On Wednesday, the major league baseball non-waiver trade deadline came and went at 4pm ET. Despite all of the hype, this year’s deadline provided little drama. There were only a handful of minor deals completed just prior to the deadline, and the Chicago White Sox were not among the trading teams. Although the White Sox were unable to move any more aging veterans, the lack of trades should not be considered a loss. Not yet, at least.
First of all, general manager Rick Hahn deserves credit for trading the three players that he needed to the most. Since the White Sox are out of contention, relievers Matt Thornton and Jesse Crain were of no value to the organization anymore. Both players were not going to be a part of the team next season, and Hahn was able to get whatever he could for them. With Jake Peavy, Hahn knew he had a valuable trade chip. Given that the starting pitching market was so shallow, and that Peavy has had a history of injuries, the White Sox had to move him. By trading Peavy, Hahn had two options. He could either decide to eat some of the money owed to Peavy and receive multiple quality prospects, or he could take lesser prospects and have a willing suitor assume Peavy’s salary. By including Peavy in a three-team deal, Hahn was able to do both. Although the White Sox did not acquire multiple solid prospects in the deal, they did get one potential stud and managed to unload Peavy’s entire contract to Boston. All things considered, the White Sox made out alright with their three trades.
Now, what about the players that were not traded, most notably, Alex Rios? As I have previously said, the White Sox did not have to trade every player of value on their roster. Many of the current players, like Rios, are still under contract through 2014 and beyond which gives the White Sox some flexibility. I understand that many fans might be upset that Rick Hahn was unable to move other veterans on this team, but it is important to note that he can still make some moves. Although the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline has passed, trades can still be completed through waivers up until August 31st. As of tomorrow, just about every player on the roster will be put on waivers, so don’t be surprised to see a few guys get moved by the end of the month. In the coming weeks several other teams’ playoff chances will be more clear, and those teams might decide to add one last piece for the stretch run. In addition, with the Biogenesis scandal suspensions looming, some teams might be looking for some extra help to fill a void in their roster.
As the August 31st deadline approaches, I would expect several teams to have some interest in a few White Sox players. In my opinion, the most likely candidates to get traded are Alex Rios, Matt Lindstrom, Alexei Ramirez, and Alejandro De Aza. Of the four players, I think Lindstrom is probably the most likely to get dealt. The White Sox have a $4 million team option on Lindstrom in 2014 ($500K buyout), so it would make sense for them to move him if they could. Rios, Ramirez, and De Aza are all potentially under control through 2015, but all three players aren’t “young” anymore and could bring back some younger talent in a trade. Of course, if the White Sox don’t make any more moves this season, then they can easily decide to explore trade possibilities during the offseason.
In the end, the worst thing Rick Hahn could do is to make a trade just for the sake of making a trade. At this point, the White Sox need quality trades over quantity of trades. Now that the White Sox have started the rebuilding process, let’s see what happens during August and the offseason.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Rienzo Makes MLB Debut
On Tuesday, White Sox’ pitching prospect Andre Rienzo made his major league debut versus the Cleveland Indians. Rienzo was called up from Triple-A Charlotte to replace the then scratched Jake Peavy from Tuesday’s start. Now that Peavy has been dealt to Boston, Rienzo figures to make several more starts down the stretch.
Andre Rienzo’s MLB debut went about as good as it could have despite not earning a victory. The Brazilian-born righty pitched seven strong innings, giving up three runs (0 ER), on five hits, three walks, and six strikeouts. The performance shouldn’t come as a huge surprise given Rienzo’s production in the minor leagues over the past several seasons. Over the course of seven minor league seasons, Rienzo has pitched 543.2 innings, while compiling a 37-26 record, 584 strikeouts, a 3.46 ERA, and a 1.30 WHIP. Those numbers at the minor league level don’t necessarily scream “ace-potential”, but Rienzo could turn out to be a solid number three starter.
It should be noted that Rienzo does have some baggage in his past. In 2012, he was suspended 50 games for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs after making four starts for High-A Winston-Salem. After his suspension, Rienzo did recover to make 13 starts at Double-A Birmingham and one start at Triple-A Charlotte. Despite the suspension, Rienzo enjoyed his best statistical season in the minors. In 18 starts, Rienzo struck out 113 batters in 103.1 innings pitched, while sporting a 2.53 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Prior to the 2013 season, Rienzo pitched as a member of the Brazilian National Team during the World Baseball Classic. He performed well in his only appearance versus Team Cuba, giving up just two runs, on one hit, four walks, and two strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched.
