Breaking Down The Odds The White Sox Lose Prospects In The Rule 5 Draft
The MLB offseason is progressing, as the deadline for teams to protect players from being selected in the Rule-5 draft was on November 18th. Certain players who were not added to their team’s 40-man roster by that date can now be selected in the Rule-5 draft coming up in the next week.
White Sox fans should be familiar with this process, as they had a huge contribution from their selection Shane Smith this past season. They also got a huge boost from Mike Vasil, who was selected by another team in the Rule-5 draft, then traded to the White Sox. This was a huge year for the White Sox in terms of Rule-5 players, as anytime you can select acquire two players that can make a significant contribution for your team essentially for “free,” it’s a win.
This year, the White Sox added Tanner McDougal and Duncan Davitt to the 40-man roster to protect them from the draft. This was a smart move, as McDougal had a great year and the White Sox acquired Davitt from the Rays at the trade deadline.
However, they left six players unprotected. The players that are now eligible to be selected in the draft from the White Sox organization are Mason Adams, Peyton Pallette, Juan Carela, Aldrin Batista, Samuel Zavala, and Tyler Schweitzer. Let’s take a look at how likely it is that they will be selected by another team in the Rule-5 draft.
Mason Adams
Adams is probably the most MLB ready prospect on this list. However, he is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, which may deter a team from selecting him in the draft. When a players is selected in the draft, they need to be on the active roster for the whole season, or they risk losing the player back to their original team, or to another team on waivers.
It is unclear what Adams’ timeline is for the season, but if he is going to miss the beginning of the season, that could certainly deter a team from selecting him. Adams is probably the most accomplished player on this list, so any team that selects him will be getting a good player, but with his injury, a team may not take that chance. I’d put the odds on him being selected around 40% which could greatly benefit the White Sox, as he will likely make an impact in Chicago this season if he is not selected.
Peyton Pallette
Pallette has had a resurgence since moving to the bullpen and has made his way through AA and AAA with some significant success. For some reason, the White Sox did not opt to protect him in this draft. Due to him playing in AAA last season showing elite strikeout numbers, I could see a team taking a chance on him in the draft and slotting him right into their bullpen.
Pallette could slot right into many major league bullpens, so there is a good chance a team selects him in this draft. I would put the odds at about 60% of him getting selected, which would be a big hit to the bullpen depth in the upper minors.
Juan Carela
Carela is in the same boat as Adams, as he missed the whole 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery. However, unlike Adams, Carela has not pitched much above High-A ball, as he just has 32 innings in AA. That could deter a team from selecting him, as he may not be quite MLB ready.
Carlela is very talented and is a top-30 prospect in the White Sox system. However, due to him just being 23 years old, coming off injury, and not playing much in the upper minors, those factors will likely deter a team from selecting him in the draft. I would give it a 15% chance of being selected by another team, which would be huge for the White Sox, as he will likely be a contributor in Chicago in the next few years.
Aldrin Batista
While Batista didn’t miss the whole 2025 season, he only was able to pitch 14 innings due to injury. He also is just 22 years old and hasn’t pitched above high-A. While he is very talented, he still has a bit of a way to go to become major league ready.
Because the jump from high-A ball to the majors would be likely too steep, I would put the chances that Batista is selected in the draft at about 5% which bodes will for the White Sox, as he is a top-30 prospect in the White Sox system.
Samuel Zavala
Similarly to Batista and Carela, Zavala is a top-30 prospect in the White Sox organization who hasn’t made it very far in the minor leagues. In this case, Zavala is just 21 and has not made it past high-A.
While teams are likely very intrigued by Zavala’s talent, I can’t imagine a team would feel comfortable with him making the jump from high-A to the major leagues quite yet. I would put his chances of being selected at about 5% which is good for the White Sox, as he still has a very good chance of being an everyday player in Chicago.
Tyler Schweitzer
Schweitzer is one of the older players on this list, as he is 25. He has also made it to AAA, so teams would likely be more comfortable with him making the jump to the major leagues. Additionally, he had a very solid year last season as he had a 1.27 ERA over 50 innings in AA.
