GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Here are four takeaways from White Sox Spring Training action on Saturday.
Business picking up
The Twins agreed to terms with free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa on a three-year, $105.3 million deal, a source told MLB.com, a move that came to fruition early Saturday morning, and one that makes an already sturdy American League Central infinitely tougher.
“I’ve seen Minnesota my whole career,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said prior to Saturday’s 11-2 Cactus League loss to the Guardians at Camelback Ranch. “They had a tough year [in 2021]. They're going to be great this year, assuming they got Correa. They were going to be better [before Correa].”
Even with the Correa addition, and the Tigers adding right-handed starter Michael Pineda to their offseason work already accomplished, the White Sox remain the division favorite. They are continuously looking for that “one more move” but won’t force anything simply to answer other teams.
Having a more competitive division should help the White Sox if or when they reach the playoffs.
“We were in a position, just because we were short, that we were fighting all the time,” La Russa said of the 2021 season, when the division wasn’t quite as tough. “Luckily, our guys came through, but we were never comfortable.
“One of the things I feel the most, looking back, is the six winning months. That shows you how consistent our guys were. But I do believe overall the tougher the season is, you pick up scabs and toughness, if you qualify for October, it's a plus. I think the Central will definitely be more competitive.”
Position player preparation
La Russa reiterated on Saturday a desire to get his rotation three starts each in Arizona, adding Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel are a little ahead of Michael Kopech and Dylan Cease. He also spoke of position player workload in this shortened Spring Training, with La Russa putting an Opening Day looking lineup in action against the Guardians.
“You'd like to have that extra week for players, but technically once they come in cold it's not as bad, and you've just got to be careful,” La Russa said. “No matter what they've worked out in, coming out here and taking ground balls and all that stuff is different, your legs.
“I told them this morning, usually you play, sit, play, sit, play, play, sit. We're going to have them play two in a row quite a bit earlier so we're just going to talk to them every day and if somebody's stiff, we back them off. It's easier to moderate position players than pitchers because they hit every day. Pitchers just throw every three days, five days.”
Moncada trains for 162
Third baseman Yoán Moncada hired a personal trainer this past offseason to help get in even better physical condition for the 2022 campaign.
“That was something that has helped me a lot,” Moncada said through interpreter Billy Russo. “Like I said before, I feel very good right now, strong. It’s because of that. It helped me a lot to get here to Spring Training in very good shape.
“There wasn’t any specific area where I put a lot of emphasis. Just tried to strengthen my whole body and keep it in better shape.”
Kopech on the mound
Kopech, who is moving from the bullpen back to the rotation, was scheduled to face hitters in a live batting practice session on Sunday. Pitching coach Ethan Katz talked with reporters on Friday about the plan for Kopech.
“We’re just going to go, it’s outing to outing, inning to inning for him and monitor it that way, and see how he’s doing, feedback in between outings,” Katz said. “It’s kind of like Carlos [Rodón] in the sense that, kind of seeing where he’s at and kind of making the right assessment.
“Maybe it’s a skipped start at some point and somebody else hops in to give him a little breather. We’ll see how he’s doing.”
Katz added Kopech has looked good through the early stages of Spring Training.
“He’s one of the guys we asked him to do certain things and he’s worked on it,” Katz said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him face the hitters and getting into that routine because he hasn’t had the chance to do that just yet.”