As mention above, Rienzo will likely take over Jake Peavy’s spot in the rotation for the remainder of the season. The White Sox have nothing to lose by sending him out their every fifth day, so maybe Rienzo can make a case for a spot in the starting rotation next season. It has been a very frustrating year for White Sox’ fans, but Rienzo could provide some reason for hope during the final two months of the season.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Andre Rienzo’s MLB debut went about as good as it could have despite not earning a victory. The Brazilian-born righty pitched seven strong innings, giving up three runs (0 ER), on five hits, three walks, and six strikeouts. The performance shouldn’t come as a huge surprise given Rienzo’s production in the minor leagues over the past several seasons. Over the course of seven minor league seasons, Rienzo has pitched 543.2 innings, while compiling a 37-26 record, 584 strikeouts, a 3.46 ERA, and a 1.30 WHIP. Those numbers at the minor league level don’t necessarily scream “ace-potential”, but Rienzo could turn out to be a solid number three starter.
It should be noted that Rienzo does have some baggage in his past. In 2012, he was suspended 50 games for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs after making four starts for High-A Winston-Salem. After his suspension, Rienzo did recover to make 13 starts at Double-A Birmingham and one start at Triple-A Charlotte. Despite the suspension, Rienzo enjoyed his best statistical season in the minors. In 18 starts, Rienzo struck out 113 batters in 103.1 innings pitched, while sporting a 2.53 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Prior to the 2013 season, Rienzo pitched as a member of the Brazilian National Team during the World Baseball Classic. He performed well in his only appearance versus Team Cuba, giving up just two runs, on one hit, four walks, and two strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched.
As mention above, Rienzo will likely take over Jake Peavy’s spot in the rotation for the remainder of the season. The White Sox have nothing to lose by sending him out their every fifth day, so maybe Rienzo can make a case for a spot in the starting rotation next season. It has been a very frustrating year for White Sox’ fans, but Rienzo could provide some reason for hope during the final two months of the season.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Peavy Traded to Boston
On Tuesday, the Chicago White Sox sent starting pitcher Jake Peavy to the Boston Red Sox in a 3-team, 7-player deal. The Detroit Tigers were the other team involved, sending Avisail Garcia to the White Sox and acquiring infielder Jose Iglesias from Boston.
The official deal:
Chicago White Sox receive – OF Avisail Garica (From Detroit), SS Cleuluis Rondon, P Frank Montas, P JB Wendelken (All three from Boston)
Boston Red Sox receive – P Jake Peavy (From Chicago) and P Bryan Villareal (From Detroit)
Detroit Tigers receive – SS Jose Iglesias (From Detroit)
On the surface, this seems like a pretty good deal for all three teams involved. Boston gets an immediate boost to their starting rotation in Peavy. Detroit receives a young, athletic, and defensive infielder in Iglesias who should be their future shortstop. In fact, he could be starting by the end of the week if Jhonny Peralta is indeed suspended due to his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal. The White Sox add four prospects to their beleaguered farm-system, and are surprisingly sending no cash to Boston. It was speculated that the White Sox would have to eat at least some of the money owed to Peavy, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Of course, the White Sox likely received lesser prospects than they would have if they sent some money to Boston, but the good news is that they are now free of Peavy’s contract. Peavy was set to make $14.5 million next season, so the White Sox can now decide to use that money in other areas.
Now that the deal is complete, it is time to take a look at the players the White Sox have acquired.
Avisail Garcia, 22, is the “gem” of the package, and he immediately becomes one of the White Sox’ best young players. Garcia is no longer technically a prospect since he has lost his “rookie” status by MLB terms, but he was once considered a top prospect prior to this season. Before the start of the 2013 season, MLB.com had Garcia ranked as the 3rd best prospect in the Tigers’ farm system. Garcia has 130 at-bats in 53 career major league games, while batting .269 with two home runs and 13 runs batted in. In 561 career minor league games, Garcia has 2,183 at-bats, while hitting .289, with 43 HR, 269 RBI, 291 R, and 78 SB. In the end, Garcia projects to be an everyday right fielder with a very strong throwing arm, above-average power, and adequate speed. He should be a fixture in the White Sox outfield for at least the next several seasons, as he won’t become a free agent until after the 2018. Garcia has been assigned to AAA Charlotte to begin his career with the organization, but I would imagine that he would be up shortly (especially if Rios is either traded or misses time due to his most recent injury that occurred Tuesday night).
The other three players the White Sox received from Boston are all low-level prospects. I am not going to try and act like I know a lot about these players, so here is some quick info. Shortstop Cleuluis Rondon, 19, is spending his third season in professional baseball. At this point, he appears to be a defensive shortstop and remains at least a few seasons away from the big leagues. Pitcher Frank Montas, 20, might be the most intriguing prospect of the three; as he has reportedly hit 100-mph with his fastball on many occasions and has 96 strikeouts in 85.1 innings pitched. However, with a 5.70 ERA in Class A ball, Montas is still quite a ways from being a major leaguer. Pitcher JB Wendelken, 20, has a 2.81 ERA and 10 saves in 27 appearances. All three prospects are long-shots to be contributors at the major league level. If everything works out, Rondon is a utility infielder, and Montas and Wendelken are quality bullpen arms.
