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2024 Spring Training Update: Cease, Grifol, Crochet

Originally posted on Sox On 35th | By Jordan Lazowski | Last updated Feb 14, 2024 9:31 PM ET

Pitchers and catchers reported for the White Sox today, meaning Spring Training is officially underway!

While we wait for the full team to report in a few days, here are some early headlines from Dylan Cease, Pedro Grifol, Garrett Crochet, and others to get you started for the year!

Dylan Cease talks trade rumors, ramp up

The ace of the current White Sox staff, Dylan Cease did not shy away from discussions on the rumors surrounding his name all offseason. While he would love to play for a contender, Cease appears to be in a “good spot” for the upcoming year and was quite complimentary about Chicago as a city.

He also mentioned there have been no extension talks with the White Sox to this point.

Cease: "I feel great. This is the first offseason in a while where I wasn’t getting some triceps soreness and little aches. I got to do a full ramp up. I hit all my numbers I wanted to hit. I feel like I’m in a really good spot."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 14, 2024

“A lot of that’s out of my control,” Cease said, asked about his future. “At the end of the day, wherever I have to go, I do just want to perform. It would be great to be here. I have a lot of great relationships here. The city of Chicago is awesome.”
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) February 14, 2024

Garrett Crochet to continue to work as a starter

The White Sox’s usage of Garrett Crochet hasn’t been consistent with where he was drafted. As an 11th overall pick, the club has yet to give him much of an opportunity as a starter – though, his injury history hasn’t helped that.

At current, however, Crochet is still being considered a starter coming out of camp and is “ecstatic” about the opportunity to prove that is where he belongs after several years in the bullpen:

“I feel like it’s the most value I can bring to the team. And I feel like that’s kind of the prized pony of major-league baseball. Everybody wants to be able to start, not everyone can do it. I have a lot of self-belief I can do it, so I wanted a chance to prove that.”
– Garrett Crochet (via LaMond Pope)

White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet ‘ecstatic’ as he aims for a spot in starting rotation: https://t.co/KoxjDhIa5t
— LaMond Pope (@lamondpope) February 14, 2024

PECOTA projections “motivating” for Pedro Grifol

In case you missed it, Baseball Prospectus’s PECOTA projections were released last week, and let’s just say they weren’t bullish on the White Sox’s chances this year. Pedro Grifol has chosen to embrace this as a motivation for a team with a lot to prove.

Pedro Grifol said the PECOTA projection saying they have 0.0% chance to make the playoffs is “motivating,” and “is good to hang on the wall.” pic.twitter.com/CXfMnKh2Kt
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) February 14, 2024

Pedro Grifol saw the Sox were projected to have a 0.0 percent chance of making the playoffs this season. Sounds like there’s already some bulletin-board material at Sox camp. pic.twitter.com/OzGOAAINLS
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) February 14, 2024

Other News and Notes

Cease on Chicago: "It’s a super clean big city. Some big cities you feel like everything is on top of each other where Chicago is just spread out. In summer, it’s perfect. Food is great. Museums, all kind of stuff to do. The Art museum is awesome. Chicago is a great city."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 14, 2024