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Ryan Poles Revealed The Surprisingly Simple Reason The Bears Traded Gervon Dexter

By
Erik Lambert
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ryan poles
Nov 3, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (99) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears didn’t pull many surprises this offseason. At least not compared to previous years. It was relatively straightforward. They made some cuts, signed some free agents, spent their draft picks, and signed undrafted free agents without dropping a serious bombshell. The closest they came was trading D.J. Moore to Buffalo, but even that wasn’t overly surprising. Many had speculated about the possibility for months. However, general manager Ryan Poles always finds a way to throw you a curveball. That finally took place on the day of the final roster cuts, when he traded defensive tackle Gervon Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons for cornerback Clark Phillips and a 5th-round pick.

People couldn’t understand it. Dexter just had his best season in 2025, notching 6 sacks and 43 quarterback pressures. Considering how inconsistent the Bears’ pass rush was last season, it feels exceedingly dangerous to send your second-best rusher packing. Why do it? Poles finally spoke to the media on the subject during his presser on September 1st. There was no hidden agenda with the move. It came down to two simple factors: the Bears did not plan to extend Dexter, and they really liked the array of young talent they have at defensive tackle.

“Those young guys started making a push when we got through camp, along with Grady (Jarrett), (Kentavius) Street and Neville (Gallimore). We felt like the timing made sense for us. Really, it was about the shape in the room and how good those young guys were doing too. We feel really good and confident in our talent level at that position.”

Ryan Poles once again showed pragmatism over stubborn loyalty.

One must not forget that Dexter was a 2nd-round pick by this GM. Others in Poles’ position would’ve argued to keep Dexter. After all, he certainly has enough production to justify it. This isn’t a player who was floundering and wasn’t contributing. However, it became apparent that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has a specific vision for what he wants his defensive tackles to be. Dexter, while not a bad player, doesn’t fit that vision. Rather than stubbornly dig in his heels, Poles acquiesced and struck a deal that worked for both the team and Dexter.

The defensive tackle heads back south, much closer to his home in Lake Wales, Florida. He joins a team that needs defensive line help and has the money to give him an extension. Most importantly, he has a general manager in charge who believes in him. Don’t forget Ian Cunningham was right there next to Ryan Poles when Dexter was drafted. By contrast, the Bears get the 5th round pick they lost in the Garrett Bradbury trade back and add some needed depth to their banged-up secondary.

Poles isn’t Mr. Popularity of late.

While he deserves credit for assembling the roster that went to the playoffs last season, one thing remains clear. A lot of his mistakes held the team back from reaching the Super Bowl. Most of them came on the defensive side. Dexter, Jaquan Brisker, Tyrique Stevenson, and Kyler Gordon were the only notable players he’d drafted playing on it last season. Now Dexter and Brisker are gone. Stevenson is unlikely to get an extension as well. Gordon? He may never play another down for the team as his bizarre injury saga continues.

Poles badly needs some of the young guys to step up. Austin Booker and Dillon Thieneman are chief among them. Too many of the players on defense are either free agents or trade additions. That usually doesn’t lead to success, at least not for long. No Bears defense has reached the top 10 since Poles took over. It won’t this year as well, barring a miracle. He should be grateful he and head coach Ben Johnson built the offense properly.

Do the Chicago Cubs Still Trust Shōta Imanaga in the Starting Rotation?

By
Aldo Soto
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Aug 23, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga (18) walks in the dugout after being relieved for against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

There’s an old saying in Tennessee, I know it’s in Texas, and it’s probably in Tennessee that says, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me…you can’t get fooled again.” Or something like that, but Shōta Imanaga fucking sucks again, and that’s pretty bad news for the Chicago Cubs with one month left to go in the regular season.

It’s a shame because it’s always better to cheer on the extremely likable players, and there is no arguing that Imanaga has immersed himself in the city of Chicago, connected with the fan base, and has been very good at times. However, for the second straight season, the lefty has started off with good numbers before imploding in the summer. Imanaga has always given up home runs; that was the main worry when he came over from Japan, and while he was able to get away with it in 2024, the home run problem has become too big to overlook.

In Sunday’s 7-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, Imanaga served up three home runs and surrendered six runs in five innings. He gave up a three-run home run to Hector Rodriguez in the fourth inning, and then two more home runs in the fifth inning: a solo bomb by Dane Myers and a two-run shot by Tyler Stephenson.

