2021 White Sox: Where are they now?

With the White Sox poised to spend yet another season as the punchline of Major League Baseball, it's hard to believe they are only four years removed from being American League Central Division champions.

Yes, the 2021 Sox were a one-ply roster. They were not built for long-term success, regardless of what the talking heads in the organization sold you, and it was no surprise that they did not win a playoff round.

Still, the fall from a 93-69 season has been steep, and most of the players from that postseason-qualifying team are gone. Many of them have fallen on rough times. Here's a look at where key players from that team are heading into the 2025 season:

Yasmani Grandal, C: The 36-year-old batted .228 with nine homers and 27 RBIs last year for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He remains a free agent heading into spring training.

Jose Abreu, 1B: The 38-year-old left the Sox after the 2022 season and signed a three-year, $60 million contract with the Houston Astros. But he didn't make it through the second season. The Astros designated Abreu for assignment in 2024, when he batting .124 with only two homers in 35 games. He hasn't officially retired. He's a free agent, but his career might be over.

Cesar Hernandez, 2B: Hernandez last played in the majors in 2022 with the Washington Nationals.

Tim Anderson, SS: The Sox let their former batting champion go after he slumped to a .245 average with only one homer in 2023. Things did not improve for Anderson in 2024, as he batted .214 with no home runs in 65 games with Miami Marlins. He was designated for assignment midseason. He's signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels this offseason.

Yoan Moncada, 3B: Injuries limited Moncada to only 12 games in the 2024 season. The Sox understandably tired of him and declined his contract option for the 2025 season. Unlike some of his former teammates in Chicago, Moncada has a guaranteed major league contract for this year. He's with the Angels on a one-year prove-it deal worth $5 million.

Eloy Jimenez, LF/DH: The Sox were lucky to find a taker for Jimenez at the trade deadline last season, but his struggles continued with the Baltimore Orioles. He batted just .232 with a homer and seven RBIs in 33 games. The lack of power is notable -- Jimenez totaled only six home runs in 98 games between Chicago and Baltimore. He'll be with the Tampa Bay Rays on a minor league deal this spring.

Luis Robert Jr., CF: Hey, someone who is still with the Sox! For now. Robert is coming off a terrible season that saw his home run total slip from 38 to 14, and his OPS slip from .857 to .657. Ouch. The Sox are hoping he can stay healthy the first half of the season and regain some value, so they can deal him for futures at the trade deadline this summer.

Leury Garcia, Utility: The three-year contract former GM Rick Hahn gave Garcia after the 2021 season is finally off the books. Garcia hasn't played for the Sox since being designated for assignment in spring training 2023, before the second year of his deal even started. As a matter of fact, Garcia hasn't played in the majors since he left the Sox. He was in the Atlanta Braves organization last year. He's currently a free agent. 

Lucas Giolito, SP: Giolito has fallen on hard times since he left the Sox. He had a 6.89 ERA in six starts with the Angels. Then he went to the Cleveland Guardians and a had 7.04 ERA in six starts there. He missed the 2024 season with an arm injury after signing with the Boston Red Sox. He is expected to pitch for Boston in 2025.

Dylan Cease, SP: The Sox traded Cease in spring training 2024, and he made 33 starts for a playoff team, going 14-11 with a 3.47 ERA with the San Diego Padres. He pitched a no-hitter during the 2024 season. He has one year remaining on his contract with San Diego.

Carlos Rodon, SP: Rodon left Chicago in free agency after the 2021 season. He went 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 2022 with the San Francisco Giants, then hit the open market again and cashed in big. He's entering the third year of a six-year contract with the New York Yankees that will pay him $162 million over the life of the deal. He was a 16-game winner with AL champion New York last season.

Lance Lynn, SP: The Sox traded Lynn to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the middle of the 2023 season. He then signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in free agency, where he went 7-4 in 23 starts in 2024. The 37-year-old is looking for a team again this offseason. Despite a decent campaign last year, he remains a free agent.

Dallas Keuchel, SP: The veteran lefty started the 2022 season by going 2-5 with a 7.88 ERA in his first eight starts. The Sox decided to eat his contract, and Keuchel has since been roaming aimlessly around the league. He has since pitched ineffectively for Arizona, Texas, Minnesota and Milwaukee. He's now under contract with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Nippon Professional Baseball League.

Liam Hendriks, Closer: Hendriks just turned 36 on Monday, and his story is familiar to fans. He beat cancer in early 2023 and returned to the mound to make five relief appearances with the Sox. Alas, he blew out his arm and needed Tommy John surgery. The Sox bought his contract out after the 2023 season, and he signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox. He didn't pitch in 2024, but is expected back for the second season of his contract this year.

It's remarkable how quickly these guys have all scattered to the wind, isn't it?

Liam Hendriks heads to Boston on 2-year contract

Former White Sox closer Liam Hendriks is now a member of the Red Sox, after agreeing to a two-year deal with Boston worth $10 million.

Hendriks was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in late 2022. He won his battle with that disease and returned to the White Sox in May 2023, but he only pitched five games before he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar ligament in his pitching elbow.

It is unlikely that Hendriks will contribute much to the Red Sox this season. The most optimistic timeline for him returning from Tommy John surgery would be in August. Essentially, Boston is betting the 35-year-old can return to form and be a force at the back end of its bullpen in 2025.

Hendriks spent three years in Chicago and was effective before his cancer diagnosis. He led the American League with 38 saves in 2021, and he followed that up with 37 saves in 2022. All total, he went 14-7 with a 2.76 ERA and 76 saves in 132 games with the White Sox.

I'm seeing some unhappiness among Chicago fans online with this Boston signing. It's clear that some fans wanted Hendriks back with the White Sox. The usual arguments about the organization being cheap are out in full force. Hendriks, of course, is a fan favorite and an inspiration to many because he overcame a life-threatening illness -- and did so with a remarkably positive attitude.