Overall, I think the White Sox did alright, but they could have done better. Don’t get me wrong, because I am a big fan of Avisail Garcia’s potential, but not paying any money to Boston may end up costing the White Sox more than they expected.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
The official deal:
Chicago White Sox receive – OF Avisail Garica (From Detroit), SS Cleuluis Rondon, P Frank Montas, P JB Wendelken (All three from Boston)
Boston Red Sox receive – P Jake Peavy (From Chicago) and P Bryan Villareal (From Detroit)
Detroit Tigers receive – SS Jose Iglesias (From Detroit)
On the surface, this seems like a pretty good deal for all three teams involved. Boston gets an immediate boost to their starting rotation in Peavy. Detroit receives a young, athletic, and defensive infielder in Iglesias who should be their future shortstop. In fact, he could be starting by the end of the week if Jhonny Peralta is indeed suspended due to his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal. The White Sox add four prospects to their beleaguered farm-system, and are surprisingly sending no cash to Boston. It was speculated that the White Sox would have to eat at least some of the money owed to Peavy, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Of course, the White Sox likely received lesser prospects than they would have if they sent some money to Boston, but the good news is that they are now free of Peavy’s contract. Peavy was set to make $14.5 million next season, so the White Sox can now decide to use that money in other areas.
Now that the deal is complete, it is time to take a look at the players the White Sox have acquired.
Avisail Garcia, 22, is the “gem” of the package, and he immediately becomes one of the White Sox’ best young players. Garcia is no longer technically a prospect since he has lost his “rookie” status by MLB terms, but he was once considered a top prospect prior to this season. Before the start of the 2013 season, MLB.com had Garcia ranked as the 3rd best prospect in the Tigers’ farm system. Garcia has 130 at-bats in 53 career major league games, while batting .269 with two home runs and 13 runs batted in. In 561 career minor league games, Garcia has 2,183 at-bats, while hitting .289, with 43 HR, 269 RBI, 291 R, and 78 SB. In the end, Garcia projects to be an everyday right fielder with a very strong throwing arm, above-average power, and adequate speed. He should be a fixture in the White Sox outfield for at least the next several seasons, as he won’t become a free agent until after the 2018. Garcia has been assigned to AAA Charlotte to begin his career with the organization, but I would imagine that he would be up shortly (especially if Rios is either traded or misses time due to his most recent injury that occurred Tuesday night).
The other three players the White Sox received from Boston are all low-level prospects. I am not going to try and act like I know a lot about these players, so here is some quick info. Shortstop Cleuluis Rondon, 19, is spending his third season in professional baseball. At this point, he appears to be a defensive shortstop and remains at least a few seasons away from the big leagues. Pitcher Frank Montas, 20, might be the most intriguing prospect of the three; as he has reportedly hit 100-mph with his fastball on many occasions and has 96 strikeouts in 85.1 innings pitched. However, with a 5.70 ERA in Class A ball, Montas is still quite a ways from being a major leaguer. Pitcher JB Wendelken, 20, has a 2.81 ERA and 10 saves in 27 appearances. All three prospects are long-shots to be contributors at the major league level. If everything works out, Rondon is a utility infielder, and Montas and Wendelken are quality bullpen arms.
Overall, I think the White Sox did alright, but they could have done better. Don’t get me wrong, because I am a big fan of Avisail Garcia’s potential, but not paying any money to Boston may end up costing the White Sox more than they expected.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Crain Traded to Rays
On Monday, the Chicago White Sox traded reliever Jesse Crain to the Tampa Bay Rays. In exchange, the White Sox will receive either a player or players to be named later or cash. Shortly after the trade was made official, there were rumors that the player or players the Rays would send to the White Sox would be dependent on how much Crain pitched for the Rays for the remainder of the season, but that doesn’t appear to case. As it turns out, the compensation for Crain will be determined over the course of the next few weeks. Since Crain is dealing with a shoulder injury and is currently on the disabled list, the White Sox likely won’t receive as much in return as they would have with a healthy Crain. It has been reported that the Rays have given general manager Rick Hahn a list of players to choose from. It is unclear at this time which players Hahn has to choose from as he did not comment on the situation.
Obviously, since we don’t know what kind of value the White Sox got in return for Crain, it is impossible to judge this deal at this time. For now, it should just be considered a slight victory that the Sox were able to even trade Crain due to his injury. The Rays are certainly taking a risk in acquiring Crain for the final weeks of the season, but he could have a tremendous impact provided he stays healthy. In 38 appearances, Crain has pitched 36.1 innings, while owning a 0.74 ERA and 1.15 WHIP on the season. He also has racked up 46 strikeouts to just 11. Those numbers are good for a career high 4.18 SO/BB ratio and ties his career high 11.3 SO/9 mark that he set in 2012.