Schweitzer struggled a bit when he got to AAA, but he showed off his major league stuff. Since Schweitzer made it to AAA, I could see a team taking a chance on him, as starting pitching doesn’t grow on trees. I would put the chances of him being selected by another team at about 55%
Each one of these players is very talented and most are on the White Sox top-30 prospects list. I could see a scenario where the White Sox lose some of them, which would be a blow to the depth in the minor leagues, as each could be a contributor in Chicago sooner rather than later. Hopefully Chicago is able to retain every player and keep the pitching depth in the upper minors.
Caleb Williams Delivered Kill Shot To Eagles With 3 Brilliant Decisions
Anybody who watched Friday’s game between the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles will make sure to point out Caleb Williams played poorly. For the most part, that is fair. He completed only 17 of 36 passes for 154 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. It was the running game (281 yards) and a spirited defensive effort that led the way to victory. However, people who think Williams had no influence on the final outcome weren’t paying attention. He was the one most responsible for putting the game away.
There were three plays late in the 4th quarter that proved a death blow to the Eagles’ chances. All three came directly from the good decision-making of the Bears’ young quarterback.
Play #1: Caleb Williams’ TD to Cole Kmet
There are layers to this decision. According to Ben Johnson, the first option on that fake is D’Andre Swift, who’s leaking into the flat. Williams also has enough space to take it himself. Either would’ve been the sensible move. However, the quarterback knew that you don’t beat good teams with sensible plays. Williams trusted his arm to loft the ball over the top to Cole Kmet, who was wide open. It was a perfect throw, putting the Bears in total control, 24-9.
Play #2: Scramble for first down
A vital part of protecting a lead is learning how to sustain drives that can drain the clock. Philadelphia scored to make it 24-15 with three minutes left. Caleb Williams had to find a way to eat at least some of that time away. After two short runs, he faced 3rd and 3 with 2:59 left. A bootleg fake left him with an open lane. Not only was he decisive in taking it, but he had the presence of mind to get down as he neared the sideline, ensuring the clock kept running. That forced Philadelphia to burn its final timeout.
Play #3: The hard count
A Kyle Monangai run drained the clock down to 2:06. However, a quick stop or incomplete pass threatened to stop the clock before the two-minute warning, preserving precious time for the Eagles. Chicago faced 3rd and 5. It was here that Williams went to a new part of his arsenal, conducting a hard count that got Jalen Carter to jump, resulting in a penalty. Not only did it give the Bears better down and distance, but it also pushed the clock to the two-minute warning. Another Monangai run then drained an additional 45 seconds. While the Bears turned it over on downs, it didn’t matter. The Eagles had to go 70 yards against the wind to score, and would then need an onside kick even to have a chance to win.
They missed the attempted field goal a few moments later. That entire sequence was created by Williams’ heady decisions.
Ben Johnson Wins Bet With Locker Room Celebration For The Ages
A few weeks ago, The Wiener Circle, a staple Chicago food spot in the city, made headlines when they promised free hot dogs to all patrons if Caleb Williams threw four touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys. The Chicago Bears quarterback proceeded to do exactly that. It was a huge publicity boost for the restaurant. In fact, it was so successful that they decided to double down. If at any point during the rest of the season, head coach Ben Johnson took his shirt off after a game, they would again serve free hot dogs.
Johnson was asked about the bet. He smiled and didn’t make any promises. One took that to mean he’d only do it if the moment felt right. Well, we finally reached it. On Black Friday, one year to the day after the Bears fired Matt Eberflus, Johnson engineered a stunning 24-15 upset of the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. It moved Chicago to 9-3, their first winning season in seven years. Johnson walked off the field with his usual stoic expression.
Once he got to the locker room, though, everything went crazy.
Ben Johnson was the right man at the right time.
People may look at that clip and think he’s just a loveable goof living in the moment. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Ben Johnson is a calculating individual. Everything he does is designed to have the maximum impact toward the main goal: winning games. He knew the magnitude of what the Bears had just accomplished. Beating the hell out of the defending champions in their own building is no small feat. Why downplay it? That celebration was entirely designed to let the players and fans know that this team is for real.
No more excuses. The Bears are back. They may not win the Super Bowl this year, but you’d better start respecting them.
