[ad_1]
Dylan Cease was among the many likelier gamers to be traded over the offseason. The White Sox caught agency to an asking value that groups haven’t been keen to fulfill, although, and it appears the hard-throwing righty will as an alternative be a prime deadline candidate. GM Chris Getz declared at the beginning of camp that the Sox anticipate Stop being on the Assured Price Area mound on Opening Day.
That is still the case, assistant common supervisor Josh Barfield tells Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Barfield mentioned that whereas opposing groups stay involved with the Sox about Stop, there’s “nothing imminent” on the commerce entrance. “We’re getting ready him to be the Opening Day starter,” Barfield reiterated.
Barring a shocking acceleration in commerce talks over the following three weeks, Stop will lead a rotation with a good bit of uncertainty. KBO signee Erick Fedde is penciled right into a spot. Getz has indicated the Sox choose free agent pickup Chris Flexen as a starter, whereas commerce acquisition Michael Soroka has a very good probability at a rotation job. Returnees Michael Kopech and Garrett Crochet are battling for spots in camp.
Whereas Crochet is stretching out from reduction work thus far in his MLB profession, Kopech trailed solely Stop in begins for the crew final 12 months. That makes it appear doubtless he’ll be within the season-opening 5, however supervisor Pedro Grifol indicated that isn’t a assure. “He’s getting constructed as much as be one among our starters,” Grifol mentioned of Kopech (link via Scott Merkin of MLB.com). “I do know we need to speak about it, however I believe in about one other week, we’ll speak about it. Proper now, all people is simply competing.”
Kopech indicated that whereas he prefers to occupy a rotation spot, he’s amenable to no matter position the crew asks. The precise-hander labored in reduction in 2021, delivering a 3.50 ERA throughout 69 1/3 innings. He stretched out to the rotation two seasons in the past. Kopech discovered success in his first season as a starter, outperforming middling strikeout and stroll numbers to handle a 3.54 ERA in 25 appearances. His manufacturing fell off final 12 months, as he allowed 5.43 earned runs per 9. No different pitcher with at the least 100 innings walked batters extra often. Kopech handed out free passes at an untenable 15.4% clip.
That was one among a lot of disappointing performances for the Sox as they fell to a 101-loss season. On the place participant facet, rookie proper fielder Oscar Colás had one of many extra underwhelming showings. Considered as one of many higher prospects in a skinny farm system, the lefty-hitting Colás managed solely a .216/.257/.314 slash line over his first 75 video games. He was optioned to Triple-A halfway by means of the season. Colás hit .272/.345/.465 over 54 video games on the prime minor league degree.
Getz indicated that commerce pickup Dominic Fletcher is within the driver’s seat for the right field job this spring. Colás has gotten some exhibition work at first base as he appears to be like to develop his utility for a potential bench position. The Sox have used him completely within the outfield throughout common season play within the majors and higher minors. Colás received scattered reps at first base early in his skilled profession in Cuba and Japan, so he’s not totally unfamiliar with the place, however he conceded there’s an adjustment interval as he tries to acclimate to the infield dust.
“Proper now, it’s simply an adjustment. I can’t say I really feel fully snug, however I’m engaged on feeling snug once more there,” the 25-year-old informed reporters by way of interpreter over the weekend (link via Merkin). “I’ll play wherever they need me to play. What I need is simply to play baseball.” Colás isn’t going to be an on a regular basis possibility there however might provide cowl for Andrew Vaughn over the course of the season if the Sox belief him for normal season work.
[ad_2]
Source link
