The Winter Meetings are in full force and Chris Getz opened up to the media about the latest rumors.
Here are Monday’s takeaways ahead of what could turn into an eventful week.
White Sox sign outfielder Mike Tauchman
The White Sox have reportedly agreed to a deal with outfielder Mike Tauchman, according to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. Terms of the deal are currently unknown, though it will be a major league deal.
Tauchman, 33, has spent time in the big leagues with the Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and mostly recently, two seasons with the crosstown Chicago Cubs. During his 2024 campaign in 109 games, Tauchman hit .248/.357/.366 with seven home runs, a 13.4% walk rate, and a 111 wRC+. He’s been about an average defender at all three positions in the outfield the past two seasons on the north side, posting -1 Outs Above Average (OAA) in both right and center field last season and +1 OAA in left field. He posted 2.8 fWAR across his two seasons with the Cubs.
Luis Robert Jr. getting “a lot of attention” in trade market
The White Sox are fielding calls for their center fielder, with Chris Getz saying Luis Robert Jr. has been gotten “a lot of attention.” The GM also touched on the high asking price some teams have scoffed at.
A recent report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo claimed an anonymous rival executive said that Chicago is asking high for Robert Jr., though the lofty demands have led to some criticism given the center fielder’s recent injury history and poor 2024 campaign.
“I don’t think they understand what his value is,” the executive told The Athletic.
The White Sox reportedly “bristle at the notion they are overreaching,” a source told Rosenthal and Woo. The team isn’t said to be seeking multiple prospects but would like a “meaningful piece” in return since many suitors think they can acquire “something for nothing.” Based on Getz’s comments, the White Sox don’t seem willing to come down on their price tag.
Could trade between Cubs and White Sox come to fruition?
Chris Getz, who lives near Cubs GM Jed Hoyer, was asked about a potential Crosstown deal occurring this offseason.
“We’ve had conversations about various topics over coffee on occasion. If there is a match, there is a match. We have to do what’s best for the White Sox. If that means we knock on the door of the Cubs, so be it. They have a talented group that’s working its way to the major leagues. If it can help the White Sox, we’ll do it but there are other orgs that have talent that we might match up better with.”
Recently, our Jordan Lazowski explored what a trade for Crochet might look like between the Sox and Cubs. That, along with seven other possible packages, can be viewed here.
2 new teams enter Garrett Crochet trade talks
A pair of separate reports on Monday linked two new teams to the Garrett Crochet sweepstakes.
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi says the Brewers have become the third NL Central team to enter the sweepstakes, joining the Reds and Cubs. In the AL East, Chris Cotillo of Mass Live says the Red Sox have company as the Yankees have continued conversations following their inability to trade for Crochet at this year’s trade deadline.
There is speculation from some – including our own Michael Suareo – that the Brewers and Reds are being floated as potential destinations for Crochet to drive up the price from the Cubs as it relates to the White Sox’s ace. As also mentioned by Cotillo, the Red Sox are rumored not to be as deep in the hunt as perhaps initially reported, but things could certainly change following both the Mets’ signing of Juan Soto and the Yankees entering the mix of teams
Read our recent article for more on this development.
Yankees and Mets “most aggressive suitors” for Garrett Crochet
Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported that the Yankees and Mets are currently the “most aggressive suitors” for Crochet, adding that the Red Sox and Phillies remain interested. The article stated that as of Monday night, no deal was still considered close.
The top of the Mets’ farm system is position-player heavy, seeming to line up with Chris Getz’s desired return. Rosenthal and Sammon and the article mention Jett Williams, Luisangel Acuna, and even former top prospect Brett Baty as names that the White Sox could be interested in. Our Jordan Lazowski also proposed his own trade package that features Williams and several other highly-regarded prospects.
The Yankees still feature similar trade chips as those mentioned during the trade deadline: outfielder Jasson Dominguez, fist baseman/outfielder Spencer Jones, and infielder Roderick Arias. However, with the Yankees losing out on Juan Soto to the Mets, it seems rather unlikely that they’d be willing to trade Dominguez, who just saw an outfield position open up. This could make the fit a little less straightforward depending on who else might be included.
Regarding interest from other teams, Rosenthal says the Red Sox seem to have their priorities elsewhere at the moment. The Phillies reportedly had a good offer on the table at the trade deadline, but are not willing to offer as much now due to the slightly lower amount of control.
White Sox officially announce 2025 coaching staff
After an initial report from Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times, the team formally announced their major-league coaching staff under new manager Will Venable. The staff shakes out as follows:
- Manager: Will Venable
- Bench Coach: Walker McKinven
- Pitching Coach: Ethan Katz
- Assistant Pitching Coach: Matt Wise
- Hitting Coach: Marcus Thames
- Assistant Hitting Coach: Joel McKeithan
- First Base/Outfield Coach: Jason Burgeois
- Third Base/Infield Coach: Justin Jirschele
- Catching Coach: Drew Butera
- Offensive Coordinator: Grady Sizemore
Both hitting coach Marcus Thames (second season) and pitching coach Ethan Katz (fifth season) are back, as are Grady Sizemore, Justin Jirschele, Jason Burgeois, Matt Wise, and Drew Butera. Mike Gellinger and Doug Sisson, who both joined the staff temporarily post-Grifol, will reportedly remain in the organization but not at the major league level.
It appears a few key members of this crew are also in Dallas for the Winter Meetings.
For more on the announcement, read our article here.
Dick Allen elected to Hall of Fame
Former White Sox outfielder Dick Allen will finally be immortalized this coming summer.
It was announced on Sunday evening that Allen has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and will be accompanied by former outfielder Dave Parker. The election came via the Hall of Fame’s Classic Era Baseball Committee, a 16-member panel that voted on eight candidates.
Allen, who passed away in December 2020, played 15 seasons for five different teams. The seven-time All-Star is known for his time with the Phillies, where he secured the Rookie of the Year award in 1964 and slashed .290/.371/.530 with 351 home runs in 1,070 games.
In December 1971, the White Sox acquired Allen from the Dodgers in exchange for Tommy John and Steve Huntz. Allen, who primarily played first baseman during his three seasons on the South Side, notched All-Star honors in each while winning the MVP award in 1972. He hit .307/.398/.589 with 85 home runs and 42 RBI in 348 games until the team reluctantly sold his contract to the Braves after the 1974 campaign.
It’s still to be determined which team will be represented on his plaque, though CHSN’s Chuck Garfien hints that it may be the Good Guys.
Miscellaneous quotes from Chris Getz on Monday
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