This afternoon, Chris Getz spoke to the media for the first time in a while. He addressed a variety of topics including updates on a Dylan Cease trade, their plan for right field, Garrett Crochet’s 2024 role, and much more.
Here’s a recap of everything you may have missed!
We’ve heard a little bit of everything in recent weeks, and depending on who you trust the most among MLB insiders, you likely have varied opinions on where Dylan Cease trade negotiations might be. If you take only Getz’s word, however, you’d probably believe negotiations aren’t too far along at all with many teams.
Chris Getz on Dylan Cease: “I don’t think there’s a club out there that hasn’t expressed some level of interest in him. … If there’s a fit that improves our club, we’ll strongly consider it. That hasn’t happened to this point.”
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) January 9, 2024
More likely than not, however, this is probably the sign of a GM playing things close to the vest with so many rumors swirling. We’ve heard about everything in recent days, from the Yankees being “ready to pull the trigger” on a Cease deal to an AL East battle between New York and the Orioles for Cease’s services.
…All it takes is one team that wants to jump out and get a deal done. In the case of Dylan, I don’t think there’s a club out there that hasn’t expressed some level of interest in him. All their situations are different.”
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) January 9, 2024
No matter what Getz says, the White Sox are overwhelmingly likely to move Cease before the start of the 2024 season, so stay tuned.
Getz announced something different than what had been said in years past around this time: next week, the White Sox will be holding a hitter’s summit for their organization.
White Sox have a hitter's summit scheduled next week in Arizona for their players.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) January 9, 2024
Based on reports, Getz didn’t divulge too many details about this summit – so, we may know more once it happens. But, as Getz has proven before with something such as Project Birmingham, he’s certainly not unwilling to try something different.
Garrett Crochet’s role has been oft-discussed among White Sox fans in past seasons, with many concerned the club wasted their 11th overall pick back in 2020 by never giving Crochet a chance to start (of course, injuries played a part in this). However, Getz and the staff intend on giving Crochet every chance to be a starter next season – and plan to stretch him out as such.
Getz on Crochet: "He believes he can be a starter. We’ve seen him be a starter in the past. So we are going to go into spring prepared to stretch him out and we’ll make adjustments along the way if need be."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) January 9, 2024
More Getz on Crochet: "He hasn’t started in a couple years. So, it’s going to take a little bit of time to appropriately stretch him out. We are going in with the intention for him to be a starter in 2024."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) January 9, 2024
This may be difficult for Crochet, and it’s unclear how many innings he will be able to handle. The lefty hasn’t thrown more than 65 innings in a season in his career in either college or professional baseball. Crochet is a free agent following the 2026 season, so the White Sox do have three years to get this right – we will see how things develop throughout this season when it’s likely that many young arms are going to get an opportunity to start for the White Sox.
Ah, right field. One pain point of many offseasons of years’ past for the White Sox – with this one not bringing anything new after Oscar Colas’ struggles in 2023. Getz, however, acknowledged this by saying the current Opening Day RF is not set in stone, and – while they do have internal options – they will be looking to add to this position.
The starter in right field has not been established at this point. Getz said they have internal options, NRIs, but they are looking to add.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) January 9, 2024
“We’re looking to add,” Chris Getz says when asked about right field.
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) January 9, 2024
What sort of addition Getz is thinking – a short-term or long-term one – has yet to be seen. However, Whit Merrifield could be a potential option here and has been connected to the White Sox throughout the offseason.
The expectation is for Flexen to be part of the White Sox rotation and give the team starter's innings, per Getz.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) January 9, 2024
Getz: "We are looking for ways to get better both long term and short term."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) January 9, 2024
Chris Getz said he expects Martín Maldonado and Max Stassi to be the Sox’ catchers, with Korey Lee attempting to develop more consistency in the minors.
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) January 9, 2024
Getz says he expects Chris Flexen to be part of rotation, not just part of the mix in spring (or bullpen, for that matter).
White Sox GM Chris Getz: “I feel really good about where we’re headed. Are we where we need to be? Of course not.”
— Scot Gregor (@scotgregor) January 9, 2024
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