Imanaga has now given up at least one home run in six consecutive starts. During that stretch, he’s posted a 5.22 ERA while allowing 11 home runs in 29.1 innings. Sunday night’s performance against the Reds set a new MLB record by a left-handed pitcher for most games allowing three or more home runs.

Looking ahead to the postseason, there is just no way that the Cubs can trust Imanaga to start a playoff game. We are seeing the exact same trend from the end of the 2025 season, when the Cubs still had to use Imanaga, but once it came to a do-or-die Game 5 in the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, Craig Counsell stayed away from using Imanaga.

Yet, after Sunday’s poor outing, Counsell publicly backed up the veteran lefty, saying Imanaga’s spot in the rotation remains intact.

The frustrating part is that Imanaga does have some numbers that point to a pitcher who may be running into bad luck. He still has good strikeout numbers at 24%, a 35% chase rate, a 29.2% whiff rate, and a hard-hit rate of 36.1%. All those metrics are at or above the 67th percentile, including his 5.7 BB%, which ranks in the 91st percentile.

However, the barrel rate is concerning, his fastball velocity is declining, and the home runs are climbing, just like they did in the second half of last year.

Ben Brown is walking through that door after his latest setback. If Justin Steele returns this year, the lefty will only be used in short spurts out of the bullpen. Edward Cabrera has already been ousted from the starting rotation, so the only answer for the rest of the regular season is to get Imanaga right or have Javier Assad work his magic in September.

At this point, the Cubs have unfortunately lost their wiggle room for the top spot in the Wild Card race, and they have almost no shot at winning the division. So, some of these starts are going to matter a lot more than they would have liked, and because of it, you have to wonder how short the leash will be on Imanaga.

Pete Crow-Armstrong Is Running Away with the 2026 NL MVP Race

By
Aldo Soto
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Aug 30, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) gestures after hitting a home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong was going through a little bit of a slump earlier in August, but in his last 13 games, the center fielder has hit 11 home runs while posting a 1.362 OPS in 63 plate appearances. He had an incredible weekend against the Cincinnati Reds, homering five times in two games, and the haters can cope all they want, but it’s never been clearer than now that Pete Crow-Armstrong is running away with the 2026 National League MVP race.

Shohei Ohtani is having a good year, with 30 home runs, a 144 wRC+, and 85 great innings on the mound. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers have delayed Ohtani’s return to the mound, and there is currently no updated plan for when the Japanese superstar will pitch again this season. There is no doubt that it would take an incredible year to beat Ohtani in the MVP race, and guess what, that’s exactly what Crow-Armstrong has accomplished heading into September.

Crow-Armstrong is just the best player in the National League in 2026; he is running laps around the field across MLB. Crow-Armstrong is already at 9.3 fWAR, while no other position player has reached 7 fWAR. Combined with his pitching numbers, Ohtani is at 6.8 fWAR, second behind PCA.

The Cubs star is on the verge of becoming the first left-handed hitter in Cubs history to hit 40 home runs in a single season since Billy Williams did it in 1970. PCA’s 38 home runs currently rank second in MLB, trailing Kyle Schwarber, who has 40. Crow-Armstrong has 32 stolen bases, the fifth-most in baseball, while also coming in as the second-best offensive player with a 160 wRC+ behind Yordan Alvarez.

Oh, and Crow-Armstrong is No. 1 in Fielding Run Value and second with 23 Outs Above Average. So, there’s no surprise to see PCA is the favorite by a wide margin to win the 2026 NL MVP.

NL MVP Odds (Aug. 31)
DraftKings: Pete Crow-Armstrong: -1600 | Shohei Ohtani: +900
FanDuel: Pete Crow-Armstrong: -1500 | Shohei Ohtani: +750

(Previous Update)

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Shohei Ohtani went toe-to-toe at Wrigley Field, giving fans an unbelievable duel of MVP candidates in the National League. Both stars hit two home runs for their respective teams, but in doing so, the Chicago Cubs can now look at center field and see the new MVP favorite over Ohtani.

