JAN. 5: The Sox have officially announced the deal, announcing it as a $4.25MM pact with a club option for 2025. Per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times, it”ll be a $4MM salary in 2024 with a $250K buyout on a $4MM option for 2025. Maldonado’s option vests with 90 appearances at catcher, per Robert Murray of FanSided.
DEC. 27: Maldonado will earn $4MM in 2024, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (via X). The 2025 option is a vesting option that, if triggered, would pay Maldonado another $4MM for a second season of the deal.
DEC. 26: The White Sox are in agreement with catcher Martín Maldonado on a one-year contract with an option for 2025, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post (on X). Robert Murray of FanSided (X link) first reported the sides were near a deal. Financial terms for the MVP Sports Group client are still unreported.
Maldonado’s move to Chicago’s South Side officially ends a four-and-a-half-year run in Houston. It was clear the Astros were moving on from the 37-year-old when they inked Víctor Caratini to a two-year deal during the Winter Meetings. With Caratini on hand as an experienced option behind Yainer Diaz, Maldonado was left to look elsewhere.
A veteran of 13 big league campaigns, he’ll now join the sixth team of his MLB career. He reunites with former Houston teammate Korey Lee, whom the Astros traded to the Sox for reliever Kendall Graveman at this past summer’s deadline. The 25-year-old Lee hasn’t produced offensively in parts of two big league campaigns. He’s a highly-regarded defensive catcher, which is also Maldonado’s calling card.
Outside of the shortened 2020 campaign, Maldonado has never hit at an average level in the big leagues. He is one of the sport’s least impactful hitters overall. In more than 3700 career plate appearances, the right-handed batter owns a .207/.282/.349 line. He hasn’t approached the Mendoza line in three years, running a .183/.260/.333 slash going back to the start of 2021.
Among 226 hitters with at least 1000 plate appearances over that stretch, only Joey Gallo has a lower batting average. Maldonado has the worst on-base mark of the group, while he’s fifth from the bottom in slugging. That the Astros nevertheless relied on him as their #1 catcher on some of the best rosters in MLB speaks to how highly the coaches and pitching staff felt about his presence behind the plate.
For most of his career, Maldonado has indeed rated as an excellent defensive catcher. That was not the case last season. Statcast graded him as the worst pitch framer among qualified backstops. He only threw out 14% of attempted basestealers, roughly six percentage points below the league mark. That’s perhaps more a reflection of the Houston pitching staff than Maldonado, as Statcast ranked him 23rd among 81 catchers (minimum 10 throws) in average pop time to second base.
In any case, the greater appeal for Chicago’s front office and coaching staff is in Maldonado’s game-calling ability and work with a pitching staff. The White Sox are likely to cycle through a number of inexperienced pitchers in 2024. Dylan Cease is the staff ace, though it’s no sure thing he won’t be traded before Opening Day.
KBO returnee Erick Fedde is a lock for the season-opening rotation, while Michael Kopech is likely to get a rebound opportunity. Michael Soroka and Jared Shuster — each of whom was acquired from the Braves in the Aaron Bummer trade — could vie for spots. Rule 5 pick Shane Drohan will have to remain on the MLB roster or be waived and subsequently offered back to the Red Sox, while prospects Cristian Mena and Jake Eder could reach the big leagues at some point.
Maldonado will work with that pitching group. He can serve as a short-term bridge to catching prospect Edgar Quero, the headliner of last summer’s Lucas Giolito/Reynaldo López deal. The 20-year-old spent all of last season at Double-A. He could reach the majors late in the ’24 season while taking over as the primary option in 2025.
In the interim, it’s possible the Maldonado signing displaces one of the organization’s other catchers. Once the contract is finalized, the White Sox will have four catchers on the 40-man roster. It’s unlikely Chicago will move from Lee, leaving Carlos Pérez and Max Stassi potentially on the bubble. Pérez didn’t hit well in the majors or Triple-A last season. The White Sox just acquired Stassi from the Braves a couple weeks ago, but they’re not on the hook for money beyond the league minimum salary and didn’t surrender much (a player to be named later) to bring him in.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Well done White Sox. Dude is a pitcher developer.
Don’t believe all the BS that Crusty Baker spouted about Maldonado.. Astros pitchers had a better ERA when Diaz was behind the plate. Maldonado is the worst catcher in MLB in respect of passed balls, framing and general defensive skills. Most Astros fans were delighted to see the back of him.
Spot on. I still can’t understand what fans saw in him. Atrocious offense and worst defensive catcher in the game.
I love it when fans think they know more about the game than the team. We will see how the Astros pitchers do without Martin next season, just like how we saw how the Cardinals pitchers did without Molina.
