The White Sox on Saturday signed left-handed relief pitcher Aaron Bummer to a five-year, $16 million contract.
It's the largest contract ever given to a non-closer who has yet to qualify for salary arbitration in Major League Baseball history.
Bummer, 26, is coming off a breakout season in 2019, during which he was the best pitcher in the Sox's bullpen. He made 58 appearances without a decision, posting a 2.13 ERA, 27 holds, one save, 60 strikeouts and a 0.99 WHIP over 67.2 innings pitched.
The Sox apparently believe Bummer's sinker-heavy approach will play well over the long haul at Guaranteed Rate Field. His 71.4% ground-ball rate ranked second in baseball last season, and opponents hit only .184/.268/.252 against him even though they pretty much knew what pitch was coming. (Bummer throws his sinker about 75% of the time.)
Here's one reason to like this move: Bummer isn't the sort of left-handed reliever who falls apart the minute a right-handed batter steps into the box. In fact, he was effective against both lefties and righties last season:
vs. LHB: .178/.213/.233
vs. RHB: .188/.299/.264
The new three-batter minimum rule shouldn't be a deterrent to bringing Bummer into a game, and given that he had more innings pitched than appearances last season, we know he's capable of getting anywhere from three to six outs when called upon.
It's a little unorthodox to lock up a reliever who is not a closer long term, but given Bummer's results last season, this does make some sense.
Bummer will earn $1 million in 2020, $2 million in 2021, $2.5
million in 2022, $3.75 million in 2023 and $5.5 million in 2024. The White
Sox hold options for $7.25 million in 2025 and $7.5 million in 2026, with
$1.25 million buyouts for either season.
The Sox also announced that utility player Leury Garcia agreed on a one-year, $3.5 million contract that also includes a club option for 2021. Garcia, 28, previously avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.25 million contract. He gets a slight bump in pay here, along with the addition of the $3.5 million option, which includes a $250,000 buyout.
The move allows the Sox to control the terms of Garcia's salary for next season, should they want him back, and they don't have to worry about the arbitration process.
Garcia could start the season as the starting second baseman, but he figures to slide into a bench role once Nick Madrigal is called up to the majors.
García hit .279 with 27 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 40 RBIs and 93 runs scored over 140 games last season. He also led the league with 14 outfield assists.
Monday, February 24, 2020
Friday, February 21, 2020
Lindy's Sports picks White Sox to win AL Central (!)
Would you believe it if I told you they picked the White Sox to win the AL Central? Seriously, they did. They picked the Minnesota Twins second, the Cleveland Indians third, the Kansas City Royals fourth and the Detroit Tigers last.
They've also got Rick Renteria winning AL Manager of the Year, and center fielder Luis Robert winning AL Rookie of the Year. I guess when you think about it, if the Sox are going to win their division, those two things become that much more likely, right?
Not surprisingly, Lindy's has the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros as the other two AL division winners. The AL wild cards are the Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays, with the Yankees predicted as the AL champion.
That's certainly fair. I'm guessing the Yankees will be the most popular pick to win the AL this season.
But I'm somewhat surprised that a national outlet is believing the hype on the Sox, an unproven team that very much is relying on internal improvement from young players. I can see a scenario where the Sox contend, sure, but I wouldn't predict it. My expectations are for the team to pull its record up to .500 or slightly better.
I'm not expecting them to challenge the Twins, who were a 101-win juggernaut in 2019. I do not expect Minnesota to win 101 again, but I won't be shocked if the Twins win, say, 93 games.
Do you think the Sox have a 21-game improvement in them? Because that's what it would take for the South Siders to reach 93 wins. I'd say that's a stretch.
But Lindy's lauds the Sox's "young players with high ceilings," and notes that Minnesota's "rotation is not good enough to cover for subpar infield defense."
I sure hope that assessment is correct. I just wouldn't go to Vegas with that one.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
No paper tickets at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay
 |
| Tropicana Field |
However, that does not mean I won't attend a baseball game on that first day of the season. The Tampa Bay Rays are hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26, and I've never been to Tropicana Field before. So, I figure, what the hell? Why not go?
I looked into tickets last week, and much to my surprise, the Rays have not put single-game tickets on sale yet. Earlier today, I saw this article in the Tampa Bay Times that gave me some answers.
Turns out, all the Rays' ticketing this season will be done through the MLB Ballpark app on a mobile device. No more paper tickets.
Tampa isn't putting single-game seats on sale until 10 o'clock Friday morning, presumably because the club was working to implement this new policy. Tropicana Field is already a cash-free facility, so it's a different world than what we have here in Chicago.
I'm familiar with the Ballpark App -- as a White Sox season-ticket holder, I access my tickets using that app all the time. The Sox prefer to scan your phone when you enter Guaranteed Rate Field.
I have no idea what the demand is like for Opening Day tickets in Tampa Bay, but I'm going to try to buy some. If I'm successful, it will be interesting to see how these no-paper-tickets and cash-free policies work.
It's likely the wave of the future, and only a matter of time before we see this everywhere.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Carlos Rodon as a reliever? He doesn't think so ...
 |
| Carlos Rodon |
And in the past three seasons, Rodon has not made more than 20 starts. In 2019, the former first-round pick made only seven starts before injuring his left elbow, requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery.