And while there's no question the White Sox are cheap, it's important to note that Hendriks is 35 years old, and he's running out of chances to win. Do you see a World Series coming to Chicago in the next couple of years? Nope, me neither.

One might argue that Boston is not on the cusp of greatness either, especially playing in the rugged American League East. However, the truth is everyone in the AL except for Oakland presents a better chance to win than Chicago, and it's tough to sell a veteran free agent on coming to the White Sox right now.

Not to mention, if the White Sox were going to spend some money, they should be spending it on something other than the bullpen. I still see plenty of holes in the lineup and in the starting rotation.

As I've always said about closers, they cannot do their job until everyone else does theirs. What good is an elite closer if he doesn't have many leads to protect?

White Sox decline 2024 contract option on Tim Anderson

Tim Anderson

As recently as a year ago, some might have said Tim Anderson was the face of the Chicago White Sox. Now, he's off the team.

The Sox on Saturday announced that they declined the $14 million club option on Anderson for the 2024 season. Instead, they bought him out for $1 million. He is a free agent.

Anderson played for the Sox for eight seasons, and in many ways, his South Side tenure was a victory. Quite a few of the franchise's first-round draft picks have amounted to little, but Anderson was far from a bust. 

He had three excellent seasons between 2019 and 2021, batting over .300 in every one of those years. He won the American League batting title in 2019 with a .335 average. 

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he won an AL Silver Slugger award after posting a .322/.357/.529 slash line. Following that season, he finished seventh in the AL MVP voting.

His game-winning homer in the 2021 Field of Dreams Game is one of the franchise's signature moments.

Anderson twice made the All-Star team -- 2021 and 2022 -- and he started at shortstop for the AL in the 2022 midsummer classic. He also represented Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

However, professional sports is "What have you done for me lately?" Anderson slumped badly the second half of the 2022 season and had the worst year of his career in 2023.

He batted a terrible .245/.286/.296 in 2023, and unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though this is a one-year anomaly. Dating back to June 2022, Anderson is batting .246/.286/.295. At some point, it's no longer a slump, and that's who you are now.

In 524 plate appearances in 2023, Anderson hit only one home run. Injuries have mounted, as he hasn't played more than 123 games in any of the past five seasons. And his defense? Oh boy. His SABR defensive index for 2023 was negative-7.3. I don't always know how they calculate that stuff, but that figure is bad, and the eye test tells us that Anderson's glove is in severe decline.

You add all this up, and the end result is the Sox parting ways with a player who will turn 31 next season.

I know what some are saying: How could the Sox lose Anderson for nothing? Well, I don't think there's a huge market for a shortstop who is no longer playing well in any aspect of the game.

On Friday, as expected, the Sox announced they were declining their 2024 team option on Liam Hendriks. They also announced that pitcher Mike Clevinger is opting out of his 2024 contract and electing free agency.

It was notable that announcements were made about those two players at the same time, while nothing was said about Anderson.

On Friday, I thought to myself that one of two things must be true: 1) The Sox were planning to retain Anderson, or 2) The Sox were trying to trade Anderson.

Thought No. 2 was correct.

If you've been following the transaction wire, you might have noticed the Milwaukee Brewers traded outfielder Mark Canha to the Detroit Tigers for a prospect. The Brewers decided they did not want to pick up Canha's $11.5 million option for 2024, so they moved him to the Tigers, who were willing to pick up the option.

I believe the Sox spent Friday trying to work out a similar deal for Anderson, but they found no team willing to take him at a price of $14 million. So, they chose to cut ties.

Honestly, that's the right thing for general manager Chris Getz to do if he wants someone other than Anderson to be his shortstop in 2024. The whole idea of picking up Anderson's option and then trying to trade him is an accident waiting to happen.

It takes a willing trade partner to swing a deal, and there's a strong chance that there is no such partner, especially given the contract involved. Then you run the risk of going into next season with an unhappy player who knows he isn't wanted. That's the worst-case scenario.

There's always a chance that Anderson will re-sign in Chicago for less money later in the offseason, but the guess here is this is a permanent goodbye. I expect someone else at shortstop for the Sox when the 2024 season begins.

White Sox closer Liam Hendriks undergoes Tommy John surgery

White Sox closer Liam Hendriks underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday morning, according to a news release from the team. It's tough news for a pitcher who has been through a lot this year.

The 34-year-old right-hander announced in January that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. His status for the 2023 season was uncertain, but Hendriks beat the cancer by April and made a remarkably quick return to the mound.

After five appearances at Triple-A Charlotte, he made his season debut with the Sox on May 29 against the Los Angeles Angels. He ultimately appeared in five games, going 2-0 with one save and a 5.40 ERA. 

Hendriks last pitched June 9 and went on the 15-day injured list two days later with right elbow inflammation. That injury led to this surgery. I had heard reports of Hendriks throwing off a mound recently, but his velocity was reportedly at 93.8 mph. We know that's not ideal. When Hendriks is right, he can crank his fastball up to 97 or 98, no problem.

The recovery time for this injury and surgery is estimated at 12-14 months, meaning Hendriks likely will not pitch again until the 2025 season.

Will he still be with the Sox at that time? That's a tough question to answer because Hendriks has an unusually structured contract.

The team has a $15 million option on him for the 2024 season, which includes a $15 million buyout. If the Sox opt to buy Hendriks out, he would be owed 10 annual payments of $1.5 million until 2033.

So, Hendriks is getting another $15 million from the Sox one way or another. This comes down to how quickly owner Jerry Reinsdorf wants Hendriks' salary off the books.

Hendriks is a popular player in the clubhouse and in the city. He's among the more charitable players on the roster, and his victory over cancer has been an inspiration to many people. And he's been a damn good relief pitcher for the Sox.

Given those factors, my sense would say the right thing to do is to pick up Hendriks' option. Then, come 2025, offer him a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league camp, and see if he is healthy enough to earn his way onto the 2025 Sox roster.

But I'm thinking about what's best for the player and the team. Reinsdorf often looks at just the business side, so it won't be a surprise if Hendriks' option is declined. If that's the case, he's thrown his last pitch in a Sox uniform, and he'll probably get a look elsewhere in 2025.