Astros pitchers did better with Yainer behind the plate so something tells me they won’t miss him at all
I really hope you are not an Astros fan, mocking a Hall of Fame manager that lead the team to 3 division titles, four trips to the ALCS, two trips to the World Series and one, untainted, World Series Title.
With a different manager, the Astros would no doubt have won the WS in 2023. Dusty did an admirable job, but his 2023 decision making was atrocious. Coming from an operations point of view.
I guess we will all see how good the Astros are next season without Baker and Maldonado since apparently the Astros won in spite of them, right?
drasco, you are 100% correct – this blurb from Houston Chronicle says everything that needs to be said about it : “Martín Maldonado’s move to the Chicago White Sox ends his run in Houston as a backstop that was well-respected in the Astros clubhouse even as his offensive numbers were maligned by some fans.”
I go with the opinions of his team mates, two Astro managers, the legendary pitching coach Brent Strom and his successors, and 3 different gms and associated staffers, one of which acquired him TWICE, during which time he has been the primary catcher in 6 ALCS and 3 World Series.
So he’s the worst catcher in the game?!
All I know is the guy talked a lot of crap after the Mariners swept the Astros, so he must have had literally zero job offers to sign with the White Sox. 10-to-1 he has a meltdown by July when they are all but eliminated from the postseason. Anybody who is delusional enough to criticize the rest of his team when he hits like a pitcher most days clearly doesn’t have much self awareness.
This is not the move to make if you’re the White Sox. Would’ve been better to look to Murphy and a Hedges type platoon with Murphy getting the bulk of the at bats as a 7 inning starter for 100+ games and being replaced late in games and his backup getting 30-60 starts based on availability. I’m not a White Sox fan, nor hVe their fans always been the easiest to empathize with at times, but it’s been long enough of them struggling to wish them better luck.
White Sox fan here, Tom Murphy and Austin Hedges were taken by the giants and the guardians. I kinda wish they took maybe Knitzer or Stallings.
I’m saying before now, not as of this signing. They should’ve given Murphy $5 x 2 or even $5 x 3 and traded for Hedges. The point is they waited far too long or were trying to be too cheap. A 37 year old who hasn’t hit since Covid began is not the guy you spend $4M for even one season. They would’ve been better giving Quero the reigns than dealing with what I think will yurn into a clubhouse cancer. Especially a guy who has been at the pinnacle of the sport for the better part of the last decade with a team that has been been as automatic as it gets at making the playoffs. Now he’s going from the penthouse to the cellar. Going to be a long season for the other 25 in black and white.
I gave this a thumbs up without even reading past “Crusty Baker.”
I’ll give the WSox credit for at least having a direction. They don’t give a rip about offense, but every move this offseason has made the defense better for the staff. About every pitcher on last years staff would have had an ERA a run better on any other team. Grandal and Anderson were awful.
The organization as a whole is bad. Defensively they easily improve, offensively they will be bad like the A’s.
I’ve never seen a worse C than Grandal. So glad the Sox signed Maldonado. Like the rest of the players Getz has signed, his numbers are awful. Between him and Lee, they won’t even combine for a .100 BA.
Anderson?
Yes, Anderson, as in down goes Anderson, down goes Anderson. Good on the White Sox for moving on and good luck to the team who decides to take a shot on him
The Sox are the best at signing over the hill washed up dead wood. I don’t see a playoff for 20 + years. They have no front line ballplayers outside of Robert. NONE. The Sox are aa bad as the cubs. Has beens
Possibly in 2026/2027 maybe for playoffs. Definitely not 2024/2025. Jerry will sell the team eventually.
Aiden: I appreciate your optimism, but you’re starting to sound like a cub fan. The Sox will not contend in 2024. They will not contend in 2025, ’26, ’27….Try to realistically look at what jr has done to the organization. He won’t put any money into the team. He didn’t interview anyone for the GM job because that would have taken some effort and, more importantly, money. He gave the job to a guy that has wrecked the farm systems of two teams. The players he has acquired are garbage (look them up in BR if the MLBTR articles aren’t enough for you.) This is not a retooling. This is not a rebuild. This is Uncle jerry pinching every penny he’s got. You don’t rebuild by signing crap players. You do it by getting good, young players who will be part of the core of the team for years to come. That’s not what Getz is doing. This organization has no direction and no desire to find a positive one. I don’t mean this to sound nasty, but wise up.
Avenger65 I never said that the white Sox were a playoff team. I only said its “possible”. Colson Montgomery and Bryan Ramos are doing well in Charlotte, both are top prospects in their below average farm system(#23). I heavily doubt that the white Sox win another championship with JR unless they catch lighting in a bottle. Who knows when he’ll sell? It will only be a matter of time once he sells. Been a white Sox fan since 2016. IK the Sox have been failing miserably since 2013 but the 2020’s aren’t over yet.