In the best case scenario, the Rays have added a top-tier set-up man to their bullpen, and the White Sox will be happy to come away with anything that can help them in future.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Obviously, since we don’t know what kind of value the White Sox got in return for Crain, it is impossible to judge this deal at this time. For now, it should just be considered a slight victory that the Sox were able to even trade Crain due to his injury. The Rays are certainly taking a risk in acquiring Crain for the final weeks of the season, but he could have a tremendous impact provided he stays healthy. In 38 appearances, Crain has pitched 36.1 innings, while owning a 0.74 ERA and 1.15 WHIP on the season. He also has racked up 46 strikeouts to just 11. Those numbers are good for a career high 4.18 SO/BB ratio and ties his career high 11.3 SO/9 mark that he set in 2012.
In the best case scenario, the Rays have added a top-tier set-up man to their bullpen, and the White Sox will be happy to come away with anything that can help them in future.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Trade Candidate: Alexei Ramirez
Alexei Ramirez – Shortstop
The Cuban Missile has not been a player mentioned in a ton of trade rumors initially, but lately there has been some interest. Most notably, CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman, reported yesterday that the Pittsburgh Pirates may be looking at acquiring Ramirez. Pittsburgh has an obvious need at shortstop with a current platoon of Jordy Mercer and Clint Barmes, but it is still surprising to hear their name being mentioned as possible suitors. Ramirez is under contract through 2015 ($9.5 million in 2014 and $10 million in 2015), and he also has a club option for $10 million in 2016 ($1 million buyout). While the Pirates may be interested, I am not sure if they can afford Ramirez for the next two-plus years. Another team that might be interested in Ramirez is the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals currently have Pete Kozma and Daniel Descalso playing shortstop, but their numbers are pretty underwhelming.
Although Ramirez would be a nice addition to a team in need of a shortstop, it should be noted that his offensive production is down drastically from previous years. Ramirez is currently hitting .286, but he has just one home run, 21 runs batted in, and 36 runs scored. The biggest asset to Ramirez’s offensive game is his speed. Alexei has racked up 20 stolen bases in 25 attempts, and he is surprisingly one steal away from a new career-high for a season at age 31. For years, Ramirez’s best overall tool was his defensive ability. This season, however, he is on-pace to have his worst season defensively with a .963 fielding percentage.
Nevertheless, Ramirez is still a quality shortstop. His power isn’t what it used to be, but he is still hitting for a high enough average. If Ramirez can fix some of his defensive issues that he had during the first half of the season, then he would worth the money and prospects for a contending team looking to acquire him for the next few seasons.
In the end, Ramirez is another guy that the White Sox could trade, but they don’t have to unless the deal is right.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
The Cuban Missile has not been a player mentioned in a ton of trade rumors initially, but lately there has been some interest. Most notably, CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman, reported yesterday that the Pittsburgh Pirates may be looking at acquiring Ramirez. Pittsburgh has an obvious need at shortstop with a current platoon of Jordy Mercer and Clint Barmes, but it is still surprising to hear their name being mentioned as possible suitors. Ramirez is under contract through 2015 ($9.5 million in 2014 and $10 million in 2015), and he also has a club option for $10 million in 2016 ($1 million buyout). While the Pirates may be interested, I am not sure if they can afford Ramirez for the next two-plus years. Another team that might be interested in Ramirez is the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals currently have Pete Kozma and Daniel Descalso playing shortstop, but their numbers are pretty underwhelming.
Although Ramirez would be a nice addition to a team in need of a shortstop, it should be noted that his offensive production is down drastically from previous years. Ramirez is currently hitting .286, but he has just one home run, 21 runs batted in, and 36 runs scored. The biggest asset to Ramirez’s offensive game is his speed. Alexei has racked up 20 stolen bases in 25 attempts, and he is surprisingly one steal away from a new career-high for a season at age 31. For years, Ramirez’s best overall tool was his defensive ability. This season, however, he is on-pace to have his worst season defensively with a .963 fielding percentage.
Nevertheless, Ramirez is still a quality shortstop. His power isn’t what it used to be, but he is still hitting for a high enough average. If Ramirez can fix some of his defensive issues that he had during the first half of the season, then he would worth the money and prospects for a contending team looking to acquire him for the next few seasons.
In the end, Ramirez is another guy that the White Sox could trade, but they don’t have to unless the deal is right.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Trade Candidate: Jake Peavy
Jake Peavy – Starting Pitcher
With Jake Peavy set to come off of the disabled list on Saturday, now would be the perfect time to take a look at his trade value. For Peavy, the main component of his success is health related. When he is healthy, Peavy is a top of the rotation starter and one of the better pitchers in baseball. Unfortunately for Jake, he has battled through a variety of injuries over the past several seasons that has hampered his production. This season has been no different as Peavy suffered a broken rib that has left him sidelined since June 4th. Now that the White Sox are sellers, Peavy will likely have two starts to showcase his talents before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.
