Former White Sox pitcher Gary Peters dies at 85

Gary Peters

Some sad news to report: Former White Sox pitcher Gary Peters died last week at age 85.

Peters played before my time, but if you talk to people who were around in the 1960s, they'll tell you that Peters is an underappreciated player from an underappreciated era of Sox baseball.

The left-hander pitched for the Sox from 1959-69, going 91-78 with a 2.92 ERA in 359 games, including 286 starts.

Peters only pitched in 12 games from 1959 through 1962, but he broke through to win American League Rookie of the Year award in 1963, going 19-8 with a league-leading 2.33 ERA.

He made the All-Star team in 1964, when he led the league in wins with 20. Peters also led the league in ERA (1.98) in 1966, and he made the All-Star team for a second time in 1967. He ranks eighth among Sox pitchers all-time with 1,098 strikeouts.

Peters was a standout in the starting rotation during what might have been considered a golden era in the overall mediocre history of the Sox. From 1963 to 1965, the Sox won 94, 98 and 95 games, respectively. Unfortunately, they finished second in the American League behind the New York Yankees each season. That said, that three-year span marks the only time in the 122-year history of the team that the Sox have won 90 or more games three seasons in a row.

Also of note, Peters was one of the best-hitting pitchers of his era. His slash line with the Sox was .212/.240/.344, which doesn't seem like much, but it's really good for a pitcher. (Note: These were the days before the designated hitter.)

Peters hit 19 home runs in his career, including 15 in his 11 seasons with the Sox. He hit three homers in 1963 and four more in 1964.

It's too bad we don't hear more about this era of Sox baseball. Obviously, the Sox played in the 1959 World Series. But after that, people tend to fast-forward past the 1960s and talk about the 1972 team, or 1977, or 1983.

A lot of Sox players from the 1960s are either no longer with us, or are nearing the end of their lives. Let's hope their contributions to the history of the franchise are remembered.

I feel as though I should be doing something baseball-oriented this weekend ...

Me with Dylan Cease at SoxFest 2020

If only the White Sox hosted some sort of event where fans were allowed meet current and former players and ask questions of the manager and general manager ...

That would be fun, right? And it would get you excited for the start of spring training, no?

Instead, all the baseball discussion in Chicago right now centers around domestic abuse and child abuse allegations made against Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger. Disgusting and gross.

This sucks.

SoxFest better return in 2024.

White Sox sign 7 as international signing period opens

Major League Baseball's international signing period opened Sunday, and the White Sox have announced the signing of seven prospects from Latin American countries.

None of these guys are going to be familiar to fans in the U.S., so I won't pretend to have any inside information on any of them. The consensus seems to be that this group of seven players is a little underwhelming -- the Sox didn't sign any headlining prospects here -- but you never know when a diamond in the rough can be found.

Here are the seven players added, with their position, country and signing bonus:

1. Luis Reyes, P, Dominican Republic, $700,000
2. Abraham Nunez, OF, Dominican Republic, $700,000
3. D'Angelo Tejada, SS, Dominican Republic, $350,000
   
4. Rafael Alvarez, OF, Cuba, $300,000
5. Juan Uribe Jr., SS, Dominican Republic, $200,000
6. Albert Alberto, OF, Dominican Republic, $50,000
7. Denny Lima, P, Dominican Republic, $10,000

By all accounts, Reyes is the best prospect in the class. He's ranked No. 41 on the international Top 50 prospects list. According to an article written by The Athletic's James Fegan, who gets better information on these Latin prospects than most, Reyes is a 6-foot-3 right-hander with a "power fastball," slider and changeup.

The most recognizable name on this list is, of course, Uribe Jr. Yes, he is the son of former White Sox shortstop and World Series champion Juan Uribe. It is obviously way too soon to determine if he will be as good as his dad.

The Sox expect to add more signings in the coming weeks. Angelo Hernandez, a catcher out of Venezuela, is allegedly going to sign with the Sox for $500,000.

If Hernandez is added, the Sox are estimated to still have another $2.5 million to use in the international market. Those dollars can be spent anytime in 2023, or they could be traded to another club.

Worth noting: Sometimes these low-budget international prospects actually do amount to something. If you look at Baseball America's top 10 White Sox prospects right now, six of them come from the international pool -- outfielder Oscar Colas, third baseman Bryan Ramos, shortstops Jose Rodriguez and Lenyn Sosa, and pitchers Norge Vera and Cristian Mena.

As critical as I have been of the Sox in a lot of areas, international signings is one area where they've done a decent job -- despite their frugal ways.

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.

