With La Russa back in dugout, White Sox expecting to win now

Rick Renteria lost 95 games in 2017, his first year as White Sox manager.

In his second season, the Sox lost 100 games for the first time in 48 years.

The rebuilding White Sox "improved" to 72-89 in 2019, and Renteria was still in the dugout last season when the tide finally turned.

For the first time since 2012, the Sox finished with a winning record. In a difficult season cut short by COVID-19, they made the playoffs for the first time in a dozen years.

Renteria's reward? He agreed to "part ways" less than two weeks after the Sox were bounced out of the postseason by Oakland in the first round.

Winning records and playoff appearances are all well and good, but the White Sox have their sights much higher this year.

"It is World Series or bust," hitting coach Frank Menechino said. "And that's the right attitude to have, you know? Our goal is to win it, and that's it."

The Sox start working toward the lofty goal on Wednesday, when pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch for spring training.

Here are five things to watch:

1. La Russa's back

Renteria was always viewed as the ideal manager to guide the White Sox through a rebuild, but he started to unravel down the stretch last season and his questionable handling of the pitching staff continued into the playoffs.

Tony La Russa was a stunning choice as Renteria's replacement, given the fact he last managed in 2011.

La Russa won his third World Series ring that year and the 76-year old Hall of Famer now has to prove he still has the right touch in the dugout.

"I'm looking forward to it," said new Sox starter Lance Lynn, who was a rookie with the Cardinals during La Russa's final season in St. Louis. "I think he is, too, or he wouldn't jump out of retirement after nine years. He's ready to win and he's been itching to do this and hopefully we can all get together here and make a good run at things."

2. Designated hitter

The White Sox could have filled this familiar hole with Nelson Cruz, but the 40-year-old masher is back with the Twins on a one-year, $13 million contract.

The Sox might wind up with a rotating group at DH, but it looks like Andrew Vaughn is going to get a legitimate shot to win the job.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Vaughn spent last season at the White Sox's alternate training site in Schaumburg.

"He was a very advanced hitter coming out of Cal," said Chris Getz, the Sox's assistant general manager/director of player development. "That was quite obvious right out of the gate. What separates Andrew is his mentality, his makeup, how under control he is in the box, his discipline to sticking with an approach that works for his swing.

"We witnessed it in major-league camp last spring with the at-bats he was putting together. Certainly it was unfortunate that we weren't able to send him off to an affiliate, but we were lucky to get him at the alternate site and get a significant amount of at-bats against very good competition."

3. Rotation questions

With Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel and Lance Lynn, the White Sox are better than most teams at the front of the starting rotation.

After that, Dylan Cease, Reynaldo Lopez and Carlos Rodon head into camp as the leading candidates to fill the final two slots.

Cease and Lopez have been plagued by command issues, but new pitching coach Ethan Katz sees better days ahead for the duo.

"We've got some stuff brewing," said Katz, who takes over for Don Cooper. "I won't divulge just yet what that is. But they're working hard, they've been very receptive, very excited. So I'm excited. I'm excited to see what we can do and see if we can get them to kind of make that jump."

4. Eaton's back

The Sox pulled the plug on Nomar Mazara after one year, and Adam Eaton is back as the starting right fielder.

If he can stay healthy, and if he can be a better teammate than his first time around with the White Sox, Eaton can definitely be an asset.

Traded to the Nationals for Giolito, Lopez and Dane Dunning after the 2016 season, Eaton helped Washington win the World Series in 2019. He batted .279/.365/.428 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI and added 2 homers and 10 RBI in 17 playoff games.

5. Kopech watch

He last threw a pitch on Sept. 5, 2018.

During a start against the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field, Michael Kopech's elbow didn't feel right.

Tommy John surgery cost the power right-hander the entire 2019 season, and Kopech opted out last year.

He's ready to return, and it'll be interesting to see how Kopech comes back from such a long layoff. The 24-year-old Texan is definitely going to need extended time in the minor leagues before the Sox can think about plugging him back into the rotation.