Sunday, April 26, 2026
✶ Untold Chicago Stories ✶ Amazon Music
Home Blog Page 2983

Bulls Insider Says Zach LaVine Could Be Back Sooner Than Expected

By
Aldo Soto
-

Chicago Bulls fans have watched rookie Lauri Markkanen play well early on in the 2017-18 season, but they could be on the verge of watching another stud on the court soon.

Zach LaVine, who has been sidelined because of a torn ACL that came back in February against the Detroit Pistons, hasn’t suffered any setbacks during his rehab. The better news is that the 22-year-old shooting guard could be returning to action sooner than first anticipated.

LaVine was eager to play, as the Bulls began their camp prior to the regular season, but was obviously patient, of course taking the advice from the team to not rush back. The original time table had LaVine scheduled to make his Bulls debut at some point in December, however NBC Sports Chicago reporter Vincent Goodwill believes it’ll come a little earlier.

Goodwill was on The Spiegel and Parkins Show on 670 The Score Friday morning and said the following about LaVine’s return.

“I remember hearing that his timeline was to come back around Christmas, or a little bit before that. I wouldn’t be surprised if he weren’t back by the end of the month, somewhere around Thanksgiving. Not to necessarily rush him back or anything because I don’t think the Bulls should. I don’t think he would want to (rush back), especially with this year being tank-a-palooza, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he weren’t ready to play at least at some point by the end of the month.”

(Vincent Goodwill)

Before his injury, LaVine was averaging 18.9 points per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves on 45.9 percent shooting in 47 games. You might also remember him from the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, which he won in 2015 and 2016.

Obviously the biggest concern is how he will respond after the ACL injury, but there doesn’t seem to be that big of a worry. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times was on the Bernstein and Goff Show on Friday and he was pretty optimistic that LaVine will return to the court with the same explosiveness.

There’s also the fact that LaVine just signed a $35 million shoe deal with Adidas. Pretty sure they’ve done their own tests and research on LaVine to assure themselves that not only is he coming back and will be a big part of the Bulls future, but that he’ll be healthy and step up as his career continues.

If Goodwill is correct in his estimation of LaVine’s return, it would point to about the last week of November. The Bulls finish the month with four games against the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets. The matchups against the Heat and Suns will be at home (Nov. 26, 28) so maybe LaVine makes his Bulls debut at the United Center?

Let’s hope so because as painful as it is to watch the Bulls this year, it would get a little more exciting watching Markkanen with another legitimate threat in LaVine next to him.

Meet the Man Who Could End Up Getting John Fox Fired

By
Erik Lambert
-
deonte thompson

John Fox certainly seems confident that he’s in no danger of losing his job. It’s hard to understand how that could be. His team is 3-5 at the bye week. This means they would have to go 5-3 to just reach .500. He claims the playoffs are a possibility. Considering the Bears are 0-2 in the division and 1-5 against the NFC, the odds of that happening for beyond long. So could his self-confidence be denial at reality?

The increasing belief is that outside of a playoff run there is only one way Fox can save his job. That’s by proving he has what it takes to properly develop Mitch Trubisky at quarterback. Thus far it’s not looking too good. Trubisky has looked under siege a lot during his first four games. He’s completed a mere 47.5% of his passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also hasn’t cracked 200 yards in a game yet.

Now Fox and others would have people believe this is due to a glaring lack of talent at wide receiver. In fairness there is plenty of truth to that. Trubisky is essentially throwing to a pair of rookies and an ex-first round pick who was cut by his original team. The thing is though, that is way too simple a reason. The coaches bare some responsibility for the issues, more than they’d care to let on.

Deonte Thompson success puts John Fox and staff is bad light

Ironically enough it’s a former Bear who could end up being the undoing of Fox. Wide receiver Deonte Thompson was considered a solid member of the roster, both on offense and special teams. He was a nice reserve receiver and their primary kick returner. However, in a bit of a surprising move he was cut after the loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Another receiver who couldn’t do much of anything right? Well that’s the thing. Since leaving Chicago it appears Thompson has found new life in Buffalo. Over the past three games he has 197 yards and a touchdown. This despite having no training camp or preseason to prepare. That’s more than every Bears receiver on the roster combined over that same span.

What does this have to do with Fox? Well the problem is much of Thompson’s sudden success is less to do with his talent and more to do with how the Bills coaches are utilizing him. Here’s an example.