Therein lies the problem. Exactly how many teams are going to be interested in Peavy given his health concerns? It should be noted a broken rib is less worrisome than an elbow or shoulder injury, but the risks are still there. If Peavy can pitch effectively and stay healthy in these next two starts, then I would imagine at least a few contending teams would be interested in acquiring the veteran right-hander. Considering that Peavy is under contract through 2014 ($14.5 million next season), the Sox might be able to come away with a decent package of prospects if they decide to move him before the deadline. Like Alex Rios, the White Sox do not have to trade Peavy this season since he is under contract. If there is not a good enough offer on the table, then the Sox could easily decide to hold onto Peavy. By doing so, the Sox could then either move Peavy during the offseason or even before next year’s trade deadline. Furthermore, at $14.5 million, the Sox may also feel that they are better off trying to contend next season with Peavy as a member of the starting rotation. With the possibility of Chris Sale, John Danks, Jose Quintana, and Hector Santiago all coming back, the Sox would have a very solid pitching staff if it included Peavy. If that is the case, then the Sox could conceivably be in a position to contend provided the offense gets revamped between now and next season.
Either way, the White Sox still have a valuable commodity in Jake Peavy, and it will be interesting to see what general manager Rick Hahn decides to with him.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
With Jake Peavy set to come off of the disabled list on Saturday, now would be the perfect time to take a look at his trade value. For Peavy, the main component of his success is health related. When he is healthy, Peavy is a top of the rotation starter and one of the better pitchers in baseball. Unfortunately for Jake, he has battled through a variety of injuries over the past several seasons that has hampered his production. This season has been no different as Peavy suffered a broken rib that has left him sidelined since June 4th. Now that the White Sox are sellers, Peavy will likely have two starts to showcase his talents before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.
Therein lies the problem. Exactly how many teams are going to be interested in Peavy given his health concerns? It should be noted a broken rib is less worrisome than an elbow or shoulder injury, but the risks are still there. If Peavy can pitch effectively and stay healthy in these next two starts, then I would imagine at least a few contending teams would be interested in acquiring the veteran right-hander. Considering that Peavy is under contract through 2014 ($14.5 million next season), the Sox might be able to come away with a decent package of prospects if they decide to move him before the deadline. Like Alex Rios, the White Sox do not have to trade Peavy this season since he is under contract. If there is not a good enough offer on the table, then the Sox could easily decide to hold onto Peavy. By doing so, the Sox could then either move Peavy during the offseason or even before next year’s trade deadline. Furthermore, at $14.5 million, the Sox may also feel that they are better off trying to contend next season with Peavy as a member of the starting rotation. With the possibility of Chris Sale, John Danks, Jose Quintana, and Hector Santiago all coming back, the Sox would have a very solid pitching staff if it included Peavy. If that is the case, then the Sox could conceivably be in a position to contend provided the offense gets revamped between now and next season.
Either way, the White Sox still have a valuable commodity in Jake Peavy, and it will be interesting to see what general manager Rick Hahn decides to with him.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Thornton Traded to Boston
On Friday, the Chicago White Sox traded veteran left-handed reliever Matt Thornton to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league outfielder Brandon Jacobs. The deal should come as no surprise with Thornton in the midst of the final year of his contract. Thornton’s contract does have a club option for 2014 of $6 million or a $1 million buyout, but that is now Boston’s problem. However, the White Sox did send cash along with Thornton with the intention of that money being used towards his buyout.
With the trade now completed, Thornton’s career on the south side has officially ended. Through his 7-plus seasons with the White Sox, Thornton compiled a 3.28 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, while amassing 486 strikeouts in 463.1 innings pitched. In all, Thornton’s tenure in Chicago was very successful. He ranks first all-time in franchise holds (164) and fourth in appearances (512).
Brandon Jacobs comes over from Boston as the Red Sox’ 11th best prospect according to MLB.com. Jacobs has an athletic body-type at 6’1’’ and 225 lbs, and he was committed to play football at the Auburn University prior to being drafted in the 10th round by Boston in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. Jacobs had a slow start to his professional baseball career, appearing in just 72 games during the 2009-2010 seasons. However, in 2011, Jacobs enjoyed a breakout season in Single A by hitting .303 with 17 HR, 80 RBI, 75 R, and 30 SB in 115 games. That performance earned him a promotion to High-A ball in 2012, but the youngster took a slight step back. Jacobs saw his average slip to .252 with 13 HR, 61 RBI, 62 R, and 17 SB in 114 games. This season, the Red Sox opted to keep Jacobs in High-A ball to start the season, before promoting him to Double-A just a few days ago. Through 84 games, Jacobs appears to be producing similar numbers to his 2012 totals. He is currently hitting .247 with 11 HR, 44 RBI, 46 R, and 10 SB.
