Failing Grade

The White Sox drafted pitcher Carlos Rodon with the third pick in the 2014 draft, one selection ahead of the Cubs, who took “catcher” Kyle Schwarber. Yesterday, their respective teams non-tendered the duo. The Sox could’ve chosen Aaron Nola or Trea Turner instead; Rodon constitutes a variation on Mitch Trubisky. The Cubs could’ve drafted Nola or Turner; Schwarber constitutes a selection that worked, but not enough. The 121 homeruns are nice, the .230 BA and 591 strikeouts not so much. Let me add here that the Cubs also nontendered Albert Almora, the sixth player taken in 2012, and one ahead of Max Fried. Rodon, Schwarber and Almora all stand out as failures by our Chicago teams to develop talent; ditto Carson Fulmer, taken as the eighth player in the 2015 draft by the Sox and let go, mercifully, during the 2020 season. Schwarber and Almora could still pan out, which will reflect badly on the Cubs. Rodon and Fulmer most likely are busts, which will reflect badly on the Sox. All the new-tch gizmos couldn’t fix these four. Maybe the people using the tech didn’t know what they were doing.