This is proof Thompson has ability. What he hasn’t had is a coach who can consistently put him in position to use it. That falls at the feet of Fox and his coordinator Dowell Loggains, who have run one of the most vanilla offenses seen in years, even for Chicago. If people think GM Ryan Pace isn’t taking notice of things like this, they’re wrong.

Thompson may not be a star but it’s clear now he could’ve helped the team. Most importantly he could’ve helped Trubisky. The inability of the coaches to recognize that could be the straw that breaks the camels’ back come January.

White Sox Grab A Power Hitter Off Waivers From The Twins

By
Matt Enuco
-
The White Sox claimed another power hitter of waivers on Friday.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America via Zimbio.

The White Sox snared another prospect off the waiver wire on Friday. Several teams around the league are feeling the squeeze of the 40-man roster and the Twins lost Daniel Palka as they tried to slip him past the A.L. Central. Palka is listed as the Twins No. 22 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Palka is a versatile lefty with some serious pop. A third-round draft pick by the Diamondbacks out of Georgia Tech, Palka was traded after the 2015 season to the Twins for  Chris Herrman.

Palka has outstanding power and blasted 34 home runs in 2016 between Double-A and Triple-A, but the well was bare this past season. In 84 contests Palka only managed 12 long balls in a season shortened by a broken finger in May. Besides Palka’s power potential he has demonstrated the ability to drive runs in.

Besides Palka’s power potential he has demonstrated the ability to drive runs in. He drove in 90 runs in back-to-back seasons (2015,2016) while batting .280 and .254 respectively. There was concern about his strikeout rate while in High-A but he has scrubbed that blemish from his scouting report, sinking his strikeout rate to 22 percent — a dramatic improvement from his career high 38 percent the previous season. And let’s not forget that power hitters fan more frequently than contact guys.

Still, Palka’s seismic power and versatility around the diamond gives the White Sox plenty of cause to add him to the roster. He was played outfield exclusively last season and made seven appearances as the designated hitter.

This move could send a message to other players on the big league roster that the White Sox are still searching for depth to replace anticipated gaps. It is very unlikely that the South Siders deal Jose Abreu given the market for first-baseman but Avisail Garcia and Nicky Delmonico may need to take a few extra swings over the offseason. But above all else, Palka is a move to inject even more uncertainty into an already vicious competition for roster spots.

Bulls Players Side With Bobby Portis In Feud With Nikola Mirotic

By
Matt Peck
-
bulls side bobby portis feud nikola mirotic

Chicago Sun-Times Bulls reporter Joe Cowley appeared on the Bernstein & Goff Show on 670 The Score this afternoon, and he shed more light on where the fractured locker room stands after the altercation between Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis last month.

There haven’t been any developments regarding a possible reconciliation between the two. The status quo remains: Mirotic is demanding that either he or Portis be traded. Niko can’t be traded until January 15, and Bobby’s trade value is next to nothing. Meanwhile, Mirotic has resumed light physical activity at the team’s practice facility but is still several weeks away from a potential return as his facial fractures heal. Portis has two games remaining of his eight game suspension.

Coach Fred Hoiberg is doing a commendable job of dancing around questions related to the ongoing feud between two of his players. All he’s willing to say is that the team’s medical staff is focused on getting Mirotic healthy. Fred did say that he’s been texting with Niko, who expressed to his coach that he’s happy to be lightly working out again. But that’s it.

As for the rest of the team? Veteran leader Robin Lopez has communicated with Mirotic a few times, but hasn’t shared details of those conversations. He’s trying to keep the locker room together and focused on each game. But Cowley said on 670 The Score that the younger Bulls players aren’t necessarily awaiting Niko’s return with bated breath.

Taking Sides

When it comes to who was at fault in the dramatic – and quick – fight between Portis and Mirotic, it gets a little complicated.

“There’s not a lot of guys in the locker room that thought, ‘Man, Bobby, how could you do that?’ They get it.” – Joe Cowley

Obviously punching your teammate is never a good idea, and Bobby should rightfully take the blame and responsibility for doing so. Some Bulls fans believe his suspension should’ve been longer, perhaps even forcing Bobby to sit until Niko is cleared to return. But that’s not how the Bulls front office saw it, and that’s not how most of the players saw it either.