The 7-6 win completed a three-game sweep over the Los Angeles Dodgers, and it also clinched the season series for the Cubs. A statement series? Sure, but playoff baseball is much different than regular-season games; however, it was certainly a statement for Crow-Armstrong, who continues to lap the field in value in 2026.

The Cubs center fielder went 6-for-13, with two home runs, a double, five RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases against the Dodgers this week. Another difference-making series from Crow-Armstrong, who had his third multi-home run game of the season, also made history.

Not only did Crow-Armstrong become only the sixth player in MLB history to ever reach 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases within the first 115 games of a season, but he’s also now the first player ever to do it back-to-back years.

Truly special stuff from Crow-Armstrong, and that speaks to how amazing Ohtani is because it’s taken unreal performances to dethrone the Japanese superstar in MVP races.

In 2022, Aaron Judge hit 62 home runs, had a 1.111 OPS and an 11.1 fWAR to beat out Ohtani for the American League MVP. During that season, Ohtani recorded a 2.33 ERA with 219 strikeouts in 28 starts, while also hitting 34 home runs with an .875 OPS.

There is no question that if Ohtani had continued to pitch in 2026, he would be the runaway favorite to win MVP. But he’s no longer pitching for the Dodgers, who may end up saving him for the postseason. So far, Ohtani has 85.2 innings of work, and yes, he’s been special, posting a 1.79 ERA over 14 starts. The left-handed slugger also has a .954 OPS with 26 home runs and a 154 wRC+.

Well, guess what, Crow-Armstrong is right there with him on offense.

Pete Crow-Armstrong: .288/.386/.552, 26 HR, 28 RBI, .938 OPS, 156 wRC+
Shohei Ohtani: .297/.399/.554, 26 HR, 6 SB, 954 OPS, 154 wRC+

Crow-Armstrong has a higher wRC+, more stolen bases, the same amount of home runs, and although Ohtani has a combined 6.7 fWAR between his offensive and pitching numbers, there’s a clear most valuable player in MLB.

Entering Thursday, Crow-Armstrong leads MLB with a 7.8 fWAR. Yordan Alvarez, is second in position players at a distant 5.7 fWAR.

Oh, and Pete Crow-Armstrong is also the best defensive player in MLB, leading the league with a 24 Fielding Run Value and 22 Outs Above Average.

At DraftKings, Crow-Armstrong is currently the favorite to win the 2026 National League MVP at -120, while Ohtani is second in odds at +100.

How Dillon Thieneman Had A Great Preseason With No One Noticing

By
Erik Lambert
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dillon thieneman
Aug 29, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman (31) breaks up pass thrown to Tennessee Titans wider receiver Carnell Tate (14) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Is it possible for the 1st round pick of your draft class to play well in the preseason and somehow still barely get talked about? It appears Dillon Thieneman confirmed that hypothesis as he hasn’t been the story for most of the past month. That honor has gone to defensive tackle Jordan Van Den Berg, who was wrecking opposing offensive lines throughout the preseason. It’s a shame, too, because Thieneman showed multiple flashes of why the Bears drafted him in the first place. It was certainly no different in the preseason finale.

During the first half, the Tennessee Titans dialed up a deep shot to their prized 4th overall pick, Carnell Tate. The rookie managed to get around cornerback Josh Blackwell and had a step on him heading towards the end zone. It was then that Thieneman streaked into the picture, covered up Tate, and managed to prevent the catch. That singular play was a full reminder of why the Chicago Bears wanted him so much. Thieneman has top-tier speed, which allows him to erase throwing windows much faster than most safeties can. It was something the defense didn’t have last season.

This illustrates why Dillon Thieneman was so coveted.

Safeties capable of doing stuff like that are much rarer than you think. Lots of cornerbacks have makeup speed. It’s a necessity of the position. Usually, if a safety is beat, he stays beat. Not Thieneman. That 4.3 speed he demonstrated at the scouting combine is no joke. This wasn’t some scrub he was forced to cover, either. That is a #4 overall pick. Guys like that have premier talent. If you can hang with them during a play, you can hang with pretty much everybody.

Few are happier about this than Dennis Allen. Having somebody like that on the back end of your defense is incredibly valuable. Now he knows the deep coverage will be safer with Dillon Thieneman on the field. In those situations, Allen can get more aggressive with his play calling. He won’t have to stay in high shells to protect against the deep ball. Thieneman has the range and instincts to carry wide receivers deep without help. That frees up another defender to attack the quarterback.

