The last two seasons have told us that if the White Sox haven’t handed a top prospect a lucrative extension, they don’t intend on giving him a spot on the Opening Day roster. The Sox just haven’t let a compelling argument for early playing time get in the way of manipulating service time.
Normally that’s bad news for Nick Madrigal, but when the season is only 60 games and division-heavier than ever, it’s worth wondering if the calculus can shift at all. With no affiliated minor-league ball to be found and teams carrying a 30-rack of players to start the season, there isn’t even the shell of an argument for playing a MLB-ready prospect anywhere else. That’s not to say it’ll stop the Sox from pretending Schaumburg can change Madrigal’s life, but I’m fairly certain Madrigal has had Olive Garden before.
Madrigal is doing his best José Abreu impression by making the emotional appeal against mild economic opposition:
“I really do want to be a part of this team from the start. I feel like I deserve it,” Madrigal said. “It’s in the hands of the bosses and the coaches and whatever works for them, but I’ve never wanted something so much in my life, just to be a part of this team right now. I feel like I can help this team win on the field.”
And although Madrigal’s brand of baseball is never going to overwhelm the senses the way Luis Robert sometimes hacks the game, he’s backing it up with better swings in summer camp than spring training. Even Rick Renteria isn’t arguing that one:
“He certainly seems much more comfortable in his own skin now,” Renteria said. “I got a chance to watch him in Arizona after spring training was stopped. He stayed at Camelback Ranch, so I was able to see him more. He is more comfortable around the guys, being himself. He is going to be a baseball player. Putting the bat on the ball, hitting behind runners, playing good defense, having an idea on the bases what he can and cannot do — I think he is starting to be comfortable with the idea of being himself.”
Madrigal’s roster decision is the one that most drastically alters the composition of the White Sox’s 30-man roster. If he’s aboard, he’s the starting second baseman, which frees Leury García up for most primary bench duties.
With a few days until the Ricks have to make up their minds, here’s what the roster picture looks like to this guy.
Locks (23)
| Pos. Players | Starters | Relievers |
|---|---|---|
| Yasmani Grandal | Lucas Giolito | Alex Colomé |
| James McCann | Dallas Keuchel | Aaron Bummer |
| Jose Abreu | Reynaldo López | Steve Cishek |
| Edwin Encarnacíon | Dylan Cease | Evan Marshall |
| Leury García | Gio González | Jimmy Cordero |
| Tim Anderson | Carlos Rodón | Kelvin Herrera |
| Yoán Moncada | Jace Fry | |
| Eloy Jiménez | ||
| Luis Robert | ||
| Nomar Mazara |
These are the players who would be on even a 25-man roster, if we turned back to the clock all the way to 2019. On the podcast, Josh and I disagreed on the fifth starter (I said González, he preferred Rodón), but shuttle whichever one to the bullpen and the number remains the same.
Moncada is getting the start at third base and batting second in tonight’s exhibition against the Brewers, so let’s operate as though he won’t need an extended tune-up for the time being.
On the bubble (Pick 7)
My picks are in bold, and probably different from what the White Sox prefer, but I’ll make my case.
| Position players | Pitchers |
|---|---|
| Zack Collins | Codi Heuer |
| Adam Engel | Tayron Guerrero |
| Nick Madrigal | Carson Fulmer |
| Danny Mendick | Ross Detwiler |
| Yermín Mercedes | Tyler Johnson |
| Nicky Delmonico | Ian Hamilton |
| Cheslor Cuthbert |
Engel and Collins get easy nods as the fourth outfielder and third catcher, with Collins holding the edge over Mercedes both behind the plate, and as the bench’s most threatening left-handed bat.
After that, it gets tricky. If the Sox are indeed hellbent on wresting a year of service time away from Madrigal with the same shamelessness of a middle-aged guy knocking over a third-grader for a foul ball, then it’s probably Mendick (versatility, bench speed) and Mercedes (instant pop). Choosing one or the other, I guess I’d prefer Mendick, who can cover three infield positions and has looked OK during limited time in corner spots, especially with Moncada’s readiness not quite clear. Mercedes is more fun, but I don’t want to see him in the field, and I know don’t know where he gets oxygen otherwise.
I say this guessing the Sox probably prefer Cuthbert under the Year of the AAAA Player theory — teams preferring players who already know the ropes — but he doesn’t offer enough of anything to make him a factor to me. Delmonico probably needs an injury to a corner outfielder to get in the picture.
That leaves spots for three arms. If starters are working outings on the shorter side during the season’s first fortnight, I want Heuer in the mix for middle-inning work, and then see if he deserves more afterward. He’s pitched with an assertiveness that escapes Fulmer, but since Fulmer is out of options, they may as well use him for mop-up work early, then see if they can sneak him through waivers as every team reduces its ranks. Guerrero runs the risk of being highly redundant as the season wears on, but I wouldn’t mind letting him hover around the proceedings while the league tells us how much Herrera has left.
* * * * * * * * *
Exhibition tonight: White Sox vs. Cubs
How to watch: NBC Sports Chicago and MLB.tv
Lineup:
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July 21, 2020 at 05:55AM
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White Sox 30-man roster picture three-quarters complete - Sox Machine
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