Levine: White Sox Not Gun Shy After Poor Results Last Season
By Bruce Levine--
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CBS) -- Don't expect the White Sox to fold up the tent and play it conservative in the market this offseason.
Many of their moves failed to live up to expectations last year. The result was a truly mediocre season that had the club below .500 for 159 of the 162 games it played and a 76-86 finish. Nothing says boring like a team that just plays well enough not to ignore the whole season. You can ignore bad clubs, but mediocre baseball to a fan base is like going to the dentist on a weekly basis.
The White Sox won't go above the $120 million they spent in 2015, when they added more than 15 new players. Chicago will try to add a veteran or young up-and-comer at third base. The names of free agent David Freese and Oakland's Brett Lawrie have come up often in my stories over the last four weeks. Shortstop could be handled by second-year infielder Tyler Saladino.
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn believes that Saladino can handle the position, at least from the defensive side of the equation.
"We feel really good as far as how he plays as a defensive player," Hahn said of Saladino. "The fact is he can really help us defensively at three different (infield) positions. We think (shortstop) may be his best defensive position."
The White Sox are attempting to find more potent bats to surround slugger Jose Abreu in the lineup. There are few players on the current roster who they can count on as run scorers or run producers going into 2016. Adam Eaton and Abreu are your best bets. No one else really had a season with the bat in 2015.
"We are in a results-based business," Hahn said. "We all know that, and the results do matter. At the same time, you are going to have decisions that turn out worse than anticipated and some better. That is the nature of dealing with human beings. What we look at is the process for making decisions and making sure it is the right process.We still have the same process of being aggressive. We were all disappointed by the results (in 2015). There are things we have adjusted internally to an extent. In terms of aggression and desire, that is not going to change."
The White Sox's pursuit of left-handed power bats has left plenty to be desired in the last five years. Adam Dunn and Adam LaRoche failed to live up to their production numbers posted previously in the National league. To be fair, Dunn did have a solid 2012 season.
"The difference in the leagues has diminished," Hahn said. "I believe it has leveled off in recent years. In the end, it depends on the talent level of the player. Adam Eaton transitioned very well. Abreu changed countries. Both have acquitted themselves very well."
The White Sox will look to add a power arm in the rotation from the right side. Erik Johnson and Frankie Montas are internal candidates. Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova was mentioned as a player the White Sox have tried to get, according to George King of the New York Post. A source confirmed the Sox have no interest in Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda, who will be posted and bid on by major league teams.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