This young man has the ideal mindset.

Some rookies come in with loads of fanfare and the confidence to match. Others arrive quietly, focused on working hard every day and applying their craft. Thieneman clearly falls into the latter category. He is anything but outspoken. You’ve barely heard two words from him outside of mandatory press conferences. Everything has been about football since he arrived in April. It’s no wonder Coach Johnson loves him. The safety is a grinder. This team lives for players like that.

Thieneman won’t be the main centerpiece of the defense this year. He still has plenty of growing up to do. Still, it feels like he may have a greater impact on the season than people think. The talent was never in question. What stands out is how quickly he’s adjusting to the speed of this level. Given how hard he studies, it may not take him long to learn the game of chess. Such an outcome couldn’t be better for the Bears.

Will Venable Reveals Plans For How White Sox Plan To Use Tommy Pham 

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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Sep 9, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham (28) reacts after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: James A. Pittman-Imagn Images

The trade deadline might be over, but the Chicago White Sox are continuing to look for ways to bolster their outfield depth, particularly against left-handed pitching. 

On Monday, the White Sox acquired Tommy Pham from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for cash considerations, along with adding outfielder Jake Cave from the Tampa Bay Rays. Pham is expected to be with the team Tuesday night in Houston. 

Even though the trade deadline has passed, the moves are permitted because both players were on minor league deals and had not been added to their clubs’ 40-man rosters. 

Pham is a puzzling fit on paper. He doesn’t represent a clear upgrade over any of the White Sox current outfielders, and carries a questionable track record of on- and off-the-field incidents, which at times have spilled over to social media. 

But Pham brings plenty of postseason experience and boosts a solid resume over his 13-year career, hitting .256 with a .749 OPS. But more importantly for the White Sox, he is a right-handed bat in a lineup dominated with left-handers. 

Monday’s starting lineup against the Houston Astros featured five left-handed bats, along with switch-hitter Braden Montgomery. That’s part of what has made Randal Grichuk so valuable for the White Sox this season: his ability to punish left-handed pitching.

Since joining the White Sox, Grichuk has primarily started against left-handed starters, while also providing a dangerous right-handed bat off the bench when a right-handed starter exits the game.

Pham gives the White Sox another option off the bench, with Will Venbale telling MLB.com that there will be opportunities for the 38-year-old against left-handed pitching. 

“As you look at it broadly, our need for a right-handed bat against left-handed pitching is something that we’re really excited about,” Venable said. “And then the human being, the teammate, the edge that he brings, kind of who he is as a total player. I think he’s going to make a real big impact here.” 

Pham played 70 games for the White Sox in 2024 before being traded in a three-team deal involving the Dodgers and Cardinals that sent Miguel Vargas to Chicago and Pham and Erick Fedde to St. Louis.  Now that trio will share a clubhouse.

Andrew Benintendi, who was part of that 121-loss 2024 team, welcomed the addition, telling MLB.com that Pham is a player who “brings it every single day” and is passionate about winning. 

 Whether the move translates into wins remains to be seen. Unlike Grichuk, Pham hasn’t shown a significant split between right- and left-handed pitching. For his career, Pham has hit .254 with a .752 OPS against right-handers, compared with a .259 average and .796 OPS against lefties.

As for Cave, it remains unclear whether he will receive an opportunity on the major league roster. The 33-year-old has not appeared in the majors since 2024, spending the 2025 season in the KBO.

Cave slashed .245/.339/.373 in Triple-A Durham this season after signing a minor league deal with the Rays. Over his seven MLB seasons, five of which came with Minnesota, Cave is a career .236 hitter with a .692 OPS.

Roschon Johnson Should Be Very Nervous About This Bears Practice Squad Addition

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears
Aug 15, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hands off to running back Zavier Scott (36) during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

One of the bigger surprises of the Chicago Bears‘ roster cuts was their decision to retain running back Roschon Johnson. Throughout most of training camp and the preseason, it felt like Salvon Ahmed had outplayed the embattled veteran. Yet it was the latter who ended up getting released, re-signing on the practice squad. The most likely explanation was that the coaching staff felt Johnson still offered more versatility in pass protection and special teams. If that is the case, then Johnson should be really nervous about another addition to the practice squad.

