Take a page out of your own player’s playbook, Chicago, and stick to the stuff you know
Last year’s 41-121 White Sox unleashed a host of critiques about every inch of the franchise. Although South Side fans have long known about the team’s deficiencies, not a single skeleton was left in the closet by October.
As anticipated, the widespread scrutiny was enough to enact change. The Pale Hose began chipping away at their franchise’s flaws the minute their offseason began, but rebuilding every aspect of their organization from the farm system and player development, clubhouse culture, and reputation can’t be done within a couple of years. But what if Chicago doesn’t need to address all of these issues? Or, at least, what if at least one of their problems can be put on the back burner for a while?
Few teams can scout, draft, and develop the right players. The Cardinals specialize in first basemen, the Brewers are renowned for their elite catching lab, and the Rays can find and develop players from any position. Many teams, however, feed off other teams that specialize in player development. The Sox should consider themselves one of many and embrace it.
There’s nothing wrong with trading for MLB-ready prospects or claiming hidden gems off waivers mid-season. That’s how Chase Meidroth came to the South Side.
While he’s not considered a breakout player, the 23-year-old middle infielder is slashing .241/.326/.292 with 32 walks and 31 runs. He doesn’t have a cannon for an arm or the ability to beat the ball out to the Dan Ryan, but he’s as patient as they come. Meidroth sticks in his lane, knowing his best contribution to the team is his plate discipline. His 13.3% whiff ranks in the 96th percentile in MLB, and his 13.5% strikeout percentage is in the 89th percentile.
Heading into the trade deadline and thinking five steps ahead to the offseason, the Sox should enter these roster restructuring periods with the intention of acquiring players who have solid floors, not those who carry high risk and high reward. While selecting Billy Carlson in the 2025 draft doesn’t follow this rationale, Chicago’s sixth-round pick, Colby Shelton, does support this strategy.
Moneyball didn’t pan out for the Athletics, as they haven’t won the World Series since 1989, but it at least taught baseball teams one crucial lesson: don’t try to be someone you’re not. The Sox aren’t the player development team, and they shouldn’t try to be. Let the Brewers and Rays do the hard work for Chicago, and focus on signing those players and making the clubhouse a place where guys want to be. While they shouldn’t ride this strategy until the cows come home, becoming a team that players commit to for longer than a year is more urgent than trying to do what many can’t.