Best number for White Sox is 87. That’s how old Jerry is.
Have him call John Stanton and make a blood oath to both do it by the end of 2024. The Mariners want a new owner!
We don’t have any pitchers.
drascoo – who would you prefer as a catcher: Maldonado or Barnhart? You seem really high on both.
I was actually just thinking that I wish the Cubs would sign Barnhart to a split contract. We are paying him anyway and I like his game planning and development. A nice insurance policy for Amaya next season and I would love for him to mentor a couple of the Cubs minor league backstops.
I wouldn’t want to carry three catcher on the active roster but if, let’s say I was the Padres, with a good young backstop, I think I would rather have Maldonado as a back up than Barnhart.
I thought the Padres got Higashioka in the Soto trade.
A solid move by the White Sox who have had a sneaky-good offseason.
A.L. Central is a dumpster fire right now, and the rebuilding White Sox have just as good of a shot at winning the Division as anyone.
Not impressed with Detroit. Cleveland will soon be commencing on a fire sale of their own.
I’m a die-hard Sox fan and no, they don’t. Outside of Robert and potentially Cease, can you really see anyone in this team eclipsing 3 WAR next year? Fedde if his KBO success translates, Eloy if he’s just a DH and finds his SS form, but that’s being very optimistic. This is a better defensive team than last year, but it is absolutely not a good team.
You don’t have to be a good team in the AL Central this year. Defense has been an issue for a long time. The pitching will get a bump from that. Minnesota and Cleveland will both dump players as the TV money thing hits them hard. A lot of addition by subtraction with the White Sox. AL Central is a complete mess.
It would take a miracle to win the AL Central in 2024, don’t rule out 2025 yet. Most of the time better defense gives you a few wins extra. So I predict 66-96.
Healthy Eloy. Bounce back year for Moncada. Soroka, Fedde serviceable. A lot to ask, but could get Sox into 75 win range. That’s competitive in the Central.
I agree. Sox usually have a good track record on bounce back players especially pitchers. IK what I said is flat out random but its true. Mike Clevinger and Johnny Cueto for example.
Smart move. Hopefully he can help the young catching prospects they have.
He’s definitely a guy you want if you are planning on developing young arms which goes on par with the rumors that the Sox are seeking pitching for Cease.
Small moves so for but it appears Getz is going to be a solid leader in the Sox front office.
Yeah but why not as a coach? The guy can’t play in any aspect of the game.
He somehow has that reputation as a great catcher. He was rock bottom in passed balls, pitch framing metrics, and many other categories for starting catchers. Astros pitchers also had lower ERA numbers when he was NOT behind the plate.
To be clear, I’ve never said he will be good. They’re not winning anything of importance anytime soon, so to me, bringing in a veteran presence with leadership and winning attributes that the Sox have NONE of. I think it makes sense.
Just in 2023.
The Astros are glad to see him. Just like we are about Grandal. We are just wading through water
Huh?
I don’t think Chris Getz has been that terrible so far, but he has a long way to go to prove the Sox fans wrong.
I don’t think Chris has been that bad so far, time will tell.
So glad he’s gone. Enjoy his “leadership.”
That wasn’t expected. I figured he’d sign with St Louis or Toronto. But I expect a 13.8 million/1 year with incentives for games played, awards won, etc.
Well spotrac has his market value as 3MM, so I think you’re about 10+MM high on that prediction. I’ll guess 1/5MM
Nice prediction, guilderc2000. I realize predicting Maldonado’s market value wasn’t very difficult but you put a number out there that was very close. Nice job! I did not envision him signing with the White Sox.
Thanks TGBM
It wasn’t super difficult, but I anticipated he’d earn a little above his market value because of his value as a club house guy/value to young pitchers.
Chris wanted to change the culture of the clubhouse.
If he gets $13m, I should bet at LEAST $5m from some team.
He’s getting $3m btw.
It was a mistake and never “proof” read what I wrote. 3.8 million/1 yr with incentives. Since he is offensively limited, I expect incentives geared more towards defense and games played.
Nobody would play maldy 13.8 million not even close. Worst defensive catcher 2nd worst batting average, worst hitter the last 3 years. What’s there to even like about him anymore ?
King Kong, you don’t read much do you?
I even later responded I meant 3.8 and didn’t proof read. Again, you don’t read much, do you?
Man who let this @$$hole in? I was replying to your original post. Okay your tune changed when you were called out I didn’t see that post before I replied. Go ahead pull your head completely out of your @$$ before talking. Traderumors seriously mute button needed for clowns like this
Says the guy who is insulting others. Hmmm, you’re pretty offensive to others and defending your actions. Your last comment proves my question if you don’t read much. I wish MLBTR had an edit button beyond 4-5 minutes it allows to edit. I get busy and don’t always proof read everything. It was my fault and things happen.