A Brilliant Ben Johnson Decision Just Led To Upset Of The Year
Nobody saw it coming. Every expert on the planet predicted the same thing. The Philadelphia Eagles, defending Super Bowl champions, at home, would take care of business against the Chicago Bears. It made sense. One team was coming in mostly healthy, while the other battled a laundry list of injuries. It was bad weather in front of a hostile crowd. None of the Bears’ wins this season were convincing. Why should people think they were in the Eagles’ class? Apparently, those people forgot to tell Ben Johnson.
He had a plan before the game even began. It started by taking advantage of the elements. Former Bear Greg Olsen realized it over the course of the game and how brilliant it was.
The two teams were facing 30-40 mph gusts, making it difficult to pass the ball. If the Bears could take a lead into the second half, it would force Jalen Hurts to throw into the wind. The other part of the plan was much simpler: ram the ball down Philadelphia’s throat. D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai both eclipsed 100 yards as the Bears trampled Vic Fangio’s vaunted defense.
Ben Johnson continues to show his keen understanding of football.
Most coaches would’ve ignored the elements and stuck to their typical plan for any road game. Ben Johnson chose to utilize any advantage he could get. He knew Hurts, for all his excellent leadership and running ability, was a limited passer. He doesn’t have the arm strength to handle the windy conditions of that magnitude. Taking the ball in the first half meant he got to pick the direction in the second. Whichever way the wind was blowing would be put at the Bears’ backs. It was such a subtle but crucial decision.
The running game part was simpler. Philadelphia had been solid at stopping it in recent weeks, suggesting they’d gotten over their struggles earlier in the season. Johnson chose to test that theory by playing smashmouth football. The Eagles weren’t ready for it. Chicago’s head coach wanted to send a message.
He succeeded.
15 Thoughts On The Bears’ Total Destruction And Contender Announcement Against The Eagles
PHILADELPHIA — First of all, hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving holiday! Whether you celebrate or not, if you’re fortunate enough to gather with loved ones and spend quality time with them this time of year, hope you enjoyed it and will cherish it.
And the football. The football was pretty sick yesterday, too.
And for the “holiday” finale: Black Friday. Bears-Eagles. Two 8-3 teams battling for current control of the #2 seed in the playoffs. Just like we all expected.
Interestingly, the vibes surrounding these two 8-3 teams couldn’t be more different coming in. Philadelphia, the reigning Super Bowl champions, have somewhat limped to their current record behind an elite defense, a sputtering offense, and seemingly some beef between Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown. And just last week, they blew a 21-0 lead to Dallas and lost.
Meanwhile, the Bears have completely turned their losing culture around in a calendar year. They’ve escaped many a game in 2025 in dramatic fashion, but making those few extra plays each game was something they couldn’t do for years. And now they have. Just last week, they overcame fielding a completely decimated defense en route to a surprising 31-28 win against Pittsburgh.
Like I said, the vibes were different coming in.
For the Bears, this was a measuring stick game. If they could keep it competitive on the road, they could take some “callous” into their divisional showdown next Sunday against Green Bay. If they got blown out, it’d serve as somewhat of a reality check. If they won…
And wouldn’t you know it, the Bears flipped the script on Philadelphia and dominated them from start to finish, stamping their announcement to the world as a real football team in 2025.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on X @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1. Ben Johnson had a very effective opening script against Vic Fangio to start the game. Bears were ahead of the chains and moving the ball in various ways.
But a questionable third down spot on a neat draw to D’Andre Swift made it 4th and 1, and a very questionable decision to overturn Kyle Monangai‘s conversion turned it over on downs. The decision to go for it on 4th and 1 on a very windy day in Philly was the prudent choice. Bears need to pick themselves back up over the course of the game.
The Bears’ defense though played a strong series after sudden change – forcing a punt after one first down. They tipped a second down pass and then Austin Booker chased Jalen Hurts for a mile, leading to a throwaway. Nice to see the front get a bit of pressure there.
Also, don’t forget it’s a C.J. Gardner-Johnson revenge game in Philly! He was talking trash already on that first drive. A real Energizer Bunny. Really hoping the Bears find a way to keep him around next season.
2. Bears’ second drive was a masterclass by Ben Johnson. Another off-balance mix of runs and passes, motions, and really cool blocking schemes to get the running backs in space. Swift and Monangai both had big runs on the drive — capped by Swift’s revenge touchdown.