Bulls VP John Paxson repeatedly made it know in his comments after the incident that Mirotic was not innocent. Both players were jawing at each other and pushing. It was Niko who ultimately charged violently at Portis, who proceeded to knock him out with one punch.

Then there’s the young Bulls who spent their summer working hard, trying to prove to the organization that they deserved minutes. According to Cowley, it wasn’t just Portis – who lost the chance at a starting job when Niko signed his new contract at the midnight hour – who was miffed by Niko’s absence this summer. Portis was putting the work in at organized team workouts and scrimmages while Mirotic went through his own offseason program. Yes, he was around the Advocate Center sometimes. But he wasn’t participating in team activities and he kept his distance from teammates.

That rubbed a lot of the young Bulls the wrong way. Those feelings worsened when Mirotic claimed the starting power forward job after signing his new contract. According to Cowley, many of Niko’s teammates thought that was unfair and undeserved.

So what does this mean? Look, it’s unrealistic to expect players to come out and trash one of their teammates to the media, or even openly take sides in a feud like this. They’ll try to put a positive spin on it. Or, in Hoiberg’s case, ignore the question completely. But if you read between the lines, it’s becoming clearer that these young rebuilding Bulls aren’t keen on getting Mirotic back in the fold.

If it truly is a “him or me” situation, Niko looks like the odd man out. The Bulls keep talking about building a positive culture and how important that is to the rebuild. If they want their young underdog players to get along with one another in the locker room, Mirotic needs to be the one to leave.

Until then – then being January 15 – this mess will continue to get media attention and eat away at the team’s focus of developing these young players.

Cubs Add Left-Handed Pitcher To 40-Man Roster

By
Aldo Soto
-

The Chicago Cubs made a minor move on Friday, claiming 23-year-old Randy Rosario off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.

The left-handed pitcher made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2017, making two appearances in June. Now, he’s on the Cubs 40-man roster, which as of now because of so many open spots is only at 33.

Rosario used to be a starting pitcher in the Twins minor league system, making 55 starts up until the 2016 season, when he was converted into a reliever. Overall, the lefty has pitched in 107 minor league games, 352.2 innings and has a 3.37 ERA. At Double-A in 2017, Rosario had a 4.08 ERA and 3.81 FIP out of the bullpen in 57.1 innings.

So, just one of those minor moves that could pay off dividends later for the Cubs. If you look at the Cubs right now, they only have Mike Montgomery, Justin Wilson and Rob Zastryzny on the 40-man roster as left-handed relievers. So, who knows, maybe Rosario sticks around, but again it’s really early in the offseason.

Here’s a short scouting report on Rosario from FanGraphs.

A 6-foot lefty whose stuff ticked up after moving the the bullpen late in the year. Fastball sits 92-96 in relief, he has an above-average upper-80s cutter and changeup. He’s already had one Tommy John.

Rosario was signed by the Twins in August 2010.

A Coaching Change Won’t Ruin Mitch Trubisky for the Bears

By
Erik Lambert
-
mitch trubisky

A lot of people aren’t buying into the idea of firing Chicago Bears head coach John Fox after the 2017 season. Part of why isn’t because they feel he’s the best man for the job. Their fears lay with the situation faced by rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky. It’s felt that drafting him basically locked Fox in for the next couple years. Why? Nothing is more important to the development of a young quarterback than continuity.

That’s a popular NFL saying. It’s also a complete myth. Truth be told three things end up making great quarterbacks: their own talent, the talent around them and the quality of coaching they get. There have been a number of players throughout the past decades who saw their head coaches fired after just one season.

One would think they became disasters right? Not so much. In fact there are plenty of examples that show the opposite is true. Quarterbacks who saw their coaches dumped after one year and the replacements helping them to great success.

Jared Goff

  • 2016:  Jeff Fisher
  • 2017:  Sean McVay

Aaron Rodgers

  • 2005:  Mike Sherman
  • 2006:  Mike McCarthy

Drew Brees

  • 2001:  Mike Riley
  • 2002:  Marty Schottenheimer

Brett Favre

  • 1991:  Jerry Glanville
  • 1992:  Mike Holmgren

Jim Kelly

  • 1986:  Hank Bullough
  • 1987:  Marv Levy

Goff is the most recent example given he has the Los Angeles Rams battling for home field advantage after what was deemed a disastrous rookie year. Favre was literally traded after one year from his original team (the Falcons) to Green Bay. One could say things turned out pretty well for him after that.