That means Rodon won't be available until the second half of this season in the best-case scenario. The Sox have planned accordingly. With Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel, Reynaldo Lopez, Gio Gonzalez and Dylan Cease projected as the Opening Day rotation -- and Michael Kopech likely to push for a spot sooner rather than later -- there doesn't appear to be any room for Rodon, even if he makes a healthy return come July or August.
Does that mean Rodon is destined for the bullpen? With his velocity and outstanding slider, those two pitches could play nicely in the late innings. However, the pitcher doesn't see himself in that role.
“In my heart, I think I’m a starter,” Rodon told MLB.com's Scott Merkin. “I’m not a bullpen arm. Yeah, I could throw 100 mph, but I’m not a bullpen arm. I know I can be a starter. I’ve shown it in the past. Yes, I haven’t been as durable as I can be, but people have seen me eat eight, nine innings.
“So, why would you take that away from me when you know I can throw? I know this sounds kind of arrogant, going into the eighth inning, you know I throw 98 mph. I think the White Sox think the same way.”
Rodon also indicated he has no intention of stepping aside and conceding a rotation spot to any of his teammates.
“This is not a jab at any of my teammates, but I hope to God they know I’m coming. It’s a competition,” Rodon told Merkin. “Whoever is best is going to have the job.
“That’s a statement to boost my teammates. I don’t want my job taken away. But just know that I’m right here and I’m going to come back, and I’m coming back for my job. I know it’s not going to be handed to me, but I’m coming for it.”
Actually, I commend Rodon for this attitude, and I am pulling for him to make a full recovery and be the pitcher he was drafted to be. For a long time, I've longed for the Sox to have competition for spots in the starting rotation.
Take Lopez, as an example. He had a terrible 2019, and there were times he probably deserved to be demoted to the bullpen, and manager Rick Renteria at times questioned Lopez's focus. However, Lopez remained in the rotation because there was nobody else who could conceivably take his spot.
When that happens, guys are maybe a little bit too comfortable. When you've got five rotation spots, and only two or three guys who are worth a damn, that's a serious problem.
But when you've got seven guys battling for five spots, and all seem like reasonable options, that's actually not a problem at all. That's exactly the scenario you want.
I hope Rodon backs up these words and pushes hard to get his job in the rotation back. That would be a terrific development for the Sox.
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
3 position battles to watch during White Sox spring training
 |
| Nick Madrigal |
Accordingly, there are fewer position battles in spring training this year, with more players considered "locks" for the 26-man roster when compared with what we've seen in the past.
That said, here are three spots the Sox still need to sort out before the season opens March 26 against the Kansas City Royals.
1. Second base
We know Nick Madrigal eventually is going to get his chance to be the second baseman in Chicago. The question is, how soon? The 22-year-old former first-round pick is a career .309/.371/.398 hitter with only 21 strikeouts through 163 professional games.
However, Madrigal has only played 29 games at the Triple-A level, and general manager Rick Hahn has hinted he wants to "see more" from Madrigal before bringing him to the majors for full-time work.
If Madrigal tears apart the Cactus League, it's going to be hard to send him to Charlotte, especially in a win-now season, when every game matters, and when it's imperative to have the best man for the job on the field at every position.
But, if Madrigal is mediocre or struggles in Arizona, he's not coming north with the team when the season starts. The Sox could give Danny Mendick a month of starts at second base, just to see if there's any staying power to the .308/.325/.462 slash line the 26-year-old posted in 16 games during his September call-up last season.
Or, Leury Garcia is always an option, even if he's not an exciting one. Garcia isn't going to be starting in the outfield anymore -- unless someone among the Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Nomar Mazara group gets injured. The Sox obviously like Garcia, so it wouldn't be a surprise if his new job description reads "stopgap at second until Madrigal arrives."
2. Last spot in the bullpen
I hesitate to call the Sox bullpen a strength. I see scenarios in which it could be, but with Alex Colome, Aaron Bummer and Evan Marshall all being regression candidates, I also can see scenarios where the Sox struggle to close games.
However, I'm pretty sure it's going to be an eight-man bullpen. And I'm pretty sure who seven of those eight men are going to be.
Colome and Marshall will be joined by fellow right-handers Kelvin Herrera, Steve Cishek and Jimmy Cordero. Bummer and Jace Fry will be the two lefties.
That leaves who, exactly, for the eighth spot? Maybe Carson Fulmer gets one more kick at the can? He's out of options, and the Sox are notoriously slow to give up on former first-round picks in whom they've invested a lot of time and capital.
Looking at the seven names above, none of them qualifies as a "long reliever," someone who can come in and provide some length on days when the starting pitcher gets knocked out early. Does that open the door for left-hander Bernardo Flores, who has started throughout his minor league career, but maybe lacks a bread-and-butter pitch to stick in a big league rotation?
Matt Foster, Ian Hamilton, Zack Burdi and Jose Ruiz are other possibilities among pitchers currently on the 40-man roster. Hamilton and Burdi both were once regarded as solid prospects, but injuries have derailed their careers. Are they healthy enough to compete for a spot?