The Bears’ OL has been brilliant to start this game. They’ve been physical and taking it to Philly’s vaunted defensive front early. Adjustments will be made by Vic Fangio, but a great start to get ahead.
3. With the Bears’ injuries at linebacker and strength in the secondary, I’m happy to see them play more Dime looks. Getting their best defenders all on the field at the same time is the right choice — especially when Kyler Gordon, Gardner-Johnson and Nahshon Wright are also good in run support. It’s a good choice by Dennis Allen and I want to see them roll this out more over the course of the season.
4. Goodness, the Bears’ offense has been fantastic through three drives. Another mauling, gritty drive by the Bears that — while stalled in the red zone — seemed to wear on Philly’s defense yet again. Key catch by Zaccheaus on a third down, and an escape/scramble on another one by Caleb Williams. Swift led the drive on the ground yet again.
Williams’ miss to Rome Odunze in the end zone hopefully won’t come back to bite them, but it’s another example of the passing game still leaving plays on the field, despite the offense being spectacular.
It’s been an unbelievable showcase so far from Ben Johnson.
5. Boy, did the Bears miss Jaylon Johnson. You kind of forget how much of an impact he has on the field because he’s been out so long. Great coverage on the Eagles’ ensuing drive — a play where Dennis Allen sent Kyler Gordon on a blitz (surprise!) and he came close to sacking Jalen Hurts. Bears’ defense playing quite well to open this game, all things considered.
6. Caleb continues to be frustrating with his accuracy (albeit it’s windy as hell). But he’s making good decisions against a very tough post-snap defense in Vic Fangio’s Eagles. There are several examples of him making the right read (and quickly) in the first half, but he’s sailing the throw. D.J. Moore’s slip on a dig on the two-minute drive cost the Bears a shot at three points.
Bears have been really good through one half, and should be up much more than a touchdown against Philly. On the road.
I think we can safely say Chicago’s at least proven they belong on the same field as the Eagles.
<HALFTIME>
7. The Eagles and Bears traded punts to start the second half. One Philly’s second possession, the Bears pressured Hurts towards the sideline and he heaved one to A.J. Brown that was picked off by Kevin Byard. Another revenge game big play – Byard saw that target coming from 20 yards downfield and flew in for a great INT.
Bears offensively wasted the possession, though. A nice run on first down by Kyle Monangai set up a 2nd and short, but the Bears chose to try to pass on two straight downs and had a short scramble and incomplete to Odunze (who was open) — misfire by Caleb who was being chased frantically.
Not sure why they haven’t stayed committed to the run the last few drives, because the passing game is all sorts of out of sync today.
8. Yikes, the Eagles sure changed things in a hurry. A crosser to A.J. Brown to get out of their own end zone, followed by a DUMB penalty by Gervon Dexter hitting Hurts late put the Eagles on skates.
A big keeper by Hurts and a beautiful snatch on a fade to Brown against Nahshon Wright and it’s 10-9, Bears, after Jake Elliott missed the extra point.
The Bears have had chance after chance to put some distance between them and the Eagles, and they haven’t been able to do it. And now, it’s a pressure cooker game again.
9. My word, this game is insane.
Ben Johnson got too cute on a 2nd and 1 and Nakobe Dean picked off Caleb Williams on a screen pass that otherwise would’ve gone for big yards. Eagles got the ball back Bears territory. Another rough passing play when the run game continues to work.
But then after a couple first downs from Philly, the Bears stuffed the Tush Push AND Nahshon Wright stripped Jalen Hurts to put and end to that drive. Insane play and insane timing. He has played the run well all year and came through in another huge moment, just as it looked like Philly was about to put their own stamp on this game.
I would be just fine if the Bears don’t pass it again today.
10. Ben Johnson got the message. Carry after carry for Kyle Monangai on that drive — rushing with EASE en route to a touchdown. I counted just three dropbacks by Caleb: a dirted screen on 3rd and 5 on the Eagles’ 37, a 4th and 5 out route conversion to Colston Loveland, and a slant to Moore to set up 1st and Goal at the 5.
Complete ass-kicking all the way down the field. Bears up 17-9. That was lovely stuff.
11. What Dennis Allen has whipped up the last two weeks is nothing short of heroic. Doing this with zero startable (or even replacement level) linebackers against teams who love to utilize RBs and TEs in the passing game is unbelievable. Getting Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon back for this game certainly helped, but this is true wizardry.
