Spring preview: After losing 101 games last season, White Sox ‘motivated’ to improve

After one of the most miserable seasons in the White Sox's 123-year history, spring training can't start soon enough.

Pedro Grifol, who lost 101 games in his first season as manager, is anxious to turn the page.

“We’re motivated,” Grifol said. “We’re excited to come back and prove to this league that we’re capable of doing some good things. I just feel it. There is a good vibe.”

Last year's vibe was terrible, so maybe that's a start for the Sox

Here are five things to watch as pitchers and catchers get ready to report to spring training Wednesday in Glendale, Ariz.:

Dylan Cease

He took a step back last season after finishing second in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2022, but Cease is still a premier starting pitcher.

He's also under contractual control for two more years, so it's only natural contending teams are interested in trading for the right-hander.

New general manager Chris Getz has been discussing numerous deals for the 28-year-old Cease and his asking price is sky high.

“Certainly, teams have called,” Getz said. “We’ve had regular conversations. We’ve gone back and forth. The spirit is like any other move we’ve made, if we feel like we’re going to be better, better off for the organization to move Dylan Cease, we’ll do that.”

Grifol has been in touch with Cease over the winter and said he's “unfazed” by all of the trade talk.

“We talked about him (pitching) Opening Day,” Grifol said. “He’s preparing himself for that and he feels great. If it (trade) happens, he understands the business but right now he’s our Opening Day starter.”

Colson Montgomery

The White Sox are in desperate need of some fresh, impact talent.

Montgomery fits the profile.

Paul DeJong is a strong bet to come out of camp as the starting shortstop, but Montgomery is poised to replace him at some point during the season.

Baseball America's No. 15 overall prospect, the 21-year-old Montgomery is a .276/.399/.435 hitter with 22 home runs and 111 RBI in 206 career minor-league games.

Back and oblique injuries limited the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder to 64 games last year, and Montgomery has not played above Class AA.

He's likely to open the upcoming season at AAA Charlotte and wait for the Sox to call.

“Colson's got a bright future, there's no question about it,” Getz said. “At the end of the day, the goal is for him to be a really good major-league player and I think that's going to happen. He's going to choose his own path with regards to production, and there's going to have to be some decisions made on just evaluating when he's ready to go up to stay.”

New faces

Getz has had an active first off-season as GM, but many of his acquisitions are veteran placeholders like DeJong, catcher Martin Maldonado, second baseman Nicky Lopez and starting pitcher Chris Flexen.

Others, like starters Michael Soroka, Erick Fedde, relievers John Brebbia and Tim Hill, outfielder Kevin Pillar and catcher Max Stassi, are out to prove they still have something left.

Dominic Fletcher looks to be the best addition.

Acquired from the Diamondbacks in a Feb. 3 trade, Fletcher is small in stature (5-foot-6, 185 pounds) but he hit .295/.366/.474 with 42 homers and 201 RBI over four minor-league seasons and should emerge as the White Sox's starting right fielder in spring training.

“Super excited,” Fletcher said. “I think we have a really good group of players. And for me, specifically, just a better opportunity, kind of being stuck behind Corbin Carroll in Arizona and having a shot to compete for a spot.”

Rotation

The Sox opened last season with Cease, Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Michael Kopech and Mike Clevinger as their starting five.

Not too shabby, on paper, but Lynn and Giolito were gone by season's end and Clevinger is still on the free-agent market.

Now, it's Cease (until he's traded) and TBA.

Kopech (5-12, 5.43 ERA) struggled before having right knee surgery in late September.

If healthy, up is the only way to go.

“The good for Michael is he has had stretches of success,” Getz said. “I know there are some tweaks we can make with his arsenal. But we've seen the fastball capabilities, we've seen the slider capabilities. We need a consistent third pitch.”

After Cease and Kopech, Fedde, Soroka, Flexen, Touki Toussaint and Jared Shuster are the top contenders for the final rotation spots.

Not too great, on paper.

Yoan Moncada

The White Sox had big troubles crossing the plate last year, ranking second-to-last in MLB with 641 runs scored.

The offense doesn't look any better heading into training camp, so keeping Moncada healthy and productive is critical.

Given his track record, that's a big ask.

Back and leg injuries bothered the third baseman again in 2023, limiting Moncada to 92 games.

The switch-hitter did finish up strong, slashing .298/.344/.560 with 6 home runs and 12 RBI in 23 September games.

“During the first half of last season, it was painful, stressful,” Moncada said through a translator. “I couldn’t do anything. I wanted to do stuff and help the team, but I couldn’t. It was a really tough time for me. But once I started getting better and stronger, I felt much better and I felt good. That was why I was able to finish the way that I did and that’s how I feel right now.”