Lucas Giolito throws six no-hit innings; White Sox beat Yankees

Lucas Giolito

Aaron Judge did not play for the New York Yankees on Tuesday night ... and the White Sox actually took advantage!

Lucas Giolito pitched six no-hit innings, and catcher Seby Zavala homered twice to lift the Sox to a 3-2 win at Yankee Stadium.

This was the second time this season that Giolito (5-4) went six innings without allowing a hit. Both times, he had to be removed because of a high pitch count. In this outing, he struck out seven, walked three and threw 58 of his 100 pitches for strikes. 

In particular, Giolito's slider was effective to right-handed hitters, and no doubt the absence of Judge (day-to-day with a foot injury) -- the reigning American League MVP -- made his job a little bit easier.

Of all people, Zavala was the one to come through offensively. In the bottom of the third inning, he hit a 320-foot wall-scraper that just cleared the 314 mark by the right-field foul pole. It might have been a home run in only one of 30 MLB parks, but that one park happens to be Yankee Stadium.

Zavala added a two-run shot in the fifth off New York starter Clarke Schmidt (2-6). This was one not cheap. It was a 435-foot blast to the pull field on what looked like a hanging slider. That gave the Sox a 3-0 lead, which is where the score remained until the seventh.

Joe Kelly relieved for the Sox and issued a two-out walk. Poor defense cost the Sox the no-hitter when Luis Robert Jr. and Andrew Benintendi miscommunicated on a fly ball to left-center by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Nobody called for the ball, and it fell at Robert Jr.'s feet for an RBI "double."

Kelly escaped the inning without further damage, and Kendall Graveman worked a 1-2-3 eighth for the Sox.

That set the stage for Liam Hendriks' first save opportunity of the season. It was an interesting move by Sox manager Pedro Grifol, because Hendriks entered Tuesday's action with a career 7.83 ERA against the Yankees.

That ERA went up when Josh Donaldson hit Hendriks' first pitch of the ninth for a solo homer to make it 3-2. However, Hendriks rallied and got three consecutive groundouts to shortstop to earn his first save since returning from cancer treatment.

The Sox are 27-35.

White Sox sweep Detroit Tigers

Guaranteed Rate Field moments before first pitch Saturday.

The White Sox limited the Detroit Tigers to only three runs total in a three-game weekend sweep at Guaranteed Rate Field. 

Here's a look back at the weekend that was:

Friday, June 2

White Sox 3, Tigers 0. Detroit pitcher Reese Olson made his MLB debut and held the Sox hitless through five innings. But the South Siders broke through with two runs on four singles in the bottom of the sixth. Andrew Benintendi and Eloy Jimenez delivered the RBI hits. Tim Anderson added an RBI double in the seventh, and the Sox bullpen made the lead stick.

Mike Clevinger pitched five innings of scoreless ball in his return from the injured list. Four relievers pitched a scoreless inning each. Keynan Middleton (1-0) got the victory after working the top of the sixth. Kendall Graveman pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his fifth save.

Saturday, June 3

White Sox 2, Tigers 1, 10 innings. This was one of the weirdest games I've ever attended. There were only three runs scored, and all of them came home on wild pitches. In fact, this was the first game in MLB history with three run-scoring wild pitches and no runs scored on anything else.

In the fourth inning, Benintendi singled, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a wild pitch. The Tigers answered in the sixth when Zach McKinstry tripled and scored on a wild pitch by Sox starter Dylan Cease.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the 10th. With the bases loaded and two outs, and Anderson at the plate, Detroit reliever Jose Cisnero threw a high fastball that catcher Eric Haase missed. The ball struck umpire Cory Blaser square in the mask and deflected away. Yoan Moncada came home from third to score the winning run, while Anderson and Haase helped a stunned Blaser back to his feet. 

The Sox celebrated a win, but there was also a great deal of concern for the injured umpire, who ended up missing Sunday's game with concussion symptoms. You may never see an ending like that again.

Sunday, June 4

White Sox 6, Tigers 2. Jake Burger became the ninth Sox player to hit a walk-off grand slam, and the first since Jose Abreu on April 25, 2014.

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Burger got a 1-0 curve from Detroit closer Alex Lange and golfed over the left-field fence for the game-winning hit. It was Burger's 12th home run of the season.

The blast made a winner of Liam Hendriks (1-0) on National Cancer Survivors Day. The veteran right-hander worked a 1-2-3 top of the ninth with two strikeouts, and this was by far the sharpest he has looked in three outings since returning to the mound after winning his battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hendriks' fastball topped out at 97 mph, and he was throwing his slider for strikes -- both positive signs.

Also a positive sign: Michael Kopech had a strong outing. He allowed only two runs on three hits. He struck out nine and walked one. He has struck out at least nine batters in each of his past four starts, totaling 38 strikeouts in 26.1 innings during that span. 

The Sox are 26-35 heading into an off day Monday. Next up, a three-game series in the Bronx against the New York Yankees (36-25).

Liam Hendriks returns to White Sox after winning cancer battle

White Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks was activated before the start of Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels, and he pitched for the first time during the 2023 season -- a little more than six months after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Hendriks' return to the mound is the best story and the best news we have in a miserable season of Sox baseball. He came out of the bullpen to pitch the top of the eighth inning Monday, with the usual light show, and received a thunderous ovation from Sox fans, who chanted his name as he took the mound.

The Angels were leading 4-3 at the time, and to be honest, I didn't think it was an appropriate time to bring Hendriks into the game. It would be best to allow him to ease his way back, starting out in lower-leverage situations and working toward higher leverage -- if his stuff and results allow for it.

It's important that to remember that Hendriks has been through a helluva lot the past six months. He holds himself to a high standard, and I appreciate that, but I'm not expecting him to pitch like the All-Star he has been in the past. It's not realistic in my mind. There's no real blueprint for this.

