What to watch around the White Sox this spring

This story was excerpted from Scott Merkin's White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The White Sox have storylines, also known at times as questions, ranging throughout their 2024 lineup and their 40-man roster. Let’s not overlook their Minor League system, either.

There are topics of the positive variety, such as whether center fielder Luis Robert Jr. can raise his game yet another level above his elite 2023 All-Star performance. Some are a bit familiar, such as can Yoán Moncada and Eloy Jiménez stay healthy and fulfill their vast potential?

• All the info on White Sox Spring Training

How about one relatable for pretty much every team when talking about top prospect Colson Montgomery’s chances to break camp with the big league team. But here are three storylines I’ve picked to watch during Spring Training, with White Sox pitchers and catchers reporting on Wednesday.

Can we call it a rebuild?

Ah, yes. It’s the familiar question since Chris Getz took over as general manager: Are the White Sox going through a rebuild or a retooling? I promise not to address this topic again, as in the long run, the proof will be in the process and eventually the results.

This is a rebuild for the White Sox, although not a rebuild of the "tearing down the team completely" variety. It actually began at the 2023 Trade Deadline under then-general manager Rick Hahn and executive vice president Ken Williams, and it has continued under Getz. It had to happen after the previous rebuild netted just two playoff victories and then finished with last season’s debacle.

Let’s call it more of a reconfiguration or a redevelopment, as Getz and his front office are putting together a White Sox way going beyond the field. They aren’t exactly giving it away this year (at least not publicly), although as I stated above, a plethora of questions have to be answered in the affirmative for good things to happen. At the very least, this group should work well together and consistently catch the baseball.

Will Dylan Cease start on Opening Day?

That decision already has been made by manager Pedro Grifol, with the 28-year-old tabbed for his second straight Opening Day honor on March 28 at home against the Tigers. Getz seemed to reaffirm that idea during his 35-minute Zoom with the media on Monday.

“At this point, Dylan Cease, I expect him to be our Opening Day starter,” Getz said. “He's had an awesome offseason.”

There’s, of course, one minor caveat to this special trip to the mound, in that Cease might not be with the team. Trade rumors started swirling right after the World Series around the right-hander with two years of contractual control, and those rumors are certain to follow him into Camelback Ranch.

Trades don’t happen as often during Spring Training, although Getz did state that he’s open to anything if the right deal materializes to improve the team. He’s equally as comfortable having Cease at the top of his rotation.

“I've been in contact with him regularly and I know his name has been out there publicly with potential trades, and unsurprisingly it hasn't affected him,” Getz said. “He's so professional and just focused on the task at hand.

“I look forward to seeing him in a couple of days. I certainly feel like he's well positioned to have an excellent year.”

Garrett Crochet's pitching endeavor

Crochet, the talented left-handed hurler, is being viewed as a starting pitcher. That much was established long before the start of Spring Training.

With Crochet having a total of 73 Major League innings out of the bullpen on his resume over three professional seasons, opening in the Triple-A Charlotte or Double-A Birmingham rotation to build up innings made sense, and it was mentioned strictly as a possibility at one point by Getz. I didn’t include Crochet on my first Opening Day roster projection with that in mind, but he’s undoubtedly one of the most talented pitchers on the staff, and he clearly belongs in the Majors if it’s the White Sox choice on his starter’s path.

“I anticipate him being on our Major League club,” Getz said. “But I also don't want to close the door on what's best for Garrett Crochet.”

A chance even exists for Crochet to break camp as a starter, again, if “it’s best for Garrett,” according to Getz. The 24-year-old has dealt with injuries, including Tommy John surgery costing him 2022 and part of '23, and he doesn’t have many starter’s innings under his belt at any level. So, the White Sox will be careful.

“He's a special arm,” Getz said. “He's shown three pitches in the past, so he's got the starter kit to be a starting pitcher. Now it's just a matter of going out and executing and figure out how to navigate games. I look forward to seeing how it plays out. If we need to make adjustments along the way, we'll do that.”