Chicago White Sox Offseason Tracker: Hottest Free Agency News, Trade Rumors
Progress was made on the South Side of Chicago in 2014, with the White Sox posting a 10-game improvement in their record (73-89) over their results in 2013.
General manager Rick Hahn's additions last winter, including the likes of Jose Abreu and Adam Eaton, lived up to (and exceeded) expectations, offering hope that a new nucleus of talent is ready to lead the White Sox back to their former glory in the years to come.
That said, there's still work to be done before the club can be considered a legitimate contender once again.
Keep it here for the most up-to-the-minute rumblings about the White Sox along with analysis and everything else that comes with it. While the post date will always show as October 31, simply click to the next slide to see the latest from the rumor mill as the White Sox put their 2015 roster in place.
Chicago's Free Agents and Done Deals
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All the juicy rumors and analysis follow, but consider this your one-stop shop for all the comings and goings in Chicago this winter, including the status of the team's free agents.
Done Deals
Nov. 18: Signed LHP Zach Duke to a three-year, $15 million deal
Nov. 21: Signed 1B Adam LaRoche to a two-year, $25 million deal
Nov. 28: Signed OF Tony Campana to a minor-league deal
Dec. 8: Claimed C Rob Brantly off waivers from the Miami Marlins
Dec. 9: Signed RHP David Robertson to four-year, $46 million deal (Analysis)
Dec. 9: Acquired RHP Jeff Samardzija and RHP Michael Ynoa from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for IF Marcus Semien, RHP Chris Bassitt, C Josh Phegley and 1B/DH Rangel Ravelo (Analysis)
Dec. 11: Acquired LHP Dan Jennings from the Miami Marlins in exchange for RHP Andre Rienzo
Dec. 14: Signed OF Melky Cabrera to a three-year, $42 million deal (Analysis)
Dec. 16: Signed RHP Brad Penny to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training
White Sox Free Agents
RP Ronald Belisario (Nov. 28: Elected free agency over minor-league assignment)
RHP Scott Carroll (Dec. 2: Non-tendered)
1B Paul Konerko (Retiring)
RP Matt Lindstrom
SP Felipe Paulino (Oct. 31: Chicago declined $4 million team option, will pay $250,000 buyout)
LHP Scott Snodgrass (Dec. 2: Non-tendered)
Dec. 14: Melky Cabrera Reportedly Agrees to 3-Year Deal with White Sox
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Update: Sunday, Dec. 14 at 12:24 a.m. ET
Chicago's big offseason continues.
Melky Cabrera has agreed to a three-year deal with the White Sox, per Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com.
--End of Update--
Thursday, Nov. 20 at 11:38 a.m. ET
With the club looking for a left-handed bat and a quality bat to plug into the No. 2 spot in the lineup, the White Sox have turned their attention to free agent outfielder Melky Cabrera and are contemplating making a run at him, says CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
Cabrera hit .301 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI for Toronto in 2014 and comes with the added cost of a compensatory draft pick, having turned down the Blue Jays qualifying offer.
White Sox Are Shopping Dayan Viciedo
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Thursday, Dec. 11 at 1:20 p.m. ET
The White Sox and the Mariners are in "serious talks" about Viciedo, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
--End of Update--
Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 8:50 a.m. ET
USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweets that as the White Sox continue to look to add to their outfield, they have made Dayan Viciedo available to other clubs in a trade.
Viciedo, 25, has never quite lived up to expectations in Chicago. While he's provided power (21 HR in 2014, 60 HR from 2012-14), he's struggled to hit for average (.250) or get on-base consistently (.294 OBP) over the same period and is a defensive liability.
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Dec. 9: White Sox Sign RHP David Robertson to 4-Year Deal
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Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 12:39 a.m. ET
The Chicago White Sox continue to show that they believe they can contend in 2015 by adding veteran pieces to the team.
Chicago has signed right-handed pitcher David Robertson, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Nightengale tweeted that the deal will be for four years and is worth more than $40 million. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported that the four-year deal is worth $46 million.
Robertson was a rousing success as Mariano Rivera's successor, converting 39-of-44 save attempts while pitching to a 3.08 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.
The White Sox needed to find a way to improve their bullpen and did so by signing Robertson. Chicago's bullpen ranked 28th in all of baseball with a 4.38 ERA and was last with a 1.51 WHIP.
He was reportedly seeking a Jonathan Papelbon-like deal (four years, $50 million), but he came up just a little bit short of that mark in this deal. The reliever did reject a qualifying offer from New York earlier this offseason, so Chicago will have to give up a draft pick with this signing.
Dec. 9: Acquired RHP Jeff Samardzija from Oakland
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2014 Stats (CHC/OAK): 33 GS, 7-13, 2.99 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 219.2 IP, 191 H, 1.8 BB/9, 8.3 K/9
Age on Opening Day 2015: 30
Contract Remaining: Final year of arbitration eligibility, free agent after 2015 season
Samardzija fits perfectly in Chicago's rotation behind Chris Sale, giving the White Sox a potentially dominant trio of Sale, Samardzija and the criminally underrated Jose Quintana.
While the club gave up a lot to obtain him, the price was more than reasonable when you consider the club's organizational depth. Semien was blocked at shortstop by Alexei Ramirez and, with Tim Anderson working his way through the minors, wasn't a long-term option at the position anyway.
Ravelo, an intriguing prospect, was blocked at first base by both Adam LaRoche and Jose Abreu. His greatest value to the White Sox was as a trade chip. Neither Phegley nor Bassitt are major losses.