Unfortunately, Hendriks labored in his return, allowing two runs. The Angels increased their lead to 6-3 and went on to beat the Sox, 6-4.

Hendriks through 27 pitches, 16 of them strikes. He allowed three hits and walked one. He did not record a strikeout.

Of the 27 pitches, 17 were fastballs. Hendriks' maximum velocity was 96.6 mph, with an average of 95.6 mph. By way of comparison, his fastball averaged 97.6 mph last season. He did generate four whiffs on 11 swings on the fastball -- not bad at all -- but only seven of those 17 fastballs were in the strike zone. The command isn't there yet.

Among the 10 sliders Hendriks threw, only two of them were in the zone. Those pitches produced three swings -- and two whiffs. My thinking as I watched the inning was that Angels batters could sit fastball, because Hendriks did not show that he could land a slider for a strike with any consistency.

None of this is surprising. It's going to take Hendriks a little more time, and that's why I wasn't thrilled with him being thrown into an important spot.

Then again, the Sox are 22-34. The season is already lost. Maybe the results don't matter at all. We should just be happy that Hendriks has regained his health.

Liam Hendriks speaks; Keynan Middleton(!) closes out a victory for the White Sox

White Sox closer Liam Hendriks met the media Wednesday and made his first public comments since announcing his diagnosis with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in January.

Hendriks, wearing a shirt that read "struckout cancer," is in remission, and all systems are go for him to head out on a rehab assignment later this week. He'll join Triple-A Charlotte in Gwinnett, and Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Hendriks will need four or five appearances with the Knights, according to a report from MLB.com's Scott Merkin.

There hasn't been a lot of positive news this season, but there's no question Hendriks' improving health is the feel-good story of the year for the Sox. If he returns to pitch effectively so soon after treatment, it would be remarkable. 

People around the game of baseball, not just in Chicago, are pulling for him.

Meanwhile, on the field, the Sox have won three in a row. They secured their first series win of 2023 with a 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.

And get this ... the Sox bullpen was excellent, with four relievers combining to throw four shutout innings after starter Dylan Cease labored to get through five innings. 

Keynan Middleton, who started the season in Triple-A, earned his first MLB save in two years. He faced four batters in the ninth inning, striking out three and walking one. The final strikeout came against All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa, who came to the plate representing the tying run.

Middleton has been a pleasant surprise. In 11 appearances since his recall, he's posted a 2.89 ERA, and now he's being trusted in higher-leverage situations. He might stick in the bullpen, even after Hendriks returns.

Gregory Santos (1-0) got four outs and earned his first major league win. He deserved it, because he pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the top of the seventh, while the score was tied 4-4. And it wasn't just any jam either -- he had to face Correa, Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach, the 3-4-5 batters in the Minnesota order.

Correa grounded to shortstop, and Tim Anderson threw home to get the force at the plate. Buxton bounced back to the mound. Santos knocked the ball down with his pitching hand, gathered the ball quickly and threw home for the force and the second out. Then Larnach struck out swinging on a 3-2 slider.

The Sox grabbed the lead in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Eloy Jimenez. Pinch runner Billy Hamilton scored from second base on an infield grounder in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Sox an insurance run that they ended up not needing.

Luis Robert Jr. hit his sixth home run of the season, a 3-run shot in the first inning. In his second game back from the injured list, Anderson went 3 for 4 with three singles, a walk, an RBI and a run scored.

The Sox are 10-21 and will look for a three-game sweep Thursday afternoon. Lucas Giolito starts for the South Siders. Minnesota will counter with Pablo Lopez.

How does White Sox bullpen shape up heading into spring training?

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn famously said at the start of the offseason that the trade market would be "more fruitful" for the team than free agency this winter.

To this point, that statement is false. The Sox have not made any impact acquisitions via trade this offseason, but they did swing a minor deal over the weekend. The South Siders picked up right-handed reliever Franklin German from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for relief pitching prospect Theo Denlinger.

German, 25, was Boston's Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season. He made a combined 43 relief appearances between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, going 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA, seven saves and 64 strikeouts in 49.2 innings. 

He was rewarded with a late-season audition in Boston, which did not go so well. He allowed eight earned runs in four innings over five appearances. German was designated for assignment in late January. The White Sox likely put a waiver claim in on him, and that led to this trade.

Scouting reports say German is a fastball-slider pitcher, with his heater topping out around 97 mph. This is a depth acquisition. It wouldn't be a surprise if German spends most of the season at Triple-A Charlotte, while getting a recall at some point when the big league club needs an extra arm.

So, how does the Sox bullpen look going into spring training? We know Liam Hendriks will be missing. He's out indefinitely while he undergoes treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We should also expect Garrett Crochet to miss the start of the season as he continues his recovery from elbow surgery.

There are eight spots available in the bullpen. Assuming good health (a big assumption with this group), here's how things look right now:

Roster locks (5)

• RHP Kendall Graveman
• RHP Joe Kelly
• LHP Aaron Bummer
• RHP Reynaldo Lopez
• LHP Jake Diekman

Likely to make the roster (2)

• RHP Jose Ruiz
• RHP Jimmy Lambert

Others in competition (7)

• RHP Nick Avila
• RHP A.J. Alexy
• LHP Tanner Banks
• RHP Matt Foster
• RHP Franklin German
• RHP Gregory Santos
• LHP Bennett Sousa

Non-roster invitees to watch (3)

• RHP Keynan Middleton
• RHP Jesse Scholtens
• LHP Nate Fisher

A few notes to bring up here: Ruiz is out of options, so he'll probably stick with the club unless he has a disastrous spring. Lambert had a strong season last year after converting from starting pitcher to reliever, but his historical inconsistency makes me reluctant to make him a "roster lock." That said, a decent spring should be good enough for him to break with the team.

If those top seven guys are all healthy and functioning, that leaves only one spot open. Avila figures to be the odds-on favorite, as he is a Rule 5 draftee. If he doesn't stick on the Opening Day roster, the Sox have to offer him back to the San Francisco Giants. The guess here is he'll be given every opportunity to stick.