The key was all about putting those quarterbacks under coaches who knew how to manage the position. McVay, McCarthy and Holmgren were all offensive specialists. Schottenheimer had a proven track record from his time in Cleveland and Kansas City. Levy had won three Grey Cups in Canada, an offensively-driven league.

The point being that Fox is nearing his point of no return. As Trubisky continues to struggle, one of two things will save his job. Either he must convince ownership he can find an upgrade over offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains or he must pray the defense and running game can get the Bears to the playoffs.

Cubs Fans Will Hate This Prediction About Yu Darvish

By
Aldo Soto
-

Hello, MLB offseason, it’s good to see you.

So, last year at this time Chicago Cubs fans were celebrating a dream come true, as the Cubs finally won a World Series and all was right with the world. That offseason was a blur and sure the Cubs made a splash by trading Jorge Soler for Wade Davis and Dexter Fowler left in free agency, but the big time rumors weren’t flying around. I expect that to change this time around. Kind of like the 2015 offseason.

We’ve already discussed the hypothetical/rumor of a Jason Heyward trade to the San Francisco Giants, but as free agency begins let’s get into some predictions. This one, Cubs fans are going to hate.

So, MLB Trade Rumors, great website that keeps up with all the latest news and obviously rumors, does an annual list of the top-50 free agents, predicts the contracts for those free agents and where they will sign.

The very first prediction is for starting pitcher Yu Darvish.

Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, Jeff Todd, and Jason Martinez came up with the following.

1.  Yu Darvish – Cubs.  Six years, $160MM.

The 31-year-old righty should have no problem setting a new free agent record for a Tommy John survivor, passing Jordan Zimmermann’s five-year, $110MM deal.  Seven-year contracts have historically been reserved for slightly younger pitchers without elbow surgery on their resume, so we’re expecting six years for Darvish.  Free agent starters have exceeded a $25MM salary four different times, and we’re projecting Darvish to become the fifth. If the Dodgers decide to move on, the Cubs, Phillies, Nationals, Cardinals, Astros, and Twins could be potential suitors. There’s a shortage of obvious big-market players here, allowing for dark horses to enter the mix.

Here’s the thing, as the article mentions, if all you consider is his World Series starts then you’re out of your mind. A two-start sample size is going to make you hate him all of a sudden? Please. However, that doesn’t mean the Cubs should be going out there spending another $160 million on a 31-year-old pitcher who’s had Tommy John Surgery.

More importantly, six years? Hell no. Let somebody else make that big commitment on Darvish. Plus, the prediction on Jake Arrieta, at least the contract figures, makes a lot more sense for the Cubs.

Here’s what MLBTR had for Arrieta.

4.  Jake Arrieta – Brewers.  Four years, $100MM.  A July 2013 trade from the Orioles to the Cubs rebooted Arrieta’s career, which peaked with the NL Cy Young Award in 2015.  Arrieta’s star has dimmed since then, as he’s become more prone to walks, home runs, and hits and stopped pitching deep into games.  He still provided value to the 2017 Cubs, with 30 starts of 3.53 ERA ball.  Though he turns 32 in March, Arrieta’s case for a long-term deal is boosted by excellent physical conditioning.  We expect him to come out looking for a six-year deal, but land at four or five.  Arrieta appears likely to move on from the Cubs, with whom he was unable to agree to an extension in the past few years.  However, it’s possible Arrieta could circle back to the Cubs later in the offseason if his market disappoints.  We don’t see a clear favorite to sign him, so we’ve chosen a dark horse pick in the Brewers.  The Cardinals, Nationals, Astros, Rangers, Phillies, Yankees, Angels, Mariners, Braves, Twins, and Dodgers could be in the mix depending on the price

Arrieta is going to be 32-years-old next year, and honestly four-years, at $100 million isn’t that bad. I’d prefer a shorter deal, three years at the most, with the average amount not really mattering before most of the young Cubs players get to free agency. And as the blurb mentions, he could easily come back to the Cubs if the market dies down. We’ve seen that happen before with Dexter Fowler after 2015.

Plus, Arrieta has expressed interest in coming back to the Cubs and Theo Epstein has said the Cubs would love to get him back. At the end of the day, money talks and this is going to be Arrieta’s last chance to get a big deal, so expect him to go for the money and you can’t really blame him for that.