Among nonroster invitees, here are three names to watch: Tayron Guerrero, Codi Heuer and Tyler Johnson.
3. Remaining bench spots
For purposes of this blog, let's say Madrigal starts the season in Triple-A, and Garcia starts the season at second base. I happen to think that's the most likely scenario, so let's go with that.
That puts Mendick in the bench infielder role, and we know James McCann will be the second catcher after Grandal. That's two of the four bench spots. What about the other two?
You figure one of them will be an outfielder, and Adam Engel has the inside track with his superior glove. A career .215 hitter, Engel doesn't have a good track record with the bat, but he did slash .313/.360/.482 in 89 plate appearances against lefties in the 2019. That's, well, something, and it's a skill that could keep Engel around as a bench player if he shows a similar ability this spring.
Nicky Delmonico is back with the organization, too, if for some reason the Sox still think he can be a viable lefty bat off the bench. He lacks a position, so he faces an uphill climb. The same can be said for Daniel Palka, who missed an opportunity to establish himself last season.
Veteran infielder Andrew Romine is in camp on a minor league deal, and there's always the possibility he makes the club if Engel falters, and the club decides they're better off with Garcia serving as the backup outfielder.
Then there's Zack Collins and Yermin Mercedes. The Sox have five catchers on the 40-man, which is rare, and both these two guys are bat-first players. Neither has distinguished themselves as a receiver, but there don't seem to be many DH at-bats available with both Encarnacion and Jose Abreu on the roster. Could either Collins or Mercedes stick as a pinch hitter and third catcher?
I'd say Mercedes has a better shot, because bench bat is probably his ceiling. Collins is a former first-round pick, so I doubt the Sox will be OK with him playing once a week in the majors and getting the occasional pinch-hitting appearance. I look for Collins to start the season as the everyday catcher in Charlotte, but he may be the first call in the event an offense-first player gets injured in Chicago.
Monday, February 17, 2020
3 White Sox prospects ranked in USA Today's '100 names you need to know'
 |
| Luis Robert |
To qualify for the list, players must have had more innings (for pitchers) or plate appearances (for hitters) in the minor leagues during 2019 than they have accumulated during all of their major league playing time.
The Sox have three guys in the top 20, with center fielder Luis Robert leading the way at No. 2. Right-handed pitcher Michael Kopech is ranked No. 14, and second baseman Nick Madrigal is No. 19.
Robert, of course, is the only one of the three expected to start the season on the South Side of Chicago, after signing an eight-year, $50 million contract extension during the offseason that alleviates any concerns about service time manipulation.
USA Today notes that Robert posted a 30-30 season across three levels of the minor leagues in 2019, and adds that it seems to be a matter of "when, not if" the 22-year-old provides a similar output on the South Side.
The guess here is we won't see a 30-30 season from Robert in 2020, although with his ridiculous tools, there's nothing wrong with being bullish on his future.
Kopech, 23, missed all of the 2019 season after having Tommy John surgery late in 2018. Based upon everything we heard at SoxFest and in the media since, Kopech is not going to be on the Opening Day roster. His 100 mph velocity has returned, sure, but the team will take it slow with a prospect who has top-of-the-rotation potential.
Look for Kopech to either start the season at Triple-A Charlotte, or perhaps stay in Arizona at extended spring training when the team breaks camp. USA Today offered the possibility of Kopech contributing out of the Sox bullpen this season.
While he's certainly capable of helping in that way, I don't see it. I think the Sox are committed to trying to develop Kopech as a No. 1-caliber starting pitcher. And that means working out of the rotation, even in a season where he may be on an innings limit.
Madrigal, 22, likely will open the year at Triple-A Charlotte, as well, unless he tears up the Cactus League and forces his way into the Opening Day lineup. The second baseman offers a plus glove and elite bat-to-ball skills, as he has only struck out 21 times in 163 minor league games.
His career slash is .309/.371/.398, so power remains a question mark, but the ability to put the ball in play and hit for average is Madrigal's ticket to the majors. USA Today notes, "He might be the perfect fit to slide among the White Sox's boom-or-bust young sluggers.
Indeed, Madrigal is different than some of the other prospects we've seen come up through the Sox organization. His approach should balance the lineup out a little bit once he arrives, and unlike other youngsters in the system, his glove is not a problem.
We'll get our first look at Sox players starting Saturday, when the team opens Cactus League play against the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Found this video from old Comiskey Park (circa 1990)
Found this video of old Comiskey Park that some random guy shot and thought it was awesome. It takes me back to my childhood. This is a game from 1990, the last year of the old ballpark, when I was 14 years old.
Hall of Famers on the field for the White Sox: Frank Thomas and Carlton Fisk
Future managers on the field for the Sox: Ozzie Guillen and Robin Ventura
Future Cubs icons on the field for the Sox: Sammy Sosa
Plus, an Ivan Calderon (RIP) home run that sets off the exploding scoreboard. Pitching for the Sox? One of my favorites: Alex Fernandez.
Now that I've reached middle age, I appreciate these memories more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)