Banks is the likely choice if the Sox decide they'd like a third lefty in the bullpen. Alexy is most likely going to be stretched out as starting pitching depth, but you never know. If he shows well enough, he could be kept on the roster as a swing man. 

We've seen Foster succeed sporadically in the past. He's split his time between Chicago and Triple-A Charlotte over the past two seasons. However, he may have been passed by on the depth chart with the offseason acquisitions of Santos and German.

This is one area of the roster where the Sox seem to have some depth. They will no doubt miss Hendriks and Crochet, who are the most dominant relief arms on the 40-man roster. But they have options to try if whatever their Plan A is doesn't succeed.

White Sox avoid arbitration with 5 players

Dylan Cease

As you may recall, the White Sox began the offseason with eight arbitration-eligible players.

They reduced that number to five by non-tendering infielder Danny Mendick and outfielder Adam Engel, and outrighting relief pitcher Kyle Crick.

Mendick signed with the New York Mets. Engel is now a member of the San Diego Padres. Crick remains a free agent.

Here's a look at the other five players who are still with the Sox and have their 2023 salary settled, after agreements were announced last Friday:

1. Dylan Cease. In his first year of arbitration eligibility, Cease will make $5.7 million, which is slightly higher than the MLB Trade Rumors projection of $5.3 million. The right-hander is coming off a season in which he finished second in the AL Cy Young award voting. Cease went 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA and a career-best 227 strikeouts in 32 starts and 184 innings pitched. Last year's AL Cy Young award winner, Justin Verlander, has since signed with a National League team, so Cease enters 2023 on the short list of preseason Cy Young award candidates.

2. Lucas Giolito. Giolito is in his last year of arbitration eligibility, and his $10.4 million 2023 salary is probably less than he envisioned for himself at this time. His MLB Trade Rumors projection was $10.8 million. However, the right-hander is coming off a down 2022 season. He was 11-9 with a 4.90 ERA in his 30 starts, a profile that is less than league average. Giolito had finished sixth, seventh and 11th in the Cy Young voting the previous three seasons, so 2022 was a huge step back for him. This coming season is a crucial year for him. He's a free agent next offseason, and his future earnings hinge on his performance in 2023.

3. Reynaldo Lopez. After three years of inconsistent performance, mostly as a starting pitcher, Lopez carved a niche in the Sox bullpen in 2022. He appeared in 61 games, going 6-4 with a 2.76 ERA across 65.1 innings pitched. Aside from closer Liam Hendriks, Lopez was probably the most reliable relief pitcher the Sox had last season. For his efforts, he'll earn $3.625 million in 2023, beating the MLB Trade Rumors projection of $3.3 million. With Hendriks sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Lopez is among the candidates to close games for the Sox this season.

4. Michael Kopech. The 26-year-old Kopech is kind of like the new version of Carlos Rodon, only right-handed. We know he's a good pitcher -- when he's actually available -- but will he be healthy? Kopech managed to make 25 starts in 2022, going 5-9 with a 3.54 ERA across 119.1 innings. However, he battled a right-knee injury throughout the season, which required surgery. His availability is in doubt for Opening Day, with the Sox expressing hope that he'll be "ready to throw about 85 pitches" in a game by late March. His 2023 salary will be $2.05 million, below the MLB Trade Rumors projection of $2.2 million. If Kopech ever puts it together, he's a bargain.

5. Jose Ruiz. Give credit to Ruiz, because he's yet to fall off the roster despite being out of options for the past two years. He made 59 appearances in 2021 and 63 appearances in 2022. He was 1-0 with a 4.60 ERA in 60.2 innings of mostly low-leverage work last season. Ruiz has never done particularly well when entrusted with a clutch late-inning situation, but he's held his roster spot by chewing up innings in lopsided games. His salary in 2023 will be $925,000, less than the $1 million projected by MLB Trade Rumors. Odds are Ruiz will hang on the roster for another season. Unlike some of his bullpen brethren, he has a habit of being healthy and available. As we've noted before, availability is a skill, and it's been in short supply for many Sox players over the past two years.

The total outlay for the Sox in arbitration this year? It's $22.7 million. It's looking as though their payroll is right about $180 million, assuming no further additions. The Opening Day payroll last year was $193 million. Do with that information what you will.

White Sox closer Liam Hendriks diagnosed with cancer

White Sox closer Liam Hendriks announced on social media Sunday that he has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

"My treatment begins [Monday], and I am confident that I will make a full recovery and be back on the mound as soon as possible." Hendriks said in his Instagram post. "I know with the support of my wife, my family, my teammates and the Chicago White Sox organization, along with the treatment and care from my doctors, I will get through this.”

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn released the following statement:  

“Our thoughts and reactions at this time are for Liam the person, not Liam the baseball player. I know the entire Chicago White Sox organization, our staff, his teammates, and certainly White Sox fans, will rally in support of Liam and [wife] Kristi during the coming months. Knowing everyone involved, especially Liam, we are optimistic he will pitch again for the White Sox as soon as viable. In the meantime, we all will do everything in our power to support our teammate and his family as they face this challenge, while also respecting their privacy.

“We do not expect to have any updates on Liam’s playing status prior to Opening Day at the very earliest.”

Hendriks, 33, has made the American League All-Star team in each of his two seasons with the Sox. He led the league with 38 saves in 2021 when the South Siders won the AL Central Division championship. He followed that up with 37 saves and a 2.81 ERA over 58 appearances for the Sox in 2022.

Once spring training begins, we'll have plenty of time to speculate about how the Sox will deal with Hendriks' absence on the field. For now, the best thing to do is wish Hendriks well as he begins treatment, and pray for his return to full health.

Rumor mill: Mets reportedly interested in Liam Hendriks

This story popped up on MLB.com Tuesday. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported the New York Mets are talking to the White Sox about a trade for Liam Hendriks.