Former White Sox pitcher Johnny Cueto signs with Miami Marlins

Insert the lame lead about a professional athlete taking his talents to South Beach here. Former White Sox pitcher Johnny Cueto has agreed to a one-year contract with the Miami Marlins.

Cueto, who turns 37 years old next month, will earn $6 million in 2023. The deal includes a $10.5 million club option for 2024, with a $2.5 million buyout. So, that means the veteran right-hander is guaranteed $8.5 million in this contract.

Quick reaction: Couldn't the White Sox have afforded that? Cueto was one of the pleasant surprises of the 2022 season. His 8-10 record was unspectacular, but his 3.35 ERA over 25 games (24 starts and one emergency bullpen appearance) and 158.1 innings was impressive.

Cueto is certainly a regression candidate, especially at his age. Before last year, he hadn't topped 150 innings since his last All-Star campaign in 2016, and you have to wonder if his style of pitching to contact will blow up on him moving forward. He struck out only 5.8 batters per nine innings in 2022.

Earlier this offseason, the Sox signed Mike Clevinger, who essentially takes Cueto's place in the rotation. Clevinger tossed only 114.1 innings with San Diego last season, and only once during his six-year career has he topped 126 innings. So, he's not guaranteed to replace Cueto's workload.

And the Sox paid Clevinger a guaranteed $12 million. The 32-year-old right-hander will earn $8 million in 2023. There's a $12 million mutual option for 2024, with a $4 million buyout. 

It's almost a guarantee that mutual option will get declined. If Clevinger pitches well, he'll opt out and seek a long-term deal in free agency. If Clevinger pitches poorly, the Sox will let him go. It's hard to see a scenario where the two sides would agree on a one-year arrangement for 2024.

However, the moral of this story is Clevinger will cost more than Cueto, and it's hard to say one way or the other whether the Sox improved their rotation by signing Clevinger and letting Cueto walk.

Clevinger's production vs. Cueto's will be one of the subplots to the 2023 season.

Former White Sox outfielder AJ Pollock headed to Seattle

AJ Pollock

Former White Sox outfielder AJ Pollock has agreed to a one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners worth $7 million, according to recent reports. 

You may recall that when the offseason began, Pollock's future was one of the big questions surrounding the Sox. Would the veteran accept his $13 million player option to remain in Chicago? Or would he opt out and take a $5 million buyout?

Pollock opted out and entered free agency. From a purely financial standpoint, he cost himself $1 million with that decision. He's got the $5 million from the Sox. Add the $7 million from Seattle, and that's a total of $12 million -- which is less than $13 million.

But from Pollock's perspective, perhaps the chance to choose his own team was worth giving up the $1 million. He never asked to come to Chicago -- the Los Angeles Dodgers traded him to the Sox for Craig Kimbrel last spring training, in a deal that really didn't pan out for either side. 

Had Pollock opted in with the Sox, there's a pretty decent chance he would have been traded to parts unknown this offseason. He could have ended up on a non-contender in 2023, or in a place where he would have had limited playing time.

After posting a career-worst .681 OPS in his age-34 season with the Sox in 2022, it's not unreasonable to think Pollock wasn't part of Sox GM Rick Hahn's plans for this season.

He probably knew that, so he opted out to keep control of his fate, even if it cost him some money. You can make a case that it worked out for everybody: Pollock chose his landing spot and signed a contract with an AL West contender in Seattle. The Sox saved $8 million when Pollock walked away, and that money was used to sign Andrew Benintendi, an outfielder that appears to be a better fit on the South Side at this time.

We'll see how it plays out as 2023 moves along.

OK, now Carlos Correa is going back to the Twins (pending a physical)

Carlos Correa

Is the never-ending saga of the 2022-23 offseason finally ending? Carlos Correa is not going to the San Francisco Giants on a 13-year, $350 million deal, nor is he going to the New York Mets on a 12-year, $315 million agreement.

Both those contracts fell apart, because both clubs had concerns about Correa's right leg, which was surgically repaired after an injury he suffered when he was 19 years old.

Now, apparently, Correa is going back to where he was last season -- the Minnesota Twins. The deal is worth six years and $200 million. The contract can max out at $270 million, with vesting options for four additional years.

Physical pending. Of course.

For White Sox fans, it's not great news to have Correa staying in the AL Central. After Correa reached his previous agreements, I was pleased to see the Twins left out in the cold in the derby for premium free agent shortstops. Now, by a stroke of good luck, they have their guy, and they are a better team than they were yesterday.

Physical pending. Of course.