While Jacobs is “already” 22 years old, he still has some time to develop in a more patient and better contact hitter. If that were to occur, the White Sox would be more than happy to have 20-20 potential player at one of their corner outfield spots in the future.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
With the trade now completed, Thornton’s career on the south side has officially ended. Through his 7-plus seasons with the White Sox, Thornton compiled a 3.28 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, while amassing 486 strikeouts in 463.1 innings pitched. In all, Thornton’s tenure in Chicago was very successful. He ranks first all-time in franchise holds (164) and fourth in appearances (512).
Brandon Jacobs comes over from Boston as the Red Sox’ 11th best prospect according to MLB.com. Jacobs has an athletic body-type at 6’1’’ and 225 lbs, and he was committed to play football at the Auburn University prior to being drafted in the 10th round by Boston in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. Jacobs had a slow start to his professional baseball career, appearing in just 72 games during the 2009-2010 seasons. However, in 2011, Jacobs enjoyed a breakout season in Single A by hitting .303 with 17 HR, 80 RBI, 75 R, and 30 SB in 115 games. That performance earned him a promotion to High-A ball in 2012, but the youngster took a slight step back. Jacobs saw his average slip to .252 with 13 HR, 61 RBI, 62 R, and 17 SB in 114 games. This season, the Red Sox opted to keep Jacobs in High-A ball to start the season, before promoting him to Double-A just a few days ago. Through 84 games, Jacobs appears to be producing similar numbers to his 2012 totals. He is currently hitting .247 with 11 HR, 44 RBI, 46 R, and 10 SB.
While Jacobs is “already” 22 years old, he still has some time to develop in a more patient and better contact hitter. If that were to occur, the White Sox would be more than happy to have 20-20 potential player at one of their corner outfield spots in the future.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Phegley Gets the Call
The Chicago White Sox have recalled catcher Josh Phegley to make his major league debut tonight versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Phegley will bat 8th in the lineup tonight, as he and Tyler Flowers figure to platoon the catching position. After a slow start to his minor league career, Phegley has developed into a force offensively. In 61 games, Phegley has hit .316, with 15 HR, 41 RBI, and 39 R. In addition to producing runs, Phegley has also displayed some patience at the plate by striking out only 38 times. Obviously, if Phegley can produce anything close to those numbers at the major league level, then the White Sox will have found their future every-day catcher.
While Phegley has had a tremendous year to date, it should be noted that he was not considered a top prospect heading into the season. Part of that may have been as a result of having relatively mediocre stats during his first four seasons in the minors. However, scouts have never been “overwhelmed” by his skill set. MLB.com rated Phegley as the White Sox’ 15th best prospect prior to the 2013 season, and that number could be even more misleading due to the Sox’ below average farm system.
Here is MLB.com’s assessment of Phegley:
“Scouting Grades* (present/future): Hit: 3/5 | Power: 3/4 | Run: 3/3 | Arm: 5/5 | Field: 4/5 | Overall: 3/5
It's been a long road for the University of Indiana product, but he's on the brink of helping out at the big league level. Phegley missed a good amount of his first full season because of a blood disorder known as ITP. He's stayed healthy the past two seasons, enabling him to reach Triple-A in the process. Phegley's tools may not jump out at you, but he's shown the ability to shut down the running game, using average arm strength and a quick release to throw out 48 percent of would-be basestealers in his career. His receiving and blocking skills are fringy, but he gets the job done. He does have the chance to hit a little with some extra-base pop, though there hasn't been much in-game power for him thus far. He might be a backup when all is said and done, but the White Sox don't have a lot of depth at this position in front or behind him, so he could get the opportunity to make a bigger impact.”
With that being said, sometimes a player finally develops and reaches his full potential. At age 25, Phegley is not a “young” prospect, but that also means he may have just reached his peak. If that is the case, the Sox will have a player about ready to reach the prime of his career.
Even though Phegley appears to be very polished and “major league” ready, White Sox fans should exercise some patience with their new catcher. Let’s face it; barring a miracle, the White Sox are out of playoff contention. If Phegley gets off to a slow start, then let’s wait a few weeks before we start to bury the guy. He has been called-up to the majors to get acclimated to the big leagues and to show the White Sox what he can do at his level. He has not been brought here to be the “Savior”. Let the kid play, let him get comfortable, and hopefully he will start to showcase some of the talents that he has shown at Triple-A this season. White Sox fans don’t have a lot to look forward, but maybe this will at least help ease some of the boredom.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
While Phegley has had a tremendous year to date, it should be noted that he was not considered a top prospect heading into the season. Part of that may have been as a result of having relatively mediocre stats during his first four seasons in the minors. However, scouts have never been “overwhelmed” by his skill set. MLB.com rated Phegley as the White Sox’ 15th best prospect prior to the 2013 season, and that number could be even more misleading due to the Sox’ below average farm system.