Heating up!!
How many catchers they got now ?
One
2….Korey Lee
Max Stassi makes 3
And Perez makes it 4. That Getz boy sure is impressive…..
lol so all 3 are former Astros catchers, who all were not very good.
Put them all together and the number is ZERO.
They traded for Stassi. And Maldonado’s defensive numbers have been getting worse. He’s there to work with the pitchers for half the season and then he’ll get dealt at the deadline, if a team wants him. I think Stassi will get the majority of the playing time unless Maldonado is going to make more than $7 million.
On the flip side he helps young pitchers.
There is zero evidence of that. The young Astros pitchers preferred to throw to Diaz.
He’s a clubhouse guy?
Keep trying, Aidwn. You might just find a plausible reason yet.
His defense isn’t what it used to be but his knowledge of pitchers is top notch.
Catcher is the one position you cannot measure value with traditional stats or even defensive metrics. You’re talking about the ability to game plan, have pitchers absolute trust, being able to adjust to the pitcher and the game plan off of what’s working, what’s not working etc.
What pitchers? Jessie Scholtens will be the ace once Cease is traded. Then there’s Kopech, who might just reach Lynn’s record of giving up gopher balls. Fedde was good in Korea but terrible in the majors. After that are a bunch of retreads no one else wanted. Maldonado should have been hired as a coach, as another person posted.
His defense is the opposite of what it used to be. He used to be a top notch defensive catcher. Now he’s probably the worst defensive catcher in baseball
Last season was his worst season in his career. Despite a terrible batting average, he has an average walk rate.
Stassi will be released.
They just acquired him via a trade.
Oh, I thought you meant Major League catchers.
He’s a good clubhouse guy that helped young pitchers with the Astros like Hunter Brown.
Except Brown usually pitched to Diaz.
3…… Christmas tree.
Smart signing. Sox have some decent young C’s who can sure use a smart guy like Maldonado to teach them the ropes. Not to mention Kopech and Cease who could probably learn a thing or 2. I’m just surprised he came here. I would of figured he’d have other options. Unless he’s open to being moved at the deadline.
It’s actually good to see the White Sox making some nice, under the radar moves like this. Not only will he help the staff and young catchers but also adds some much needed veteran leadership and some insight to how the Astros operates.
People can still hate the Astros for cheating but they have been one of the best ran organizations for a decade. I wish the Cubs would have snagged some of their front office executives.
@drasco036 I think that’s the worst part of the trashtros cheating scandal. They were an excellent team that didn’t need to cheat.
Astros: kinda like Lance Armstrong
Astros fan here, and I completely agree. They didn’t need to, but stupidly did.
Like Lance Armstrong in that everyone was doing it and they were the ones who were made the big example of
If they wanted insights on the Astros, they should’ve hired Hinch and not TLR.
TLR is Jerry’s man. Trouble is both are way past their primes.
bootsday29: My exact thoughts after jr ignorantly fired Renteria.
TLR was an affliction injected into the team by the in firmed owner, .who is TLR’s “buddy”.. TLR killed the previous team’s spirit,and now he is “advising” Goofy Getz and his Gang……..joy.
I say they have about 105 losses this coming year (2024) in them and Grifol still keeps his job……..So much like the 1970 team…..
Taking the under on this one. I agree they are less talented in 2024. Improved defense usually gives you a few extra wins. The AL Central will be terrible this upcoming season so the division is wide open.
This team will be as bad as the 1970 White Sox team, which also had unknown pitchers and no hitting. I find it hard to see Roberts Jr. not counting down the days until he can go use his talent on a deserving organization which is not owned by such a bad owner and in the hands of such an uninspiring manager. Don’t get stuck like Ernie Banks did for the Cubs…..Force a trade……
Hitting wise yes but doing worse than 2023 is somewhat unlikely. They won’t trade LRJ bc he’s untouchable and that would be a dumb enough.
Who is Roberts Jr? Bip or Bob, the singing congressman?
They may not trade him, but he will walk away and towards a team that spends money wiser than the White Sox have been able to. He will leave for a winner. Why stay locked into a team that is on the same level as the A’s when, as a FA, you can play for a winner who brings forth winning talent by spending money to make money. Right now, the defense is improved at SS & 2B. C will be better. RF is who? Colas? Sheets? How exposed was Bienintendi last year? 3B is one ache away from being its annual problem.