The other big Cubs free agent is closer Wade Davis, and this contract prediction is also something I could see the Cubs offering him.

8.  Wade Davis – Astros.  Four years, $60MM.

If the Cubs look elsewhere, the Astros, Cardinals, Rangers, Nationals, Twins, Braves, and Rockies could be fits.  Davis is another slam-dunk recipient of the qualifying offer and will reject in search of a long-term deal.

I don’t think the Cubs look elsewhere and at four years for $60 million that should be a slam dunk to get Davis back.

There are two other predictions for relievers signing with the Cubs and I like both pitchers. They have Addison Reed and Jake McGee at four years, $36 million and three years, $18 million, respectively.

If you remember back to the 2015 offseason, there was a lot of trade talk between the Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays and one of the names that always popped up was McGee. He’s 31-years-old, has a career 3.15 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 362.2 innings. In 2017, with the Colorado Rockies, McGee pitches 57.1 innings, recording a 3.61 ERA and a 2.93 FIP.

Get him out of Coors Field and I like it.

Addison Reed is 28-years-old, and has had ERAs of 3.38, 1.97 and 2.84 in the last three years. Love me some Addison Reed. I was actually hoping the Cubs would make a trade for him in 2017, when the New York Mets were starting their fire sale.

Anyway, you can check out the rest of the list here to get your juices flowing. GM meetings coming up, qualifying offers are being made and declined. The offseason is here and it should be fun.

John Fox and Ryan Pace Report Card Midway Through Year 3

By
Erik Lambert
-
john fox and ryan pace
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 13: during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 13, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

John Fox and Ryan Pace don’t have to be told how important the next eight games of this Chicago Bears schedule are. After seasons of 6-10 and 3-13, they need to see signs of improvement from this team if they can start thinking about life beyond 2017. Sitting two and a half years into their tenure together, maybe it’s time to evaluate what they’ve accomplished.

John Fox

  • Age:  62
  • Contract:  Year 3 of 4
  • Win-Loss record:  12-28

Pros:  

Fox was brought in by the Bears for a number of reasons. He’s an experienced coach going back two decades who’d helped two different franchises rapidly rebuild into Super Bowl contenders. His reputation for building a strong team culture could help repair the one shattered in Chicago by the mismanagement of Marc Trestman. Last but not least he was a stern advocate of true “Bears football.” That meant great defense and a strong running game.

These jobs Fox has accomplished. Since he took over the Bears have encountered fewer and fewer locker room incidents. It’s gotten to a point where they were barely even affected by the national anthem controversy. They’ve gone from having the 30th ranked defense in 2014 to 8th in 2017. They also have the 4th ranked rushing attack in the NFL. As traditional Chicago football goes, he’s reestablished everything.

Cons:

A number of characteristics have follow Fox teams over the years. They’re talented and tough but they’re also sloppy, undisciplined, unimaginative and beset by allegations of cheating. The sloppiness and lack of discipline come in any number of areas. So far this season Bears players have 13 dropped passes. Last season it was 24, so they’re on pace to break that mark. They’ve also turned the ball over 15 times, good for third-most in the league.

Their offense is boring and predictable. As a team they’re converting just 36.1% of their third downs, ranking them 23rd in the league. They also have 52 offensive penalties, tying them for 10th-most. Rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky has suffered from this lack of consistency and inability of the scheme to adjust to what he does best.

Last but not least is the persistent string of PED suspensions that seem to follow him. Jerrell Freeman has been busted twice in two years. Alshon Jeffery also got flagged in 2016, as did Ego Ferguson. It’s not an isolated case. He had similar issues in Denver and Carolina as well.

Ryan Pace

  • Age:  40
  • Contract:  Year 3 of 5
  • Pro Bowlers drafted or signed:  2

Pros:

Bears chairman George McCaskey said he wanted a fresh start with a new viewpoint when he hired Ryan Pace in 2015. Pace had no connections to Chicago, spending his entire NFL career in New Orleans as a scout and personnel director. He wanted somebody with a plan who could rebuild the team to where it was during the height of the Lovie Smith era but also might bring fresh ideas to the table.