Can’t tell you how impressive this coaching staff has been. And Allen isn’t likely to go anywhere.
12. The Bears. Are. For. Real.
The Bears bled five minutes off the clock on a beautiful chokehold drive, helped by multiple short jabs by the Bears and two third down passes by Caleb to Moore on a mesh concept, and OZ on a screen pass.
And then after another naked boot that they’ve peppered throughout the game, Ben Johnson and Caleb went for the kill and lofted a beautiful 28-yard toss to Cole Kmet for a touchdown. 24-9, Bears.
13. Interesting chess match on the ensuing Eagles possession. Hurts has historically struggled against the blitz, and so Allen — in a traditionally “prevent” style situation — opted to play man and send pressure repeatedly. Hurts did a good job finding answers quickly on most occasions, rendering the blitzes useless. But the Bears also did a good job tackling to avoid bigger chunk gains and forcing more time usage.
Cool to see the unusual approach, even if it didn’t fully work. Still, Philly missed the two-point try so it remained a two-possession game after their touchdown.
Odunze recovered the onside — so no immediate repeat of the Cincinnati game!
14. I remember Kyle Long shared a story where he asked his brother Chris – who was on the 2018 Eagles – if he thought the Bears were good enough to win the Super Bowl had the double-doink actually gone in. Chris said no; he thought the Bears weren’t tough / physical enough. And it was probably warranted.
Today? Different story. The Bears man-handled the Eagles pretty much from start to finish. Unbelievable what we witnessed in Philly.
15. The Bears will enjoy a mini-ish bye week and get set to travel to Lambeau Field next Sunday to take on the Packers in a crucial divisional matchup. It’s crazy that the Bears are playing games of this magnitude this season. We were all hoping for “In the Hunt” graphic inclusions… and instead, they’re battling for division titles and seeding. Incredible.
The Packers had a great showing in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, and are starting to really click on all cylinders, especially on offense. Jordan Love looks good. It’ll be a fun game.
Early prediction: Packers 27, Bears 23
White Sox Arms Impress In The Arizona Fall League
The White Sox had some significant contributions from the slew of rookies on the roster this season, which should get fans excited about the future of the team. Shane Smith earned an all-star nod, Mike Vasil was a key piece of the pitching staff, Colson Montgomery was one of the best power hitters in the second half of the season and Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Chase Meidroth were phenomenal.
This excitement should continue down to the farm system, as there were plenty of top prospects that played well throughout the minor leagues. This continued past the regular season, as there were some fantastic performances in the Arizona Fall League as well.
While the White Sox had prospects make significant contributions in the Arizona Fall League from the batters box, there were also some strong performances on the pitching side.
Most importantly, 2024 first round pick Hagen Smith showed everyone why he selected in the top-10. In 14 innings for the Glendale Desert Dogs, Smith had a 2.57 ERA with 21 strikeouts to just seven walks. He also had a pristine .93 WHIP and a .143 batting average against. This is exactly what you wanted to see out of Hagen Smith after an up and down 2025 in the minor leagues.
Another scoreless outing for White Sox No. 5 prospect Hagen Smith!
This time, Smith punched out five batters giving him a total of nine strikeouts this Fall in six innings of work. Smith ranks as MLB’s No. 88 prospect pic.twitter.com/x9FqUQUAOz
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) October 17, 2025
Smith will likely make his way to Chicago at some point in 2026, as Chris Getz has not shied away from promoting prospects to the major leagues. The only thing that is a question at this point is when Smith will find his way to Chicago, as that will likely depend on how he plays in Spring Training and in the beginning of the season. If Smith continues to pitch like he did in the Arizona Fall League, we could potentially see Smith in the first half of the season.
Smith was not the only pitcher representing the White Sox in the fall league, as they also had Tyler Davis, Carson Jacobs, and Jarold Rosado.
Tyler Davis threw 10.2 innings for the Desert Dogs, pitching to a 7.59 ERA and a 2.250 WHIP. He did strike out 18 batters though, showcasing his swing and miss stuff.
Carson Jacobs threw 6 innings for the Desert Dogs, pitching to a 4.50 ERA and a 2.50 WHIP. He struck out 12 batters in those 6 innings, which equates to an elite 18 K/9 ratio.