Clearly, the White Sox believe that the AL Central is ripe for the taking and GM Rick Hahn is doing a yeoman's effort to position his club to take advantage of the situation.
Is K-Rod Coming to Chicago?
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Monday, Dec. 8 at 8:08 p.m. ET
Chicago's search for an established ninth-inning option has found them reaching out to Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez, tweets CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
K-Rod, 32, converted 44-of-49 save opportunities for Milwaukee in 2014, pitching to a 3.04 ERA and 0.99 WHIP while making his fifth career All-Star appearance, his first since 2009.
Nov. 21: White Sox Sign 1B Adam LaRoche to a 2-Year Deal
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In an attempt to replace some of the production the team lost with its late-season trade of Adam Dunn (who has since retired) and Paul Konerko's retirement, the White Sox have signed free agent slugger Adam LaRoche. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, LaRoche signed a two-year, $25 million deal with the White Sox.
The 35-year-old has established that he can hit for power on a fairly regular basis, coming off his third consecutive season with at least 20 home runs, the 10th time over his 11-year career that he's cracked that plateau.
He also posted a career-high .362 on-base percentage in 2014, and while he's not a guy who hits for average, LaRoche's power and an OPS that sits consistently around .800 more than make up for it.
With Jose Abreu entrenched at first base, the White Sox are likely viewing LaRoche as a full-time DH/backup for Abreu. Two other teams—the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres—had interest in the veteran. However, he felt that Chicago was the best fit for him.
Alexei Ramirez Is Once Again Drawing Interest
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Update: Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 11:56 a.m. ET
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers are "aggressively pursuing" a trade for Ramirez.
That's good news for the White Sox, as the Dodgers have one of the deepest farm systems around and could provide Chicago with a solid package of talent in exchange.
While it'd be a stretch for the White Sox to take on the kind of salary remaining on deals for left-handed bats like Carl Crawford or Andre Ethier, the Dodgers have a plethora of young starters that could be part of a deal.
--End of Update--
Update: Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 11:15 a.m. ET
Andy Martino of the New York Daily News says that the Mets and White Sox have discussed a deal involving Ramirez but says that the two sides aren't close.
Chicago has targeted some of New York's young starters, including Rafael Montero, Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler, while the Mets are pushing some of their older arms, namely Bartolo Colon, Dillon Gee and Jon Niese.
That said, Martino notes that it's still very early in the process and a deal could still get done.
--End of Update--
Thursday, Nov. 6 at 5:20 p.m. ET
Veteran shortstop Alexei Ramirez has once again become a target of teams looking for an upgrade at shortstop, reports CBS Chicago's Bruce Levine, who lists the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and New York Yankees among the teams that have expressed interest.
It's no surprise that Ramirez is drawing interest considering the current crop of free agent shortstops. Hanley Ramirez is going to cost a fortune and brings major questions about his defense with him, while Asdrubal Cabrera, Stephen Drew and Jed Lowrie all fall under the umbrella of mediocre.
Ramirez, 32, is coming off a season that saw him make his first All-Star appearance and draw interest from a number of teams as the non-waiver trade deadline approached. Due $10 million in 2015 and with a $10 million team option (or $1 million buyout) for 2016, most teams could fit him into their budget.
White Sox Set to Meet with Team Sandoval
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Monday, Nov. 10 at 12:43 p.m. ET
The White Sox are one of four teams scheduled to meet with representatives for free agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval at this week's general manager's meetings in Phoenix, reports The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo.
While signing Sandoval, 28, would represent a huge addition for the White Sox and give them a pair of dynamic corner infielders, it'd be disingenuous to characterize their chances as anything but a long-shot.
San Francisco badly wants to keep him while Boston has made him their top free agent target and it's hard to see the White Sox outbidding either club for his services.
That said, the fact that the White Sox are making it a point to meet with some of the top free agent talent available should be taken as a positive sign. A meeting like this probably doesn't happen last winter.
Nori Aoki to Man a Corner Outfield Spot for the White Sox?
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Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1:10 p.m. ET
It's all speculation at this point, but The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo believes that Kansas City right fielder Norichika Aoki is going to leave the Royals as a free agent—and that he could be headed to Chicago.
Aoki, who has primarily played right field over his three-year major league career, would probably have to slide over to left field with the White Sox, as Avisail Garcia is the team's future in right field.
While the soon-to-be 33-year-old doesn't offer anything in the way of power, his ability to get on base consistently and cause problems for the opposition with his speed would be a welcome addition to Chicago's lineup.
Having Aoki and Adam Eaton atop the lineup could prove to be hugely beneficial, with MVP candidate Jose Abreu and veteran Alexei Ramirez hitting in the heart of the order, both capable of driving two runs in with one swing of the bat.
Can the White Sox Find a Taker for John Danks?
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According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, Chicago would love to trade veteran starter John Danks despite pitching coach Don Cooper's belief that he can learn to succeed with reduced velocity the same way that former White Sox starter Mark Buehrle has.
The problem, however, is money—namely the $28.5 million that Danks is due through the 2016 season.
Leading up to 2014's non-waiver trade deadline, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported that the New York Yankees were interested in the 29-year-old southpaw, but those talks ultimately went nowhere.
While his numbers were mediocre (11-11, 4.74 ERA, 1.44 WHIP), Danks did throw 193 innings, his highest total since 2010, which should alleviate any concerns interested parties might have about the health of his arm.
That said, the White Sox may have to either take back a bad contract, eat some of the money left on Danks' deal or be willing to unload him without getting anything of value in return if they hope to move him off the roster this winter.
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