Pitching is a excessive precedence for the Chicago White Sox.
They regarded to the Korea Baseball Organization for assist Tuesday by signing right-hander Erick Fedde to a two-year, $15 million deal, a supply confirmed to the Tribune.
Fedde was sensational in 2023, going 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 30 begins for the NC Dinos. He pitched for the Washington Nationals from 2017-22.
The transfer to the Sox is pending a bodily.
Sox normal supervisor Chris Getz met with reporters Tuesday a few hours earlier than information of the signing surfaced. The subjects throughout that session included proper area and catcher.
Here are three takeaways from the MLB winter conferences.
1. Discussions proceed for the most suitable choice in proper area.
The Sox have 2023 Silver Slugger Award winner Luis Robert Jr. in heart area. They have Andrew Benintendi, an All-Star in 2022, in left area.
They are discussing the most suitable choice for proper area.
“We certainly have internal options,” Getz mentioned. “Just like other areas around the diamond, defense is certainly something that we’re focusing on. And we’re having conversations — whether it be with other clubs or free agents — to find a way to improve, just like other positions as well. Certainly outfield is a priority, too.”
Internal choices embody Gavin Sheets, who made a team-leading 61 begins in proper area in 2023. He’s a pure first baseman. Oscar Colás was subsequent on that record with 59 begins in proper area, however he’ll possible start 2024 the place he completed 2023 — in Triple A.
“I think the best thing for (Colás) is to be at Charlotte,” Getz mentioned. “Do I see him being down there the entire season? Hopefully not. We know what he’s able to doing.
“We’ve had Gavin Sheets out there and he’s shown production offensively. We’ve asked a lot of him to play outfield and he looks to be capable, but it doesn’t mean that we’re not going to go out there and find ways to improve our defense as a whole. We’re fortunate to have Luis Robert. Benintendi is a sound defender, we think he can get even better out there. Just to find a team of outfielders is something we’re set out to do.”
2. The Sox proceed to weigh catching choices.
Getz famous the Sox have time to type by means of their plans at catcher.
“We do have some sound defenders at the catching position,” he mentioned. “In terms of a veteran presence or someone who is a little more seasoned, that’s something we’re looking at.”
Korey Lee did a bulk of the catching down the stretch. He’s proven potential behind the plate, however went 5-for-65 (.077) after becoming a member of the major-league staff in late August.
Monday, supervisor Pedro Grifol mentioned the catching state of affairs is “to be determined.”
“There’s a lot of unknowns still in this club,” Grifol mentioned. “There’s a number of unknowns within the rotation, behind the plate. So that’s one thing that’s going to take slightly little bit of time.
“It might take all the way to spring training. Who knows? I’m confident in my conversations with Chris and the front office that we’re going to get this right.”
3. Assistant GM Josh Barfield honors the previous and eyes the longer term.
Josh Barfield is among the former big-leaguers in line to take part within the Hall of Fame East-West Classic, which can pay tribute to the Negro Leagues in Cooperstown, N.Y., throughout Memorial Day weekend.
“This is huge and I think it will bring more awareness to the guys who came before us, which is awesome,” Barfield mentioned.
Barfield took half in a information convention Tuesday highlighting the occasion. He has additionally been busy on the winter conferences within the position of assistant normal supervisor with the Sox.
“We took a lot of time coming into this to prepare and get an idea of what we want our team to look like, not just next year but going forward, and trying to make moves that reflect that,” Barfield mentioned. “We’ve had a number of curiosity in a number of guys, which is encouraging.
“The record might not have reflected that last year, but there is a lot of talent here. I think we’re going to have multiple options, depending on which way we go, to help improve the direction of next year’s team and beyond.”
Barfield joined the Sox in September.
“His evaluation of players is excellent,” Getz mentioned. “When it involves teaching hires, whether or not it’s on the major-league aspect, the minor-league aspect, entrance workplace, his enter has been very worthwhile. He’s skilled, each as a participant and within the entrance workplace. He’s been a part of a company (the Arizona Diamondbacks) that had current success.
“You talk about an organization that didn’t have many wins, and they climbed fairly quickly and obviously found their way to the World Series. His opinions and his evaluations and his input are very important to us based on what he was just able to do with the Diamondbacks.”
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com