Ahmed wasn’t the only running back the Bears brought in. They also reached an agreement with Zavier Scott, a former undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts who spent last season with the Minnesota Vikings. He accounted for over 200 total yards and a touchdown as a backup. What stands out about him is his versatility. Scott is 6’1″, 220 lbs, and runs with good power and effort. He has deceptively good hands and feet as a receiver as well. Last season, he also recorded three tackles on special teams. In 12 pass-blocking reps, he did not allow a single pressure.

Roschon Johnson is not out of danger.

He may have survived Ahmed’s threat over the past month, but Scott brings something different to the table. He has the same wide array of capabilities the coaches are looking for. Not to mention much less wear and tear on his body despite being two years older than Johnson. Scott spent two years in Kevin O’Connell’s offense with the Vikings. So he is familiar with the wide-zone rushing scheme and its responsibilities. While he isn’t the most explosive player, he runs hard, particularly to his right. Considering that is where Darnell Wright and Jonah Jackson are, it further explains why the Bears like him.

The biggest selling point might be his speed. Scott was reportedly clocked as low as 4.38 in the 40-yard dash coming out of Maine. Ben Johnson loves his players to have some juice, which is something Roschon Johnson never offered. More than anything, Scott is the exact type of player this staff likes. He’s willing to do anything asked of him, be it running, receiving, or blocking. No job is too dirty for him. A team of unselfish players tends to win a lot of ball games.

The Bears now have their insurance.

One of the most pressing issues with Johnson, going back years, is his health. He always seems to deal with nagging injuries every year. Last season was no exception. The team clearly doesn’t plan to put all of their eggs in that basket. They were fortunate that Swift and Monangai stayed healthy for most of last season. Banking on that happening again is unwise. Injuries happen every year, and running back is a physically taxing position. Having a reliable #3 option is much more important than people realize.

Johnson is a good player. He plugs many of the gaps the Bears need at that position. Adding Scott wasn’t about his ability. It was about his availability. They won’t go through another year gambling that he can stay healthy for 17 games. If he goes down, they can now bring Scott up and let him do most of the same jobs as Johnson. Hopefully, without missing a beat.

Chicago Cubs Calling Up Switch-Hitting Prospect BJ Murray

By
Aldo Soto
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BJ Murray bats during the South Bend Cubs vs. Peoria Chiefs minor league baseball game Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at Four Winds Field. South Bend Cubs Beat Out Peoria Chiefs

The Chicago Cubs are calling up switch-hitting prospect BJ Murray, who will officially be added to the team once rosters expand on Tuesday. Murray, who has been mashing at Triple-A so far in 2026, was at Wrigley Field taking batting practice before Monday night’s series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. The 26-year-old was a 15th-round pick for the Cubs back in 2021 out of Florida Atlantic.

Murray has played in 118 games for the Iowa Cubs this year, posting a slash line of .294/.395/.500 with 16 home runs, 24 doubles and nine triples in 516 trips to the plate.

Some fans may recognize Murray from his time with Team Great Britain at the World Baseball Classic, as he participated in both the 2023 and 2026 tournaments. Murray is currently ranked the No. 19 prospect in the Cubs’ minor league system according to MLB Pipeline.

Murray will become only the 10th player in MLB history born in the Bahamas to reach the majors, and only the second in Cubs franchise history.

Murray will be able to provide some cover both in the corner outfield spots and the infield corner positions. He’s had an interesting journey in the minor leagues because just a few years ago Murray had a breakout season and seemed to be getting close to the show after posting a healthy 127 wRC+ at Double-A. However, Murray struggled mightily in 2024 at Triple-A, leading to a 2025 demotion back to Double-A with the Smokies.

He didn’t sulk, got back to work, and crushed opponents to the tune of a 138 wRC+ and returned to Triple-A this year, where he not only maintained his uptick in power, but he also continued to display an excellent eye at the plate. Across all levels of the minor leagues, Murray has recorded a career .372 OBP thanks to a 14.6% BB rate. His walk rate has been above 13% since 2022.

So, the Cubs will add Murray to their roster on Tuesday, and they’ll also add one more pitcher to complete their 28-man active roster for the final month of the regular season.