I hate to see great talent wasted. RJr is that type of talent. He deserves better, and Getz needs the “possibilities” that prospects might bring.. Pitchers would be a good starting point since Kopech has failed miserably as a major-leaguer and Cease is the bait. But we will need more. RJt is that bait. He deserves better.
This is would contradict what Chris Getz said defensively.
Unclemike, drasco: Very good. I appreciate sarcasm.
@avenger: I think they missed your sarcasm.
I don’t hate them for cheating. Almost every other team was cheating, too, if stealing signs can even be called cheating. It was always acceptable in all its other forms before this.
Cease will probably be dealt late January after Boras is done squeezing clubs who wanted Snell/Montgomery.
I’m not so sure. The price to get 2 years of him rather than next off season when it’ll be only one will be high. I was kinda hoping the Cubs might take a run at Cease but I’m thinking the price will be too high right now. There’s still a lot of game playing going on right now. I think the Cubs will make trades to fill most of their needs now. It looks like they’re moving on from Bellinger, But so is everybody else. Teams just aren’t willing to pony up big for just one good year in 3.
Cubs in a great spot with Bellinger/Boras.
He fills two holes. Sticking point is years. Not salary. If
Borass can’t get the years elsewhere he will circle back. Cubs are best chance he has to succeed over next few years to get what would be his last big contract.
Yeah-it’s negotiating gamesmanship at this point since the price of a decent starter is through the roof.
Reds are up in arms of late b/c they want to believe India (bad D/approaching arb) is a key piece and their “thrower” Philips who walks everyone…..to get a starter. Teams have to put 2 really good prospects that hurt on the table since law of averages is you are lucky if 1 becomes a significant player as the team in sell mode.
The problem I have with what’s going on right now isn’t that nothing is happening. It’s that nobody is SAYING anything. Are the Cubs playing their own guys? What’s Counsell saying? What’s he think of the Cubs guys? What do they think of other guys? Obviously there is a trade to be made between the Cubs and Sox. They have what each other wants and basically needs. The only problem I have is that any trade to get Cease is probably going to cost Horton. The Cubs have a ton of IF’s that are almost ready and 2 top 100 OF’s. Cease is probably the one guy I’d deal Horton for. Cease is still young enough but the Cubs would basically be doing the same dumb trade they made last time when they got rid of Cease.I just want somebody to pick a direction and let people know what it is. This radio silence is BS.
Uncle, comon – or is this comment lol by ‘the other uncle’? The Cubs would absolutely not (as in never) trade Horton for Cease. Honestly you usually seem to understand the value of prospects, but this comment now makes me understand why you usually are down on Jed!
Trading Horton for Cease would be absolutely stupid – sorry!
I agree. Like I said, It would just be repeating the same mistake that cost them Cease in the first place. It would take a lot to make me even consider trading Horton or Ferris. It would also take a trade where I got some long term value back in return. Cease is only 27 and has Ace stuff also. Obviously I would prefer to have both of them, But I doubt it could be pulled off.
Horton is the one guy I absolutely would not trade in the organization unless it was something ridiculous like Jose Ramirez straight up.
I don’t like Cease as much as some other people, I would rather try signing Giolito and let him work with Yan Gomes to get him back on track rather than mortgaging the farm for Cease.
The only caveat to that is if the Cubs decided to go wild and trade for Cease and Robert. I’d even take on Moncada if it meant softening the prospect blow.
There has been nothing to suggest the Cubs have moved on from Bellinger or anyone else for that matter. They are just in this excruciatingly slow holding pattern with all their free agent targets. Outside of the Cubs reportedly doing their due diligence on some trades, there has been very little smoke coming from Wrigley.
Why would any team want a C who can’t hit, at the deadline?
Injuries are inevitable.
stymeedone: Because he’s cheap. Remember the Sox slogan: Money over talent.
Maybe Maldonado’s only choice was to go there.
Don’t hate me but I’m honestly not upset that the white Sox getting another catcher. Maybe Korey Lee gets demoted to triple A.
Between Stassi, Lee, and Maldanado, the Sox now have 1/2 of an mlb catcher.
They’ll probably demote Lee to triple A. Maybe both Lee and Perez not sure yet.
Dead hole in lineup but WS probably see him as being similar to Austin Hedges who just resigned with the Guardians. Hedges probably saves 60 runs against per season as a superior game caller/ defensive whiz.
He is basically Austin Hedges 2.0. I see him as a backup to Stassi.
Given how few catchere contribute w the bat, unless you’re a DH at this point in your career like Yaz or Mitch Garver not the worst thing
When I think that Carlton Fisk, the greatest C I’ve ever seen, once caught for this stink bomb of an organization, it makes me cringe to see what now passes for a backstop. Garbage upon garbage. Our last good catcher was A.J., who last played for the Sox in 2012.
