More of the Same

Clare walked through the door last night (and I almost mean that in the literal sense) after work and announced, “I’ve stopped following the White Sox on social media.”  I don’t know Greek or Latin, but I think it means she didn’t like the Sox trading outfielder Adam Eaton to Washington for three prospects.  I share my daughter’s pain.

The Sox acquired three minor-league pitchers, all of whom they had a chance to draft or sign originally but didn’t.  The centerpiece of the deal is right-hander Lucas Giolito, a #1 draft pick of the Nats in 2012  and MLB’s #1 rated pitching prospect.  Rather than pick Giolito, who was available to them, the Sox drafted outfielder Courtney Hawkins, who in five seasons has hit for a .227 batting average.  Our former #1 pick was left off the 40-man roster this fall, but fear not.  Nobody wanted him in the Rule 5 draft.  So, again, I’m left to ask if and when the White Sox will admit to making a mistake in their drafting and scouting that these trades are meant to make up for.

 I have yet to come across anyone in the sports’ media who’s noted that all seven of the prospects from the Chris Sale and Eaton deals were originally passed over by the White Sox because their front office—with the same scouting director from 2012-2015—didn’t like them or ownership didn’t put up the funds to sign them.  What’s changed, outside of a few deckchairs being moved along with a reshuffling of some positions?  We’ll see soon enough, I hope.

In the meantime, I find it interesting that the two players the Sox moved first were involved in the Adam LaRoche spring-training debacle.  Adam Eaton put his foot in his mouth by saying what a leader LaRoche’s 14-year old son was in the clubhouse while Sale went after team VP Kenny Williams for the way he handled the situation.  Professional athletes in the 20s often say—and do—dumb things.  But if the Sox front office had done its due diligence before signing LaRoche, they would’ve known he was basically homeschooling his son in the clubhouse of his previous team.  No LaRoche, no foot in mouth, no tirade (and quite possibly, no cutting up uniforms in the middle of the season).  So, the players are gone, but not the “architects.”  Nice work, that, if you can get it.