Here is MLB.com’s assessment of Phegley:
“Scouting Grades* (present/future): Hit: 3/5 | Power: 3/4 | Run: 3/3 | Arm: 5/5 | Field: 4/5 | Overall: 3/5
It's been a long road for the University of Indiana product, but he's on the brink of helping out at the big league level. Phegley missed a good amount of his first full season because of a blood disorder known as ITP. He's stayed healthy the past two seasons, enabling him to reach Triple-A in the process. Phegley's tools may not jump out at you, but he's shown the ability to shut down the running game, using average arm strength and a quick release to throw out 48 percent of would-be basestealers in his career. His receiving and blocking skills are fringy, but he gets the job done. He does have the chance to hit a little with some extra-base pop, though there hasn't been much in-game power for him thus far. He might be a backup when all is said and done, but the White Sox don't have a lot of depth at this position in front or behind him, so he could get the opportunity to make a bigger impact.”
With that being said, sometimes a player finally develops and reaches his full potential. At age 25, Phegley is not a “young” prospect, but that also means he may have just reached his peak. If that is the case, the Sox will have a player about ready to reach the prime of his career.
Even though Phegley appears to be very polished and “major league” ready, White Sox fans should exercise some patience with their new catcher. Let’s face it; barring a miracle, the White Sox are out of playoff contention. If Phegley gets off to a slow start, then let’s wait a few weeks before we start to bury the guy. He has been called-up to the majors to get acclimated to the big leagues and to show the White Sox what he can do at his level. He has not been brought here to be the “Savior”. Let the kid play, let him get comfortable, and hopefully he will start to showcase some of the talents that he has shown at Triple-A this season. White Sox fans don’t have a lot to look forward, but maybe this will at least help ease some of the boredom.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Trade Candidate: Alex Rios
Alex Rios – Outfielder
When the White Sox acquired Alex Rios from the Toronto Blue Jays in August of 2009, the deal seemed to be a bust during Rios’ 41-game stint on the south side. Rios hit a putrid .199, with 3 HR, 9 RBI, 11 R, and 5 SB to finish out the season. In 2010, Rios rebounded to hit .284, with 21 HR, 88 RBI, 89 R, and 34 SB. In 2011, Rios took a step back and hit just .227, with 13 HR, 44 RBI, 64 R, and 11 SB. In 2012, Rios had a career-year while hitting .304, with 25 HR, 91 RBI, 93 R, and 23 SB. As you can see, Rios has had a rollercoaster career while being a member of the White Sox.
This year, despite the White Sox’ offensive struggles, Rios has been one of the few consistent performers in the lineup. Rios has enjoyed a solid season, hitting .271, with 11 HR, 38 RBI, 45 R, 16 SB. Any contending team would be wise to inquire about what it would take to add the veteran outfielder to their team. Out of all the White Sox’ trading chips, Rios would probably bring the most value back in a deal. Rios is still in the prime of his career at age 32, and because of that he should have at least two or three more seasons of peak performance. In addition, Rios is also under contract through 2014 ($12.5 million) and possibly through 2015 with a $13.5 million club option. Both of those salaries are reasonable enough for a team to be willing to part with a collection of top prospects to obtain Rios for 2.5 years.
Although the White Sox are listening to offers and actively shopping Rios, they do not have to trade him. Since Rios is still under contract, the White Sox would be wise to wait for the best possible deal. If no team is willing to part with a few of their top prospects, then the White Sox could wait until the offseason, or even next season to make a deal. Obviously, Rios’ value will diminish with each day that he is not traded, so now would be an optimum time for general manager Rick Hahn to pull the trigger if the right offer is on the table.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
When the White Sox acquired Alex Rios from the Toronto Blue Jays in August of 2009, the deal seemed to be a bust during Rios’ 41-game stint on the south side. Rios hit a putrid .199, with 3 HR, 9 RBI, 11 R, and 5 SB to finish out the season. In 2010, Rios rebounded to hit .284, with 21 HR, 88 RBI, 89 R, and 34 SB. In 2011, Rios took a step back and hit just .227, with 13 HR, 44 RBI, 64 R, and 11 SB. In 2012, Rios had a career-year while hitting .304, with 25 HR, 91 RBI, 93 R, and 23 SB. As you can see, Rios has had a rollercoaster career while being a member of the White Sox.
This year, despite the White Sox’ offensive struggles, Rios has been one of the few consistent performers in the lineup. Rios has enjoyed a solid season, hitting .271, with 11 HR, 38 RBI, 45 R, 16 SB. Any contending team would be wise to inquire about what it would take to add the veteran outfielder to their team. Out of all the White Sox’ trading chips, Rios would probably bring the most value back in a deal. Rios is still in the prime of his career at age 32, and because of that he should have at least two or three more seasons of peak performance. In addition, Rios is also under contract through 2014 ($12.5 million) and possibly through 2015 with a $13.5 million club option. Both of those salaries are reasonable enough for a team to be willing to part with a collection of top prospects to obtain Rios for 2.5 years.
