligation to give their best.
Well, at least the Mets and Padres make them look a little better.. I’m not sure if a full rebuild is necessary for the White Sox but they definitely need to overhaul the FO.
What gave you the impression this team was good enough to have a 12-game lead before the All-Star break?
The Sox have some good players. In fact it’s similar to the team they had before the current rebuilt team. Also the way the rest of the AL Central has been.
Just saw Michael buying fireworks in Indiana . He had a cart full of stuff. I recognized him right away by his “Merica” sleeveless shirt. I was sporting my 1983 Billy Almon soxs jersey so he knew that I was a fan. God Bless America !!