I've learned through the years to never say never, but I'm not seeing a match here. Earlier this offseason, the Mets retained their incumbent closer, Edwin Diaz, by signing him to a five-year, $102 million contract. New York does not need a ninth inning guy.

Not to mention, the Mets also signed David Robertson to a one-year deal. Robertson is a veteran reliever with ample closing experience, should Diaz get injured or falter. On Tuesday, the Mets signed reliever Adam Ottavino to a two-year, $14.5 million deal.

It seems to me that the Mets are set for innings 7, 8 and 9. I get that they are looking to accumulate an embarrassment of riches this offseason, so maybe that's why they've inquired about Hendriks.

That said, what is in it for the Sox? As all Sox fans know, the team has holes at second base and in right field. And Hendriks might be their most attractive trade chip. In my way of thinking, that means any trade involving Hendriks has to include a starting-caliber second baseman or outfielder coming the other way.

Are the Mets trading the Sox their starting second baseman, Jeff McNeil? I don't think so. Why would they do that going into a season where they have World Series expectations? Do the Mets have an extra left-handed corner outfielder that could start in right field for the Sox? No, it doesn't look like it to me. Maybe I'm wrong, and someone will correct me.

What's the motivation for the deal here, for either side?

I saw one proposal today that had the Mets acquiring Hendriks for a package of prospects. This also makes little sense. The Sox might be foolhardy in their belief that they can win in 2023, but the signing of Andrew Benintendi this past weekend signals they are still going for it.

And if they are going for it, why wouldn't they want Hendriks to continue as their closer?

Winter Meetings Day 3: Some thoughts on the signings

Aaron Judge

Some thoughts on the signings that occurred on the third and final day of the Winter Meetings:

Aaron Judge, N.Y. Yankees, nine years, $360 million. The reigning American League MVP chose to stay in New York, turning down offers from San Diego and San Francisco, according to reports. I saw one report that said the Padres were willing to go 10 years, $400 million, but ultimately, Judge wanted to remain a Yankee. He did carry New York to the ALCS last season. It's worth noting that Judge turns 31 years old in April. I'm sure he's got some high-level baseball left in him, but nine years? The back end of that deal is likely to be ugly, so Judge needs to help deliver at least one World Series to New York in the next four or five years. Otherwise, he could be subject to boos as a struggling, overpaid 38-year-old seven years from now. If he's a World Series champ, he'll get diplomatic immunity from the Yankees fans.

Willson Contreras, St. Louis, five years, $87.5 million. Remember the Cubs' last home game before the trade deadline? There were hugs and tears as it was presumed the veteran catcher would be traded. He was not traded. He finished the year in Chicago, and during the last home game of the season at Wrigley Field, there was yet another round of emotional, over-the-top, syrupy Cubbie goo as the faithful said goodbye to a longtime favorite. I'm guessing Contreras will get a very different reception next time he visits Wrigley, now that he'll be wearing a St. Louis Cardinals uniform. Contreras replaces Yadier Molina, who finally retired at the end of the 2022 season. This was a necessary move to fill a need by the Cardinals.

Kenley Jansen, Boston, two years, $32 million. This move created a ripple for White Sox fans, because there has been a lot of speculation that Liam Hendriks is a candidate to be traded. Now that Jansen -- an experienced, accomplished closer -- is off the free agent market, the thought is that other teams looking for a closer might be calling the Sox to ask about Hendriks. If the Sox move the veteran right-hander, his 2024 option automatically vests, and the acquiring team would owe him $29 million over the next two seasons. That's actually pretty good value in this market, so the Sox should be able to get a good return, should they be willing to part with Hendriks. The question is, if the Sox are serious about winning in 2023, why would they trade their closer? Perhaps they would fill a hole on their roster with such a trade, but they'd also be creating a hole. Can you tell I'm not on the Reynaldo Lopez for closer bandwagon?

Jose Quintana, N.Y. Mets, two years, $26 million. Good for Quintana. I've always been a fan. The veteran lefty had two seasons of injury struggles in 2020 and 2021, but he bounced back to post a 2.93 ERA in 165.2 combined innings with the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals last season. That earns him one more decent payday entering his age-34 season. I'll be interested to see who ends up providing the greater value: Quintana with the Mets or Mike Clevinger with the White Sox? 

Jameson Taillon, Cubs, four years, $68 million. I remember when only pitchers at the top of the market received contracts such as this. Now, it's the going rate for a mid-rotation starter. If you can make 30 starts and post an ERA around 4.00, you can get yourself $16 million or $17 million a season. Taillon went 14-5 with a 3.91 ERA last season with the Yankees. That was a nice year for him, and now he's cashing in. The Cubs needed to add at least one starting pitcher this offseason, so there's the fit.

Lance Lynn, Elvis Andrus help White Sox win opener in Seattle

The White Sox offense still has trouble generating runs consistently, but it does seem as though veteran right-hander Lance Lynn has regained his form.

Entering Monday's series opener at Seattle, Lynn had allowed only five earned runs over 24.2 innings over his past four starts -- two wins and two no-decisions. Over that same span, he struck out 29 batters while walking only two.

Against the Mariners, Lynn (5-5) came up with his best outing of the season. He went seven innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits in a 3-2 Sox victory.

Lynn struck out 11 and walked only one, while generating 25 swings-and-misses on 89 pitches -- 63 of them for strikes. There were some pretty nasty shadows on the field with the game starting at 3:40 p.m. Pacific time, and that made conditions rough for batters.

Nevertheless, we have to say Lynn's stuff was sharp given that he retired the last 17 men he faced, and very little contact was made against him.

The Sox scored their three runs early off Seattle starter Marco Gonzales (10-13). In the second inning, AJ Pollock hit his 11th home run of the season. Elvis Andrus also hit his 11th homer (and third since joining the Sox) -- a two-run shot in the top of the third.

Andrus added a double and went 2 for 4. For whatever reason, he swings the bat really well in Seattle. At T-Mobile Park this season, dating back to his time with Oakland, he's 10 for 24 with five of his 11 home runs.

