White Sox building momentum as Winter Meetings wrap

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The White Sox exited the 2023 Winter Meetings with a free-agent starting pitching addition in Erick Fedde (two years, $15 million) and with staff ace Dylan Cease still in place.

If opposing teams are interested in adding Cease, who has another two years of contractual control, the asking price will be high. That message was delivered by general manager Chris Getz during various conversations over the past four days.

“I don’t know if the message needed to be put out there, quite honestly,” Getz said. “Everyone knows how impactful Dylan Cease is in this league.

“But you have a certain threshold as an organization on a return on someone like Dylan Cease. If there’s an opportunity to strengthen our club and plug some holes, which we need to do and continue to look for opportunities to do that, we have to consider it.”

BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS
1. Pitching
Pitching remains the high priority, with starting pitching being the prime focus. Getz is looking to build a solid rotation, but he'll need to go well beyond that front five, even with young pitchers such as Nick Nastrini and Jake Eder factored into the mix.

“We’ve got some innings to cover,” Getz said. “We’re going to try to go out there to get the best pitchers we can within the means that we have.”

2. Catching
Korey Lee is in place and could serve as their No. 1, and the White Sox have another catcher who is not far removed from the mix in No. 3 prospect Edgar Quero, a switch-hitting 20-year-old. But the White Sox are not fully finished at this spot.

Martín Maldonado, known as a consummate force behind the plate and a great clubhouse player, is a possibility. The veteran worked closely with Lee in Houston and manager Pedro Grifol in Kansas City.

3. Right field
Getz reiterated on Tuesday how Oscar Colás is better served at Triple-A Charlotte, at least at the season’s outset.

“Do I see him being down there the whole season? Hopefully not,” Getz said. “We know what he’s capable of doing.”

Gavin Sheets was another in-house right-field candidate brought up by Getz.

“We certainly have internal options,” Getz said. “Just like other areas around the diamond, defense is something that we’re focusing on. Once again, we’re having conversations, whether it be with other clubs or free agents to find a way to improve, just like other positions as well. Certainly, outfield is a priority, too.”

RULE 5 DRAFT
Left-handed pitcher Shane Drohan was selected from the Red Sox organization in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday. Drohan, 24, struck out 129 over 123 innings last season between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. He’s viewed long term as a starter, but has flexibility to work in any role in 2024.

“That’s what made him attractive. He doesn’t necessarily have to be in the rotation,” Getz said. “There are enough weapons there with his pitch mix -- and that’s something we identified, as well, is his attack plan. We feel like there’s some tweaks to it to really optimize what he has.”

The White Sox 40-man roster is at 40.

REINSDORF MEETS WITH NASHVILLE MAYOR
White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf met with Nashville mayor Freddie O'Connell during the Winter Meetings, the team confirmed.

Topics discussed are not being disclosed.

“We won’t have any additional comment,” White Sox vice president of communications Scott Reifert said.

The White Sox lease at Guaranteed Rate Field expires after the 2029 season. Nashville was floated as a relocation option in an article by Crain’s Chicago Business, but Reinsdorf refuted the idea during an Aug. 31 meeting with the media.

“But it's obvious, if we have six years left, I think that's what it is, we've got to decide, ‘What's the future going to be?’” Reinsdorf said. “We'll get to it, but I never threatened to move out. We haven't even begun to have discussions with the Sports Authority, which we'll have to do soon.”

GM’S BOTTOM LINE
Roster construction has gone from talk and planning to momentum built for Getz through the five-player return in the Aaron Bummer trade, and the free-agent acquisitions of shortstop Paul DeJong and Fedde.

“We were able to get some things done,” Getz said. “We got someone for our rotation, and we’ve got a weapon here with our Rule 5 pick. We laid a foundation for the potential of bringing guys in in certain capacities. I know a lot of people are disappointed more business would have been conducted here around the league. But we’re still moving the needle.

“There’s a lot of motivation, but at the end of the day, it’s about making a sound decision. You’re not going to force it … You’re thinking about the 2024 club and certainly the seasons after.”