White Sox Bring Back Tommy Pham In a Reunion Nobody Asked For

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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July 31, 2022: Cincinnati Reds left fielder Tommy Pham waits for a pitching change during the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles.

Pretty soon, the Chicago White Sox clubhouse could start to look a lot like a 2024 reunion. Given how well that 2024 season went and the lack of players on the roster who start fights and go on social media tangents, apparently, Chris Getz has identified a need to address.

On Monday, the White Sox acquired veteran outfielder Tommy Pham from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations. Pham, who is currently on a minor league deal, is expected to join the White Sox when rosters expand on September 1.

Even though the trade deadline has passed, the deal is permitted because Pham is on a minor league contract and had not been added to a major league roster at any point. After going hitless in his lone 14 plate appearances with the New York Mets this season, Pham was granted free agency in late April and signed with the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles released him about a month later, and he subsequently signed with the Phillies.

Despite an active trade deadline, the White Sox still have plenty of holes to fill. A veteran outfielder past his prime with a checkered off-field record is not one of them. Even after major league rosters expand in September, the White Sox’s 40-man roster is currently full, meaning the club will need to make a corresponding move to create a spot for Pham.

Pham played 70 games for the White Sox in 2024 before being traded in a three-team deal involving the Dodgers and Cardinals that sent Miguel Vargas to Chicago. Now, Pham, Vargas, and Erick Fedde, all pieces of that deal and 2024 team, will share a clubhouse.

Pham does bring postseason experience and a solid resume over the course of 13 MLB seasons. He is a career .256 hitter with a .749 OPS. But the baggage is hard to overlook. 

In 2020, Pham was stabbed outside a San Diego strip club after police said he asked a group of strangers to move away from his car, prompting an altercation. In 2023, he slapped Joc Peterson over a fantasy football dispute. He has also been the catalyst of multiple bench-clearing incidents. Last August, he was at the center of a bench-clearing incident between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays. Hours after the game, Pham took to social media to rip Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman, then later accused Addison Barger of taking steroids in a since-deleted post. 

More recently, Pham got into a social media exchange with Cincinnati Reds outfielder Dane Myers after accusing MLB center fielders of “stealing catches” to inflate their Outs Above Average numbers. During the exchange, Pham called Myers a “cry baby” and claimed his teammates and trainers don’t respect him.

Pham is now set to join a young White Sox clubhouse that has a magic wand in the dugout, has made “Strokin’” its offensive anthem and has players dressing up in Spider-Man costumes on off days. 

The 38-year-old veteran has been in plenty of clubhouses over the course of his career. Is he going to blow up the team chemistry? Probably not. But there is a reason Pham, despite proving to be a solid player, has bounced around to 10 different MLB organizations since 2021.

For better or worse, Pham is a no-nonsense guy who doesn’t take any shit. He even admitted that the only reason he signed with the White Sox in 2024 was for tax purposes. That dynamic fit in fine with the 2024 White Sox, a team that would go on to set the MLB record with 121 losses. The White Sox needed an alpha in the clubhouse and, frankly, a league-average hitter. This current iteration of the White Sox is a bizarre fit, to say the least. 

Pham isn’t a better defender than Brenton Doyle, Tristan Peters or Braden Montgomery, nor is he a better hitter at this point in his career than either of the team’s veteran outfielders, Andrew Benintendi or Randal Grichuk. He also doesn’t represent an obvious upgrade over Sam Antonacci, who, despite his defensive limitations in left field, has been a key cog in the White Sox lineup throughout the season.

Sure, Pham is a professional with much-needed postseason experience, and he should give the White Sox quality at-bats. But he doesn’t make this team immediately better on paper. From the outside looking in, bringing him into this group also feels like trying to mix water and vinegar.

Maybe Pham proves to be exactly what this young White Sox team needs, but on the surface, this looks like a reunion that nobody was asking for, and could have little to no returns.

Christian Jones Becomes The Bears’ First New Wrinkle To The Practice Squad

By
Erik Lambert
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christian jones
Jan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Christian Jones (75) against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Usually, when the Chicago Bears form their practice squad each year, it’s made up of players who were with them throughout training camp but couldn’t fit on the main roster. That is standard procedure for most teams. However, the team does tend to throw a couple of interesting spices into the mix, with names who weren’t on the team before. Defensive back Tre Flower was one such example last year. Would they do the same thing again this time around? Yes, and it’s a familiar name for Bears fans: Christian Jones.