Jarold Rosado threw 6.2 innings, pitching to a 12.15 ERA and a 2.55 WHIP. He struck out 7 batters in those 6.2 innings.
Overall, you saw a ton of swing and miss stuff out of the White Sox fall league representatives. This is exactly what you want to see out of these players, as stats aren’t always indicative of their performances. In the fall league, they are typically working on specific things after a long season. For comparison, Grant Taylor had a 9+ ERA in the fall league last season.
Outside of Smith, there are some intriguing arms that played in the AFL and they should be fun to follow as they make their way through the Chicago White Sox organization.
White Sox Should Take A Chance On Former Chicago Cubs Star
The White Sox had a significant improvement from 2024-2025, as they won 19 more games this past season. This was solid progress, as they looked like a much more competent baseball team. This improvement was due to a lot of factors, but most importantly, contributions from their top prospects.
This sets the White Sox up for continued improvement throughout the organization in 2026, as they will have another top draft pick and room to add players from outside the organization. Despite the White Sox being one step closer to contention, they should not stop adding low-risk, high-reward players, as it is likely they won’t be in the hunt for the playoffs this season. These acquisitions could come in the form of former top-100 prospects who haven’t gotten much playing time with their current organization or have bounced around a few teams.
There has already been one move like that this offseason, as the White Sox acquired former top-100 prospect Everson Pereira from the Tampa Bay Rays. This is a high-upside move, as the White Sox could tap into the talent that made Pereira a top-100 prospect and into a valuable middle of the order bat.
There is another move the White Sox could look into, as a very intriguing young player was recently non-tendered by the Tampa Bay Rays. That player is former Chicago Cub, Christopher Morel.
Morel has had an interesting career to this point, as he found success early in his career with the Cubs. In just over 2.5 seasons with the club, he hit 60 homeruns and had 168 RBIs over 328 games. He accumulated 2.7 WAR, as he had a .228 average, a .308 OBP and a .439 slugging percentage. This was impressive, as this was in his age 23-25 seasons.
After being traded to the Rays he didn’t have quite the same success, as he has hit just .208 with 14 homeruns over 154 games. This lead to his non-tender this offseason, making him a free agent.
Morel could be an intriguing option for the White Sox, as he has a ton of raw power that the White Sox have been looking to add to their lineup. Baseball Savant grades him out at the top of the league in average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard hit percentage, and bat speed. These are high quality tools that you can’t teach.
Pretty shocked.
Christopher Morel, 26, has his issues but its elite bat speed and power.
He seemed like he didn't have a path to regular playing time in TBR.
zCon isn't great so its lightning in a bottle, and if he can find a defensive home, its a 3+ WAR player, easily. https://t.co/zIwMc3WA5d pic.twitter.com/5BZJMZd7W2
— Remi Bunikiewicz (@RBunikiewicz) November 18, 2025
Morel is still just 26 years old so he hasn’t even entered his prime yet. The White Sox could offer him consistent at-bats in the outfield or at DH, as he could thrive with a change of scenery and a new coaching staff.
While Morel isn’t the best fielder, it would be worth taking a flier on him, as he would be the perfect low-risk, high-reward candidate. The White Sox should still be looking at adding as many talented players to the roster as possible while the games don’t mean as much. Additionally, he would be right in the White Sox price range, as he would not command a ton of money coming off a down season with the Rays.
Unexpected Name Convinced Bears To Sign CJ Gardner-Johnson
The Chicago Bears have endured one of the roughest injury bouts in recent memory this season, particularly on the defensive side. At one point, they were without their top four cornerbacks for a game. Now they’ll be without their top three linebackers for at least two. When things like this happen, you have no choice but to scour the free agent market for help. That often involves taking calculated risks on names other teams don’t want to touch. Such was the case with CJ Gardner-Johnson.
After snagging six interceptions and winning the Super Bowl with Philadelphia last season, one would think the defensive back was on top of the world. Instead, his outspoken personality led to his being traded by the Eagles to Houston, who then cut him midway through the season. A failed stint on Baltimore’s practice squad became a low point. Perhaps he’d become too radioactive.