Your right about AJ being our last good catcher. What about James McCann?
Another White Sox catcher acquisition whose ‘intangibles’ are what makes him a good signing, which would be good, IF this team was filled with .300 hitters and he was the only hole in the lineup. The Sox will be littered with guys that ‘have intangibles’ but could not hit the broadside of a barn, or actually drive runs in when it counts, which was a huge issue last season, by the way.
Rebuilds are lousy, and just take fans value time and dollars when they already misfired.. But no, the guy who knows NOTHING about being a GM, HE will figure it out…
Its going to be a lousy 2024 if you are a Sox fan, but hey… lets ‘wait until next, next, year’.
Im sorry, Id like to say I hope I’m wrong, but I’m out of ‘hope’ with this club other than I hope ‘the Chairman’ is no longer the controlling partner in the Sox org. sooner than later. I do feel bad for fans that think this can actually bear fruit in even 2026.
Every Sox and bulls fan want Jerry to sell. I feel your pain.
The White Sox always seem to have a team that’s about to turn a corner. Unfortunately, there’s always another corner just around that corner.
I agree.
Like a corn maze
I agree 2024 won’t be much better. He’s only getting 3m for 1 year plus an option. Maldonaldo has a great track record defensive minus this past season. He’s a good clubhouse guy btw.
Keep telling yourself that Aiden
I looked this up before posting this.
If you’re a new GM and you know your team has a problem with it’s culture, this is exactly the kind of guy you are looking to add. Great signing even he never makes contact with the bat all season.
Actually he has a good walk rate despite a terrible batting average.
All of his contacts with the bat are accidental.
He’s a backup/ personal catcher at this point but hes one of the hardest workers in MLB in terms of studying opposing hitters weaknesses and his pitchers strengths. Players in Houston always said he’s the only guy not sleeping on late airplane rides. Always studying. He’s an excellent teacher for the Sox
3 catchers but no rightfielder. Kiemierer is supposed to sign with Toronto.
They’ll roll with Colas knowing they are bad….and it’s up to their “player development staff” to make him better.
Once Cease/Eloy are dealt, only pricey guys on payroll are Moncada & Benintendi.
Chris said the Colas will start the season in triple A. He said this awhile ago.
@Aiden: Here is the issue I have: What direction is this team going? Rebuild or not.. With many of the ho hum moves Getz has made so far it points to a rebuild, but then during this ‘retool’ rebuild on the fly’ etc etc, why not have Colas spend and entire season up in the majors?
I mean how does he NOT get this opportunity? How can he possibly learn more in the minors vs the majors? Unless they feel he is not good enough, but then release or trade him for whatever… Why have him clog a roster spot?
They have a LOT invested in this guy to be a full time AAA player. Now, he could be that, but again for all the cache spent, see what this guy can do this coming season. THIS is one of the frustrating things with this org.
The White Sox opening day RF is not on the team as we post. He could come via free agency but more likely in a trade, perhaps involving Dylan Cease.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Anthony Santander or Jake Fraley for RF.
Will they play for $3m a year for a team going nowhere?
I wouldn’t mind seeing Cody Bellinger in either CF or RF with Luis Robert Jr. manning the other position. Any other typical major market owner would be courting his high OPS left-handed bat and Gold Glove for this White Sox team like they should have signed free agent RF Bryce Harper five years ago. 🙂
Santander and Fraley have “cheap” contracts. Jerry loves those.
Lee to get more seasoning in triple A. Colas gets another shot. Sheets should be sent to the wind. They have no middle infield other than weak hitting Nicky Lopez. Third baseman chronically hurt / maybe never is good player again. Ahmed Rosario might be a good get for a year. SMH. There are probably a half dozen other Guardians cast offs that could be signed too. Shaw, Mercado, Naquin again, Plesac, etc. Maybe even get Sandy again this time as a coach. Definitely playing for sixth place in a five team division. They aren’t going to see many fans this coming season at 35th and Shields. The fans need a half price admission/ 1.00 beer night to turn out in thousands to rush the field all holding signs for JR to sell the team.
Paul Dejong and Nicky Lopez in the middle infield. I doubt white Sox keep 3 catchers on the same roster. I would like to see them improve pitching next.
You’re right about the SS signing. A bad move. Probably is his major league gig.
The Defense has improved but the hitting on this team is very poor at the best. Nothing at SS, 2B, C and RF. No power in LF nor RF. Little speed except in CF and perhaps 2B. Maybe. Who plays 3B for Moncada when he has his annual injury leave.? Why not move Roberts Jr? He gets to play for a club with some chance of winning more than 62 games, and Chrissie Getz gets to collect even more “possibilities” while Ebeneezer Reinsdorf gets his “reduced fat” salary gruel………
If Yo yo doesn’t get hit with the injury bug then he might be traded at the deadline same with Eloy.
