Pitching is a high priority for the Chicago White Sox.
They looked to the Korea Baseball Organization for help Tuesday by signing right-hander Erick Fedde to a two-year, $15 million deal, a source confirmed to the Tribune.
Fedde was sensational in 2023, going 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 30 starts for the NC Dinos. He pitched for the Washington Nationals from 2017-22.
The move to the Sox is pending a physical.
Sox general manager Chris Getz met with reporters Tuesday a couple of hours before news of the signing surfaced. The topics during that session included right field and catcher.
Here are three takeaways from the MLB winter meetings.
The Sox have 2023 Silver Slugger Award winner Luis Robert Jr. in center field. They have Andrew Benintendi, an All-Star in 2022, in left field.
They are discussing the best option for right field.
“We certainly have internal options,” Getz said. “Just like other areas around the diamond, defense is certainly something that we’re focusing on. And we’re having conversations — whether it be with other clubs or free agents — to find a way to improve, just like other positions as well. Certainly outfield is a priority, too.”
Internal options include Gavin Sheets, who made a team-leading 61 starts in right field in 2023. He’s a natural first baseman. Oscar Colás was next on that list with 59 starts in right field, but he’ll likely begin 2024 where he finished 2023 — in Triple A.
“I think the best thing for (Colás) is to be at Charlotte,” Getz said. “Do I see him being down there the whole season? Hopefully not. We know what he’s capable of doing.
“We’ve had Gavin Sheets out there and he’s shown production offensively. We’ve asked a lot of him to play outfield and he looks to be capable, but it doesn’t mean that we’re not going to go out there and find ways to improve our defense as a whole. We’re fortunate to have Luis Robert. Benintendi is a sound defender, we think he can get even better out there. Just to find a team of outfielders is something we’re set out to do.”
Getz noted the Sox have time to sort through their plans at catcher.
“We do have some sound defenders at the catching position,” he said. “In terms of a veteran presence or someone who is a little more seasoned, that’s something we’re looking at.”
Korey Lee did a bulk of the catching down the stretch. He’s shown potential behind the plate, but went 5-for-65 (.077) after joining the major-league team in late August.
Monday, manager Pedro Grifol said the catching situation is “to be determined.”
“There’s a lot of unknowns still in this club,” Grifol said. “There’s a lot of unknowns in the rotation, behind the plate. So that’s something that’s going to take a little bit of time.
“It might take all the way to spring training. Who knows? I’m confident in my conversations with Chris and the front office that we’re going to get this right.”
Josh Barfield is one of the former big-leaguers in line to participate in the Hall of Fame East-West Classic, which will pay tribute to the Negro Leagues in Cooperstown, N.Y., during Memorial Day weekend.
“This is huge and I think it will bring more awareness to the guys who came before us, which is awesome,” Barfield said.
Barfield took part in a news conference Tuesday highlighting the event. He has also been busy at the winter meetings in the role of assistant general manager with the Sox.
“We took a lot of time coming into this to prepare and get an idea of what we want our team to look like, not just next year but going forward, and trying to make moves that reflect that,” Barfield said. “We’ve had a lot of interest in a lot of guys, which is encouraging.
“The record might not have reflected that last year, but there is a lot of talent here. I think we’re going to have multiple options, depending on which way we go, to help improve the direction of next year’s team and beyond.”
Barfield joined the Sox in September.
“His evaluation of players is excellent,” Getz said. “When it comes to coaching hires, whether it be on the major-league side, the minor-league side, front office, his input has been very valuable. He’s experienced, both as a player and in the front office. He’s been part of an organization (the Arizona Diamondbacks) that had recent success.
“You talk about an organization that didn’t have many wins, and they climbed fairly quickly and obviously found their way to the World Series. His opinions and his evaluations and his input are very important to us based on what he was just able to do with the Diamondbacks.”
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