However, the Bears were desperate enough to consider signing him. They needed assurances that he would do more good than harm to them. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who’d worked with Gardner-Johnson in New Orleans, insisted he could make it work. It turns out he wasn’t the only one.
ESPN revealed another influence.
CORNERBACK Tyrique Stevenson has known Gardner-Johnson since their days at the University of Florida. Gardner-Johnson served as Stevenson’s host on a recruiting visit, and he was aware of Gardner-Johnson’s reputation long before they became NFL teammates with the Bears.
“[The outside perception] was like, he’s a hothead, he doesn’t listen,” Stevenson said. “Just from what I read and all that, it was just [that he was considered] a little d—–bag.
“But he’s a great guy, great competitor, and I feel like sometimes that competitiveness gets portrayed as cockiness and arrogance.”
CJ Gardner-Johnson seems to have been humbled.
His past few months were a rude wakeup call after his high moment in the Super Bowl. It was proof that no matter the amount of on-field success you have, teams have limits for what they’re willing to put up with. If you’re going to make yourself a distraction, they’ll sacrifice productivity for peace. Seeing three top-tier organizations prove that to him in the space of a few months must’ve been a nasty shock to his ego. CJ Gardner-Johnson never thought his NFL career would be in jeopardy like that.
That phone call from the Bears must’ve felt like a single mote of light in a dark tunnel. It’s little wonder the defensive back has played with a clear purpose since arriving. His impact can’t be overstated. Regardless of the final outcome, the signing will be viewed as a win-win for both parties. Not only did it help save Chicago’s season, but it also helped save Gardner-Johnson’s career.
White Sox Rookie Standout Sparks Unexpected Trade Interest
The White Sox sigificantly improved from 2024-2025, as they won 19 more games this past season. This was solid progress, as they looked like a much more competent baseball team. This improvement was due to a lot of factors, but most importantly, contributions from their top prospects.
It was very nice to see the White Sox get immediate results from their top prospects, as it always seemed to take a few years, if at all, for their highly touted players to make an impact at the major league level. Of course, with players performing at a high level, other teams will naturally be interested in taking those players from you.
In the case of the White Sox, as they had great contributions from booth rookie catchers, teams naturally wanted to see if the White Sox would be open to moving one of them. According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of the Athletic, the White Sox have been receiving trade calls on rookie catcher Kyle Teel.
This is very interesting, as Teel was a former top-50 prospect that had as good of a rookie season as one could have as a catcher. Despite that, teams are still calling to see if the White Sox would be interested in moving him.
However, Rosenthal and Sammon note that “the White Sox, while in no position to cut off trade discussions, are not inclined to move either catcher unless they get a spectacular return.” This is the right way to go about this if you are Chris Getz, as you have to listen to offers, because one could always be too crazy to possibly pass up.
While it would seem crazy to consider trading Kyle Teel, as players like him don’t grow on trees, it would be malpractice to not listen to an offer if it included 2+ top-100 prospects and an established MLB player, as you have another capable catcher on the roster.
This past season Teel played in 78 games, hitting .273 with eight homeruns, 35 RBIs, and a fantastic .375 OBP. He slugged .411 and had a very good .786 OPS.
153 days to Opening Day
Random 2025 moment 17/169Kyle Teel launches a homer to open the scoring against Baltimore!
Predict how many he hits next year👇pic.twitter.com/2pQjL7MjZE
— SleeperWhiteSox (@SleeperWhiteSox) October 24, 2025
According to Baseball Reference, Teel accumulated 1.9 WAR, which is impressive in just 78 games. If you take that over a full season, he is sitting at 4+ WAR. That would be among the best in the league at the catcher position.
I am in the camp that you shouldn’t trade Kyle Teel or Edgar Quero, as both can help contribute in the lineup everyday, giving each other a break behind the plate. However if there was an insane offer, Korey Lee is still on the team, and he would be more than a capable backup if there was a trade.
When it’s all said and done, I think trading Korey Lee would be the most likely scenario, as he could be a very valuable asset on another team that doesn’t already have two catchers. However, the White Sox could have three catchers on the roster like they did to end the season.
While a trade for Teel is very unlikely, it is interesting to hear that teams are calling in to check on his availability. As a GM, you never know what is going to come through that phone, so it is smart to listen and see if someone is desperate enough to make a generational overpay.