Who’s Roberts Jr. Robin the chatty morning host or the chief Justice of rhe Supremes?
The hitting FA market is thin though.
So much for the Red Sox signing him… where are you, Breslow?
Not that this was a huge need but still
Boston doesn’t need a catcher that can’t hit and is on the decline defensively. Breslow is probably looking at second basemen and pitchers that can hold up more than two times through the order… Glad he wasn’t anywhere near this. Some of you guys are ridiculous.
I’m ridiculous when reports two weeks ago said the Red Sox were looking to sign Maldanado? That was the whole premise of this post.
Most assumed Breslow wanted a defensive minded catcher to work with pitchers. I did think it was ridiculous weeks ago considering we had two catchers, but today I’m just preaching from the choir. This was not started by me, it was a follow up to the rumors two weeks ago, so do your research before implying people are “crazy Sox fans.”
Asking where he’s at on guys you don’t even really want is definitely ridiculous. Context or pretext or not… dude bats sub .200 and doesn’t rate well defensively/throw runners out well anymore. If he had been signed by Boston you’d have been mad then too.
I agree, I probably wouldn’t want him but if he frames the ball well and that’s what gets us to win, I’m okay. As I said in my original post, we have bigger needs. It’s just depressing to see Breslow go 0 for 10 in free agents he’s looked at.
Look, nothing is happening, gotta keep myself busy here somehow, so I put my two cents in during this boring off-season. Don’t think that makes me crazy but to each their own
Who throws runners out well anymore since MLB shortened the basepaths and pitchers can’t do much to hold runners on with the new rules?
Maldonado was tied for 20th in the majors for pop time to second base among 81 catchers.
He was tied for 15th in blocking..
Maldonado was last in framing. The second worst was JT Realamuto.who’s considered one of the best catchers in the majors.
Maldonado is a year removed from solid defensive performance in 2022. Cut the guy some slack at the tail end of his career signed as mentor. with lots of knowledge, experience and a ring.
He was literally one of the worst pitch framers in 2023.
I was going off from what I heard commenters say. I haven’t actually seen the guy myself. All I know is we have 2 catchers already and Breslow was looking into him as a third
He would make a good coach, but he might literally be the worst option you could put on the field or in the batters box
True but then again he has the worst season of his career offensively and defensively. He’s been a very good defensively throughout his career most of the time.
Am I severely overvaluing Gary Sanchez? I hope San Diego resigns him and trades Kyle Higiashoka.
I think SD is finally ready to hand the starting catching spot over to Campy . Sanchez I’m sure don’t want to be a backup or paid like one . Although that would be nice to have him back in SD .
Adolis Garcia loves this signing
But not as much as steroids.
“Good riddance!” – Astros’ fans
“Bad riddance!” – Rangers’ fans
He always found power stroke in regular season against Rangers
Haha. If I were a Rangers fan I would want him to remain an Astro too. And speaking as an Astro fan, I would like to see you guys either waive or trade Adolis Garcia, lol. I know, not happening
So does Grandal get a major-league contract, or will he have to settle for a minor-league deal after 2 consecutive lousy seasons with the White Sox?
Grandahl has nothing left. He needs to look at becoming a Catching coach.at best. Retired sportsman at worst.
He was never worth the money. 1 good season.
Dude had a phenomenal run from 2012 to 2021 as one of the game’s top catchers, combining above average offense fueled by absurd walk rates and great defense thanks to great framing skills.
I actually liked the signing back when it happened, but obviously signing catchers on the wrong side of 30 is a gamble and this one certainly didn’t pay off. At least he batted well in 2020-21 even if his framing precipitated.
When finally healthy in 22 he showed the ability to help carry a club. Unfortunately rushed back and never had his legs back to get full extension. Felt sorry for him as he was a gamer when he played
The biggest FA signing the Sox will make is when TA puts pen to a $7M contract and uses the ’24 season to rebuild his value.
If you saw TA bat live last summer (I did) you would not offer him a contract. I think it’s the left shoulder. Who knows he might rebound. The team did him a disservice by putting him on the field. Grandal is done period.
Both guys broke down after showing flashes in 20-22
I keep thinking the Cards would match up well in a major deal. Sox would have to give up both Cease and Robert. Cards would return Gorman, Victor Scott, Carlson, Bernal, Mason Winn, Mathew Liberthal, and a couple promising young hurlers. St. Louis is in a win now mentality. In 2-3 years Arenado, Goldy, and company will show their age. And while it would be tough for Sox fans to see Robert leave, they might become enamored with Scott. Too early to tell for sure if Scott’s offense will hold at the big league level, but signs are encouraging. Gorman is a 35-40 homer guy.Winn is a promising SS, and Bernal likewise behind the dish.