The Sox bullpen closed it out, although in dramatic fashion. Kendall Graveman worked around a two-out single to post a scoreless eighth. Liam Hendriks gave up a run on a walk and two singles in the ninth. The Mariners had the tying run at third and the winning run at second when Hendriks fanned Adam Frazier on three pitches to record his 30th save of the season.

Hendriks becomes the sixth Sox closer to record 30 or more saves in back-to-back seasons. The others are Bobby Thigpen, Roberto Hernandez, Keith Foulke, Bobby Jenks and David Robertson.

The Sox are 68-67.

Dylan Cease vs. Justin Verlander: No-decisions for both

Dylan Cease

The top two contenders for the American League Cy Young Award squared off Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, and ... neither one of them got a decision.

Dylan Cease and Justin Verlander both gave up three earned runs, and although Verlander pitched deeper in the game that Cease, the White Sox bullpen was better than the Houston Astros bullpen, as the Sox rallied for a 4-3 victory.

For the Sox, it is their fifth straight win, and it brings them within one game of the first-place Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central heading into Wednesday's play.

Final line on Cease: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 Ks, 3 BBs.

His season ERA is 2.09. His record remains 12-5.

Final line on Verlander: 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 Ks, 1 BB

His season ERA is 1.95. His record remains 15-3.

You have to believe Verlander is the front-runner for the Cy Young at this point. The 39-year-old has better numbers than the 26-year-old Cease at this time. And Verlander has the name recognition that goes with past accomplishments, and he plays for the team with the best record in the American League.

But on this night, Verlander could not hold a 3-1 lead. The Sox rallied against him with two runs in the seventh. Josh Harrison singled, Seby Zavala walked, and Gavin Sheets ripped 1-2 Verlander slider into the right-field corner to tie the game.

The Sox grabbed the lead in the eighth against Houston right-hander Hector Neris. Eloy Jimenez walked, Jose Abreu singled, and Yasmani Grandal grounded into a slooooooooow-developing 3-6-1 double play. That left pinch-runner Adam Engel at third with two outs, but Yoan Moncada delivered an RBI single to put the Sox ahead.

Closer Liam Hendriks earned his 27th save of the season by retiring the top three batters in the Houston lineup in the top of the ninth, punctuating his outing with a strikeout of Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez.

That capped a strong performance for the Sox bullpen, as Jose Ruiz, Vince Velasquez, Jimmy Lambert and Hendriks all recorded scoreless innings -- with Lambert getting the win.

The Sox have two more games on this homestand against Houston, and will look to extend their winning streak Wednesday with Michael Kopech on the mound.

Michael Kopech throws six no-hit innings in Sox win

For the first time all season, the White Sox have won three straight home games. That's hard to believe given that it's Aug. 12, isn't it?

The Sox offense wasn't exactly crackling Friday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, but they managed a 2-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers behind a great start from Michael Kopech and solid relief pitching from three guys.

Kopech, in fact, had one of the most dominant starts of his career. He worked six innings and did not give up a hit. He struck out 11, walked three and got 22 swinging strikes out of the 85 pitches he threw. Fifty-six of those 85 pitches were strikes.

Alas, he did not get the win, because the Sox did not score while he was in the game. Somehow, left-handed Daniel Norris -- who was released by the Cubs last month and had an ERA near 7 for the season -- threw 4.2 innings of scoreless ball for the Tigers.

Removing Kopech after 85 pitches was a controversial decision, and an unpopular one with fans, who criticized manager Tony La Russa on social media and booed the move at the ballpark.

But, we know Kopech is on an undetermined innings limit for this season, and his services are needed again five days from now when the AL-best Houston Astros are in town. From that perspective, the decision is understandable.

It's just weird how La Russa leaves starters in too long as a habit, and sometimes forces players to gut it out through injury (Leury Garcia in last Tuesday's doubleheader, for example), and other times, he pulls out the "abundance of caution" card.

In any case, Reynaldo Lopez relieved in the seventh inning and worked around a leadoff single by Javier Baez. Lopez (5-2) got the win after the Sox plated two in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out, two-run single by Andrew Vaughn with the bases loaded.

Kendall Graveman and Liam Hendriks each worked a scoreless inning, with Hendriks picking up his 24th save.

There was more bad injury news for the Sox, as Luis Robert left Friday's game with a sprained left wrist. He is day to day.

The Sox are 57-56, and they remain 3.5 games back of the Cleveland Guardians, who won their sixth straight Friday with an 8-0 skunking of the Toronto Blue Jays.

I wasn't overly impressed with the way the Sox swung the bats in this game against a lousy Detroit pitching staff. The Sox had eight hits, with AJ Pollock's double being the only one that went for extra bases.

If guys don't start hitting for power, this team will continue to spin its wheels. 

White Sox place Reynaldo Lopez on 15-day injured list

The White Sox on Thursday placed relief pitcher Reynaldo Lopez on the 15-day injured list with a lower back strain, retroactive to July 25.

It's getting thin in the bullpen for the Sox, who are already without Aaron Bummer (lat strain) and Garrett Crochet (torn elbow ligament). It's also possible Joe Kelly is going to hit the injured list, as he left Wednesday's game in Colorado with a right biceps injury.

The Sox said they would announce who would take Lopez's place on the roster before Friday's series opener against the Oakland Athletics at Guaranteed Rate Field.

It would come as no surprise if the Sox actually had to add two pitchers -- one to replace Lopez and one to replace Kelly.

The lack of an immediate roster addition makes one wonder whether the Sox are trying to swing a trade. General manager Rick Hahn has already identified the bullpen as his "biggest need" at Tuesday's trade deadline.

While I disagree with Hahn that the bullpen is the biggest need, there is no question that it is among the needs.

Personally, I would prefer to see Hahn shop at the Ryan Tepera level of relievers, not the Craig Kimbrel level.