All things considered Pace has done his job. Those Bears teams were known for defense and running the ball. Three years into his tenure and Pace’s team are among the best in the NFL at both featuring all players he’s acquired including Jordan Howard, Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd, Cody Whitehair, Danny Trevathan and Eddie Jackson. Almost the entire core of top players on the roster are 27-years old or younger too.

Last but not least he’s shown a greater interest in investing at the quarterback position than prior GMs. His signing of Mike Glennon in free agency and aggressive move to get Mitch Trubisky in the 2017 draft prove that.

Cons:

Pace is not without his share of missteps. His management of the wide receiver position deserves plenty of criticism. Allowing Alshon Jeffery to reach free agency springs to mind, not to mention his selection of the inexperienced and raw Kevin White for his first pick in the 2015 draft. There’s also the signing of Markus Wheaton in free agency who already had a history of health issues. Pace seems to have a bad habit of adding receivers who get hurt. Yes that’s not entirely his fault but at the end of the day it’s still his moves.

There is also a growing tendency for him to play the cheap card in free agency. He goes more for quantity than quality, choosing to fill several positions with second and third tier players rather than invest in one of the top names available. This might lead to a healthy salary cap but can tend to tell free agents to steer clear of Chicago if they want a pay day. Not a good reputation to have, especially with such an important free agency period coming up next year.

Grades

Fox did a good job rebuilding the foundation of Bears football both on and off the field. At the same time his bad game management and inability to get his players to execute without constant blundering is a big problem. Throw in the concerning lack of imagination in how to help his young quarterback and it’s hard to envision what else he offers them moving forward.  Grade:  C+

Pace was handed probably one of the most sabotaged rosters in Bears history when he took over. It was old, divided and lacked any sort of future building blocks. Worse yet he was left with bloated contracts and limited draft picks. Despite all that he’s managed to overhaul the roster to a point where experts see a young and ascending team with lots of potential. Sure he’s made some mistakes along the way, but given his youth and inexperience that was bound to happen.  Grade:  B+

Three Free-Agent Relievers The White Sox Should Target Early

By
Matt Enuco
-
Three revlievers the White Sox might target include some well-known names.
Harry How/Getty Images North America via Zimbio.

The champagne from the Astros World Series championship has not fizzled out yet and the hot stove is already cooking. Teams around Major League Baseball made a flurry of roster decisions and the forecast looks stormy for the general manager meetings in early November. With scores of decisions ahead the White Sox will set their wish list with an arsenal of cash and lots of flexibility.

Item No. 1 on the White Sox wish list might be one, or a few, reclamation projects. Pitchers tend to return more value as a flip and the White Sox have a depleted bullpen with lingering questions about the rotation.

Yes, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez will anchor the top two spots in the rotation, but Carlos Rodon underwent shoulder surgery and is shelved for at least the next six months. That leaves James Shields in the third spot with two gaps to fill.

Dylan Covey was a nice story last season but it became painfully evident he was drowning as a starter. Perhaps a move to the bullpen might uncover a niche for him, but he doesn’t feature any put-away pitch that would suggest his success – at best he is a mop-up guy.

Mike Pelfrey fared well enough as a starter and although he wouldn’t return much value in a trade, at least he can compete and hold down a spot until Michael Kopech forces his way into the big leagues. Assuming Rick Renteria wants to run a standard five-man rotation there is one slot that might be filled through free agency. Yet, Carson Fulmer and Tyler Danish are certain to battle for that last spot at Spring Training.

But starters are low hanging fruit in the offseason – the math is easy. The more complex and difficult calculus is relievers. The relief market in free agency is a fickle devil and most of the time no one knows who is going where for how much. But let’s take a whack and naming three right-handed relief pitchers that the White Sox could target.

Huston Street

Street’s roster spot is not even cold yet but the White Sox should take a quick, hard look at the once-dominant closer. After sending David Robertson to the Yankees and jettisoning Tyler Clippard, Street fits the bill as a fallen star looking for an opportunity.

He struggled with two injuries last season that practically eliminated his season and he will have to beg teams for an opportunity. Street posted his worst season in 2016 logging a 6.45 earned run average in only 26 games. He has 324 career saves and had a stretch of outstanding seasons from 2009 to 2014.

Street was an All-Star in 2014 and hammered out 40 saves in 2015. But the right-hander is 34 years old and his body seems to be deteriorating. He trimmed his body fat and tried to get in better shape after a rib cage injury in 2016, but a lat strain, groin strain and rotator cuff strain plagued his entire season.