Only a couple of teams have the prospect capital to get Robert, like BAL, but wouldn’t part with 4 top 100 it would take for Robert alone. Getz will try to live up to the returns that Hahn got for Sale, Eaton, and Quintana and likely won’t settle for less. Robert is better and more valuable than any of those three.
Cards simply don’t have close to enough to get Robert.
The other 29 teams know that Getz can easily be taken. We’ll see that again when he trades Cease and Robert for a team’s borderline prospects who don’t have a chance to become productive major leaguers.
4 years/$300M
Overpay
No way, it’s 2/692 mil, with 691 of it deferred without interest for 112 years.
Just to be traded at the deadline
I think the Sox should sign Harrison Bader. They could start him in CF against LH pitchers and give Robert a break. That arrangement might help to keep them both healthy. They could also use Bader as a defensive replacement in both LF and RF late in games. He would bring a dimension of speed and defense the Sox haven’t really had in years. His upbeat personality and flair for the dramatic would also breath some life into the clubhouse.
The White Sox probably don’t have enough talent overall to win in 2024, but they could offer the fans a much more watchable product. I think they are taking some reasonable, measured steps in that direction so far. For the fans sake, I hope this ultimately leads to a better overall path going forward.
Harrison Bader can’t hit though. Yes he can be good at times, but the Sox need a RF badly.
Getz’ plan doesn’t involve signing hitters, so Bader will fit nicely.
Excellent defense and he can hit lefties. Use appropriately and he’s an asset as long as he’s not too expensive.
SOX don’t have enough talent to avoid 100+ losses in 2024. Their roster is league worst, perhaps by a large margin, certainly offensively and staff wise. Might have a good defense though…
It’s already hard to do worse than last season tbh. Improved defense usually leads to a few extra wins. I predict 66-96 for 2024.
I’ve always liked Bader. Too bad we’ll never see him in a WS uniform.
The Cubs think the way to the World Series is to sign a manager. The Sox think the way is to sign a bunch of players who can’t hit. They’re both losers. The owners for both teams need to sell.
This is true.
Guess his trash can wasn’t plugged in
Going for the dumbest comment of the day? You win!
A good thing as hopefully this means they’re not selling the farm for red ass Sal Perez and his bloated salary.
So the WS finally get rid of a catcher who couldn’t hit his hat size for 2 catchers that do the same thing!
With bad defense!
honest question…isn’t Grandal their catcher?
Not anymore, last year was the end of his contract.
Maybe they’ll carry three catchers and pinch-hit for two of them later in games.
lol with the other one who also can’t hit!
You don’t think they’ll have a 4th outfielder to join Sheets as pinch-hitters?
lol is right…
With who? This team will rival The Hitless Wonders.
They are rebuilding… it won’t be like this in two years.
Sheesh
I like it. The WS have two catchers that could probably use a veteran influence.
For 4 million dollars and him bringing some leadership to a team that clearly lacked it last year, his defense and offense become secondary if he can coach the guys on the team.
Anthony Franco either does zero research or makes up things. Calling Kory Lee a ‘highly regarded defensive-minded catcher’ is bizarre. The Astros promoted Diaz and traded Lee because of poor marks on framing, footwork and blocking balls.
The White Sox continue their endeavor at cornering the market on catchers.
Things will change when they move to Nashville. Until then, they are just going through the motions of fielding an MLB team.
Mlb will never approve the Nashville move.
Which is simply absurd. They approved Miami and Tampa, which can’t get 10k to attend even a playoff game.
Nashville ownership group want an expansion team. If MLB expands by two, it’ll give them 32 teams, finally allowing evening up the leagues and schedules. I would expect that to happen eventually, after the SOX are sold and remain in Chicago.
Good. Next up, BELLI, Snell, etc.
4 catchers on the 40 man roster..you can’t tell me that you couldn’t have flipped one and another player for some MiLB player prospect that needs to learn how to throw strikes or something.
They won’t have 4 catchers on the same roster, Korey Lee will get demoted to triple A along with Carlos Perez.
Chuckie. Robinson.
If Getz desires to change the culture of the team a great starting place is to fire Pedro Grifol. Maldonado no longer is an elite defensive catcher.
Bold moves! I predict 162-0. Just hand the white sox the world series!
Hey Rick, you should’ve publicly resigned the day of the forced LaRussa hiring. You coulda been an f-ing legend!
I am a “F-ing legend!”
How come the Asros didn’t want him back?
Because he’s garbage and Yainer Diaz has too much talent to be a part time player