(670 The Score) With his team coming off a 101-loss season, new White Sox general manager Chris Getz is aiming to change the culture in the organization.
Getz has started that process in the front office with several key hirings recently, including the installation of new assistant general manager Josh Barfield. On the field and in their clubhouse, the White Sox have a lot of work to do this offseason.
So what will that mean? It might start by making an offer for veteran Royals catcher Salvador Perez on the trade market and with a pursuit of second baseman/outfielder Whit Merrifield in free agency. The White Sox have discussed both of those possibilities at length, sources said.
Both Perez and Merrifield have ties to Getz and White Sox manager Pedro Grifol, who worked for the Royals from 2013-’22. Perez played for Kansas City for that entire time frame, while Merrifield played there from 2016-’22. Getz worked in the Royals’ front office from 2014-’16 before joining the White Sox.
Perez, 33, is an eight-time All-Star with good power who’s well-known for his leadership and strong communication skills. Perez hit .255 with 23 homers, 80 RBIs and a .714 OPS in 140 games this past season.
The Royals are willing to part ways with Perez in a trade, sources said. Perez is set to make $20 million in 2024 and $22 million in 2025. His contract includes a $13.5-million team option in 2026.
Merrifield, 34, hit .272 with 11 homers, 67 RBIs and a .700 OPS in 145 games for the Blue Jays in 2023, when he earned All-Star honors for the third time in his career. Merrifield’s contract features an $18-million mutual option for 2024, meaning he’s likely to enter free agency.
The White Sox have holes to fill at second base and in right field.
"We have multiple projection systems and many ways to evaluate players,” Getz said recently in speaking generally about the team’s process in the offseason. “We must see how the makeup of the players we have or want to acquire fit within the White Sox culture and in that clubhouse. That is very important to me and should be to any club.”
Getz indicated he’ll also lean on recently hired director of player personnel Gene Watson, who worked for the Royals from 2006-’20 and again in 2022 and this past season.
“We have a short- and long-term plan,” Getz said. “Communicating that internally and externally of what our needs are is essential. Hiring Gene with his background, to have his experience and knowledge with a number of organizations is going to be very valuable. The key is to understand the background and makeup of the players you are interested in. There have been some misses through the years in this area. There were times we may have focused on certain physical areas of players and not on others (like makeup/leadership). We think Gene will be able to help us close the gap on that.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.