And believe it or not, the White Sox might be able to get Street on a minor league deal. The combination of age and injury scares a lot of clubs and offering anything more than one-year deals seems foolish. If enough teams pass on Street the White Sox might find a gem in their pen.

Joe Smith

Smith will gather a lot of attention. He is one of the few side-arm relievers with dynamic stuff. His cutter glides across the zone while his sinker dives hard at right-handers feet. He has been a dependable reliever for nine years and consistently finds himself traded to contenders.

Smith started 2016 with the Angels and finished with the Cubs while starting the 2017 season in Toronto and ending up with the Indians. Indeed, he is a hot commodity at the trade deadline and this may drive his price higher than the White Sox are willing to pay.

However, the South Siders purged so much salary after the trade deadline last season that it makes sense for them to compete for this type of asset. Smith made $3 million last season and will likely fetch a similar figure. But his return on value at the trade deadline warrants his signing.

Not many pitchers have his kind of stuff with nary an injury. Rick Hahn should give this one a long look.

Sergio Romo

This is another risky proposition but if he returns to his dominant stuff that he had in San Francisco the White Sox will have a valuable asset. Romo signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers last offseason, a coming home of sorts for the L.A.-native. Yet, Romo quickly fell out of favor with the Dodgers and they designated him for assignment in July – a surprising decision to many.

Until 2017 Romo was lights out from the pen and demonstrated flexibility to swing from relief to closing. He was outstanding for the Giants in three postseasons and closed 38 games in 2013 while earning an all-star nod.

Romo never posted an ERA above 3.97 before 2017 and saved face after being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. In 30 2/3 innings of work at the end of the season, Romo posted a stifling 1.47 ERA and 0.848 WHIP.

Even though Romo struggled with the Dodgers his quick correction with the Rays will restore his value. He made $3 million last season and will have to settle for less give his age (34) and statistical stumble.

There are plenty of other attractive names to ponder, but like I said, the relief market is usually pandemonium and you gotta go where other teams might not.

Zach LaVine To Be New Face Of Adidas?

By
Matthew Milakovich
-

Late Thursday night ESPN confirmed that Zach LaVine will join James Harden and Damian Lillard as the faces of Adidas basketball.

LaVine cited Adidas already strong “brand presence in Chicago” as one of the reasons for joining an already strong stable of Adidas athletes– which includes embattled former Bull and Chicago native Derrick Rose.

The Deal

The four-year endorsement is worth a reported $35 million according to industry sources. Thus allowing Lavine, 22, to hit the sneaker free agent market again by his age 26 season- where presumably, the uber athletic swingman would not only be in the midst of his prime, but hopefully (don’t fuck us Gar/Pax) leading a more competitive Bulls team. Which hypothetically speaking, could increase his appeal to potential suitors– should he choose to test the sneaker dating pool once again.

I say this because for the first three years of his career in Minnesota LaVine donned Nike, not Adidas on the hardwood.

But alas…

“I was looking for a partner that would grow with me as my career continues to unfold,” LaVine said to ESPN. “Adidas convinced me that I have a chance to legitimately become a face of the brand.”

Making the Switch

Coming off a season in which the young star tore his ACL, it seems Nike wasn’t willing to bet on LaVine quite yet; considering the sneaker giant held a “match clause” over any potential offer sheet from a competing brand this fall.

A sheet that at the end of the day, Phil Knight and Co. was just not willing to match.

Regarding any upside in terms of his new deal, the contract is reportedly laden with unprecedented incentives that could prove very lucrative for LaVine in the future.

“It’s a different contract than anything we’ve done recently,” a brand source said.

LaVine’s agent, Nima Namakian had this to say about the deal he negotiated for his client:

“Adidas made a strong commitment, coupled with significant upside and flexibility,” Namakian said. “Equally as important, their vision and belief in Zach becoming an icon athlete and foundational figure of the brand over time really resonated with him.”

As for seeing LaVine finally hit the floor as (most importantly) the new face of the Bulls franchise, the small forward could be cleared for contact as soon as next week.

1...2,9822,9832,984...3,213Page 2,983 of 3,213

Subscribe to our Newsletter

✶ An Unfiltered Voice For Chicago Sports Fans ✶

Chicago Sports News

About Us

© Sports Mockery, Inc. 2026