Although the White Sox are listening to offers and actively shopping Rios, they do not have to trade him. Since Rios is still under contract, the White Sox would be wise to wait for the best possible deal. If no team is willing to part with a few of their top prospects, then the White Sox could wait until the offseason, or even next season to make a deal. Obviously, Rios’ value will diminish with each day that he is not traded, so now would be an optimum time for general manager Rick Hahn to pull the trigger if the right offer is on the table.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Trade Candidate: Jesse Crain
With the Chicago White Sox now 15 games under .500 and 10.5 games out of first place, it is now time to start looking toward the future. Today’s blog will be the first of a series of posts designed to examine some of the White Sox’ most attractive trade candidates and prospects. First up, Jesse Crain.
Jesse Crain – Right-handed reliever
Jesse Crain came to the White Sox as a free-agent prior to the 2011 season. The veteran set-up man signed a three-year, $13 million deal and has been a valuable member of the Sox’ bullpen ever since arriving on the south side. Since 2011, Crain has owned a 2.10 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 156 appearances. During those appearances, Crain has compiled 176 strikeouts during just 150 innings of work. Needless to say, Crain’s tenure in Chicago has been a success.
However, since the White Sox are no longer in playoff contention, Crain’s name has come up as a very likely trade candidate. Pitching in the final year of his contract, Crain has enjoyed his best season yet. Crain currently owns a 0.74 ERA and 1.15 WHIP on the season, and he now has 46 strikeouts to just 11 walks in 36.2 innings pitched. Those numbers are good for a career high 4.18 SO/BB ratio and ties his career high 11.3 SO/9 mark that he set in 2012. At age 31 (32 on July 5th), Crain still has a few good years left in his right arm and many teams will be vying for his services as the MLB trade deadline approaches.
Since Crain is set to become a free-agent after this season, many teams may not be willing to give up a lot for 2-3 months of a reliever. But, if Crain can help solidify a contending team’s bullpen, then the Sox might be able to find a team willing to over-pay to obtain the righty. Looking back at past trades, one trade stands out as being a comparable deal. In 2011, the San Diego Padres traded late-inning reliever Mike Adams to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland. Both Erlin and Wieland were considered two of the Rangers’ top pitching prospects, but they were willing to part with the pair to acquire Adams because he was still under contract through the 2012 season. Since Crain doesn’t have that extra year of control, the White Sox probably won’t be able to get two top prospects in a deal, but they should be able to acquire one top prospect. If the Sox want to get top value for Crain, they should be looking to trade him sooner, rather than later. A contending team might be willing to part with a better prospect if they can have Crain for three months, as opposed to just the final two months of the season.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
Jesse Crain – Right-handed reliever
Jesse Crain came to the White Sox as a free-agent prior to the 2011 season. The veteran set-up man signed a three-year, $13 million deal and has been a valuable member of the Sox’ bullpen ever since arriving on the south side. Since 2011, Crain has owned a 2.10 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 156 appearances. During those appearances, Crain has compiled 176 strikeouts during just 150 innings of work. Needless to say, Crain’s tenure in Chicago has been a success.
However, since the White Sox are no longer in playoff contention, Crain’s name has come up as a very likely trade candidate. Pitching in the final year of his contract, Crain has enjoyed his best season yet. Crain currently owns a 0.74 ERA and 1.15 WHIP on the season, and he now has 46 strikeouts to just 11 walks in 36.2 innings pitched. Those numbers are good for a career high 4.18 SO/BB ratio and ties his career high 11.3 SO/9 mark that he set in 2012. At age 31 (32 on July 5th), Crain still has a few good years left in his right arm and many teams will be vying for his services as the MLB trade deadline approaches.
Since Crain is set to become a free-agent after this season, many teams may not be willing to give up a lot for 2-3 months of a reliever. But, if Crain can help solidify a contending team’s bullpen, then the Sox might be able to find a team willing to over-pay to obtain the righty. Looking back at past trades, one trade stands out as being a comparable deal. In 2011, the San Diego Padres traded late-inning reliever Mike Adams to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland. Both Erlin and Wieland were considered two of the Rangers’ top pitching prospects, but they were willing to part with the pair to acquire Adams because he was still under contract through the 2012 season. Since Crain doesn’t have that extra year of control, the White Sox probably won’t be able to get two top prospects in a deal, but they should be able to acquire one top prospect. If the Sox want to get top value for Crain, they should be looking to trade him sooner, rather than later. A contending team might be willing to part with a better prospect if they can have Crain for three months, as opposed to just the final two months of the season.
-Eric Tichelbaut
Follow me on Twitter @etichel07
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