As you might recall, Hahn made two deadline deals with the crosstown Cubs last season to acquire relief help. He sent A-ball pitcher Bailey Horn to the Cubs in exchange for Tepera, and that was a move that worked out just fine for the Sox. Tepera worked effectively as a middle-inning reliever the last two months plus of the 2021 season.

Hahn also traded off his major league roster, sending Codi Heuer and Nick Madrigal to the North Side for Kimbrel. That move proved to be a disaster for all, as Heuer and Madrigal have been nothing but injured since joining the Cubs, and Kimbrel was worthless to the Sox in 2021 before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the start of this season.

The lesson here: Don't swing big to get relief help. Smaller moves can help. There are guys out there who can pitch the sixth and seventh innings effectively who can be acquired without giving up high-end prospects and players on the major league roster. 

Even with all the injuries, the Sox have the eighth (Kendall Graveman) and ninth innings (Liam Hendriks) covered. They do need a little help building the bridge from the starting pitchers to their high-leverage relievers.

But what the Sox really need are legitimate solutions at corner outfield and second base. They still need that left-handed power bat that we've been coveting but not getting for years. 

If the Sox are going to trade high-end prospects at this deadline, they should trade them for a position player who solves a need both this season and in years to come. 

With a record of 49-49 on July 28, it's kind of silly to think a couple of relievers is all this team needs to get over the hump. Sure, relief help is needed -- no one who is paying attention would deny that. 

But the Sox are also operating two bats short, and I'd like to see an acquisition that can make an impact on a daily basis -- and that means a position player. After all, even the best relievers only pitch three or four times a week.

White Sox reliever Kendall Graveman struggles when he pitches back-to-back days

The White Sox played horrendous baseball Wednesday in a 6-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies. All the horrors of the 2022 season were on full display: two asinine baserunning blunders, a mental error on defense, an injury to a high-priced player, underperformance by a highly regarded starting pitcher, etc., etc., etc.

Lucas Giolito gave up three runs in the first inning to put the Sox in an early hole. Leury Garcia was picked off third base for the third out of an inning with the bases loaded. Jose Abreu was doubled off second base on an infield line drive. Tim Anderson forgot to tag second base when turning a double play. Joe Kelly walked off the mound in the eighth inning with an apparent biceps injury.

All the things wrong with this team were front and center once more, BUT they somehow managed to take a 5-4 lead into the ninth inning. Perhaps that's because the Rockies stink, and through eight innings, Colorado let the Sox off the hook for their blunders.

Alas, Kendall Graveman had a massive meltdown in the bottom of the ninth inning. He walked the bases loaded on 17 pitches, then gave up a two-run single to Elias Diaz. The Rockies got the two runs they needed to win the game before Graveman could even record an out.

Where was usual closer Liam Hendriks, you ask? Well, Hendriks needed 26 pitches to close out Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Rockies, and apparently, he has some problem pitching in altitude that requires medication.

Graveman needed only 11 pitches to record a scoreless eighth in Tuesday's game, so he was the fresher and more available reliever for Wednesday.

Unfortunately, Graveman's results were disastrous, and that's the continuation of a trend of struggles he has when pitching on back-to-back days.

Wednesday's game marked the 10th time he's appeared on back-to-back days in 2022, and he's allowed seven earned runs in 9.1 innings pitched in those situations. That's a 6.75 ERA.

In all other situations, Graveman has allowed seven earned runs over 34.1 innings, which pencils out to a 1.83 ERA.

Eight of the 17 walks Graveman has issued this season have been on zero days' rest, along with two of the four home runs he's allowed.

I guess you could say stop pitching Graveman on back-to-back days, but I don't think that's feasible given that Aaron Bummer is on the injured list, Reynaldo Lopez is day-to-day with a back strain and now Kelly is hurt. Who else you going to pitch?

More over, Graveman was given a three-year, $24 million contract in the offseason. He's being paid a lot of money to pitch in high-leverage situations, and pitching on back-to-back days is part of the job description. He needs to better in these spots.

Liam Hendriks is latest White Sox player to hit injured list

Relief pitcher Liam Hendriks is the latest White Sox player to hit the injured list. The veteran closer will be out for at least three weeks with a right forearm strain.

Hendriks has appeared in 25 games this season, going 1-2 with a 2.81 ERA. He leads the American League with 16 saves.

I always cringe a little when I hear a pitcher has a forearm strain. Those are often the precursor to a torn elbow ligament, which requires Tommy John surgery.

Hendriks appeared in 69 games for the Sox last season, and once appeared in 75 games for the Oakland Athletics in 2019. At age 33, he does have some mileage on his arm. 

There's no question he is very important to whatever chance the Sox have of getting back in the American League Central race, so here's hoping the three-week timetable for a return is accurate.

The Sox did not require a closer Tuesday night, as they defeated the Detroit Tigers, 5-1.

Dylan Cease (5-3) needed 108 pitches to get through five innings, but ultimately, he had a successful outing. The right-hander improved to 10-0 in 11 lifetime starts against the Tigers. He allowed one unearned run on seven hits. He struck out eight and walked one.

In a baseball oddity, Cease has allowed 10 runs over his past four starts, but none of them have been earned. He is the first pitcher since 1913 to allow at least one run, but no earned runs, in four straight starts. 

Cease's ERA is 2.91.

The top three batters in the Sox lineup collected eight of the team's 12 hits. Andrew Vaughn went 4 for 4 with four singles, a walk, a run scored and an RBI. Luis Robert was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBIs.

AJ Pollock now has six consecutive multihit games. On Tuesday, he was 2 for 5 with a double and two runs scored.

The Sox bullpen worked four scoreless innings. I suspect Jimmy Lambert is heading back to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday when Vince Velasquez is scheduled to come off the injured list, but Lambert served his purpose with two scoreless innings Tuesday.

Joe Kelly came off the injured list to take Hendriks' spot on the roster, and he worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning with two strikeouts. His stuff looked impressive.

Reynaldo Lopez allowed a two-out single but nothing more in the ninth. He recorded two strikeouts in his scoreless inning.

The Sox are 29-31.