All that said, are the Twins are better team than they were in 2022? They had Correa last season, too, yet they only won 78 games and finished third in the mediocre AL Central. In fact, the godawful 2022 White Sox won three more games than the Correa-led 2022 Twins.

In Minnesota, some feel they've addressed their two greatest needs, shortstop and catcher. Correa and Christian Vazquez are slated to fill those two spots. Perhaps that's correct, but I still have serious questions about Minnesota's starting rotation and bullpen.

Here's their projected rotation: Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda, Joe Ryan, Tyler Mahle and Bailey Ober. Is that good enough to win the AL Central? I don't think so. Maybe the Twins pass the Sox by if they finally get a healthy season from Byron Buxton, and they find some answers in their bullpen, but I don't see them making up the 14-game gap that existed between them and the Cleveland Guardians in 2022.

It's worth noting that the Twins stunk last season, despite Correa's overall excellence.

Report: White Sox add Jake Marisnick to outfield mix

Jake Marisnick

Maybe the Charlotte Knights need outfielders? They probably do, especially if Oscar Colas is expected to start the 2023 season with the White Sox.

I'm just trying to think of reasons why the Sox are stockpiling veteran outfielders on minor league contracts. Earlier this offseason, they picked Victor Reyes and Billy Hamilton off the scrap heap. According to reports, they added 10-year veteran Jake Marisnick on a minor league deal over the weekend.

Marisnick, 31, is getting an invitation to spring training, and if he makes the club, he will reportedly earn a salary of $1.3 million.

We've asked the question before on this blog: If Luis Robert gets hurt at any point during the 2023 season, who plays center field?

Marisnick is a possible answer. He's always been a good defensive player. He can play any of the three outfield spots and do so in an above-average way.

Unfortunately, he's bounced around the league -- five teams since 2019 -- because he's never been a good hitter. His career slash line is .228/.281/.384 over 831 games. He's passable against left-handed pitching -- a career .704 OPS -- but he's struggled to a .640 OPS against right-handers over his career.

Injuries have also crept in. Thumb surgery limited Marisnick to only 31 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022. He batted. .234/.272/.390 with two homers, six doubles and six RBIs in 82 plate appearances.

Obviously, there's a reason he's available on a minor league deal. 

As we've noted, the Sox have question marks in the outfield once you get past Robert and free agent acquisition Andrew Benintendi. The rookie Colas is the presumptive favorite to play right field, and nobody knows who the fourth outfielder will be. 

Perhaps the Sox are counting on one of Reyes, Hamilton or Marisnick to win the job. I'd prefer a more solid option in a "win-now" season, but we know the Sox are prone to "knocking on wood" more often than not when it comes to matters of roster depth.

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.

White Sox make Andrew Benintendi signing official

Andrew Benintendi

Andrew Benintendi is now wearing No. 23 for the White Sox. His signing became official Tuesday after he passed his physical, and the outfielder met with the media Wednesday afternoon.

The structure of the five-year, $75 million contract is notable. Benintendi receives a $3 million signing bonus, and the rest of it is backloaded:

• 2023: $8 million
• 2024: $16.5 million
• 2025: $16.5 million
• 2026: $16.5 million
• 2027: $14.5 million

We've discussed before how the Sox are bumping up against their self-imposed payroll limits for the 2023 season, so perhaps they convinced Benintendi to take a little less money in the first year of the contract in order to free up space to make one more free agent signing.

All of the big free agents are off the board now, but the Sox still have needs at second base, in the outfield and in the starting rotation.

We're hearing more talk of the Sox being satisfied with their internal options at second base and starting pitcher. I'm not satisfied, but my roster evaluations tend to be different than those of the Sox front office. 

But I digress.

Is there another outfield signing in the future? Perhaps the Sox would be interested in Adam Duvall, or some other right-handed hitting outfielder? 

It would make sense. The projected starting outfield is Benintendi in left, Luis Robert in center and rookie Oscar Colas in right. (Eloy Jimenez is a designated hitter, as far as I'm concerned.)

Victor Reyes and Billy Hamilton will be in spring training on minor league contracts, but neither man should be anything more than a fifth outfielder.

The Sox need a reliable fourth outfielder in case the rookie Colas struggles. Not to mention, they need a reliable fourth outfielder in the event that Robert gets injured again. We've yet to see Robert play 100 games in a season, so it only makes sense to have a sensible option in place should a backup center fielder be needed.

Right now, Colas is probably the backup center fielder, which isn't fair to the rookie. Or, maybe Hamilton is the backup center fielder, but frankly, he's not good enough to be trusted in that role.

I'd prefer a right-handed bat for the outfield, since Colas bats left. We'll see if the Sox have a move up their sleeve.