This time, it isn’t the former linebacker who started for them in the mid-2010s. This is the former 5th round offensive tackle selected by the Arizona Cardinals in 2024. Jones made a name for himself at Texas, helping the program to some considerable success during his time there. Arizona made him one of their final cuts this offseason, likely due to new head coach Mike LaFleur wanting his own personnel up front. The Bears managed to lure him to Chicago. It doesn’t take long to recognize why they wanted him.

Christian Jones is very much a Ben Johnson guy.

If there is one thing we know about head coach Ben Johnson, it is that he wants to play a particular style of football. He wants violence and physicality in the run game. That is a brand Jones enjoys. He earned a reputation in college for being one of the nastiest blockers on the Longhorns’ offensive line. It doesn’t hurt that he’s 6’5″ with 34-inch arms. He puts that size and length to good use. That power also works in his anchor against the bull rush, which offensive line coach Dan Roushar will appreciate.

The primary concern with Christian Jones was his overall limited athleticism. He fell into the typical category of a big, nasty dude that can’t move well in space. This is probably why the Cardinals never felt comfortable giving him greater opportunities to start over the past two years. Jones only started one game in his career. That is the 2024 season finale against San Francisco. He did not allow a pressure. After that, he hasn’t played a regular season snap. His only action was 75 snaps over the past two preseasons, allowing 5 pressures and 1 sack.

This is a depth option with developmental upside.

We already know this Bears coaching staff can make the most of bigger offensive tackles with athletic limitations. Ozzy Trapilo showed as much last season. Offensive line expert Brandon Thorn saw him as a developmental project two years ago. His ideal spot would be swing tackle, stepping in for someone in an emergency. He just isn’t equipped to stand on an island by himself with NFL-caliber pass rushers. Jones doesn’t have the bend or mobility for that. Still, he does have value.

This is a situation where you trust Johnson and Roushar. They’ve demonstrated a keen eye for good depth before. Jordan McFadden proved that last season. Jones could be an asset in the running game, particularly the jumbo packages in short yardage situations. Johnson has no shortage of those. Once Jones is up to speed on the offense, he could come in for those smashmouth moments.

White Sox Need To Make This Move Before It’s Too Late

By
Craig Rowland
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Jul 10, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Drew Thorpe (33) delivers against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The White Sox have surprised everyone this season, as they are one of the best teams in baseball and have scored the most runs in the American League. This is a stark contrast from the past good White Sox teams, as the pitching typically carried the offense.

While the offense has been doing most of the grunt work this year, the starting pitching will need to step up if the White Sox don’t want to fade as we get into the home stretch of the season. One simple solution is sitting right in front of the White Sox front office, as calling up Drew Thorpe should add some stability and consistency to a rotation that desperately needs it.

Thorpe hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since mid 2024, as he has battled Tommy John surgery and a litany of other injuries that have kept him from returning sooner. However, he is back on the mound and has looked very good in his rehab outings.

So far, Thorpe has thrown 26 innings, striking out 28 en route to a very good 3.04 ERA. He has a solid 1.09 WHIP and has only walked 8 batters. This is very impressive after not pitching for almost 2 years.

The most important thing to note is that Thorpe has been able to get up to 5 innings in his starts and has been creeping up on 90 pitches per start. This is key, as he will need to eat innings when he gets called up and he can do just that.

Thorpe was a former top-100 prospect for a reason and was traded for Juan Soto and Dylan Cease in the same off-season. He has all the talent in the world and the White Sox need to unleash him down the stretch. Outside of a few blow up starts, he was a quality start machine in 2024, and that is much needed on the Southside.

On September 1st, the rosters will expand to 28 players. That will allow the White Sox to call up one hitter and one pitcher. With Davis Martin expected back shortly, I would expect the White Sox to clear another roster spot for Thorpe, as they need another pitcher in the rotation that can keep the White Sox in the game for 5-6 innings.

While Thorpe isn’t going to overpower many hitters, he gets soft contact and can get outs. White Sox fans saw it in 2024, as when he was on, he was elite. More often than not, when Thorpe is on, the White Sox will have a good chance to win the game, and that is exactly what they need to put away Cleveland and win the division.

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