The White Sox suffered their biggest loss of the offseason just as it was beginning.

TV voice Jason Benetti left to join the division-rival Tigers’ booth, the teams announced. Benetti had one year remaining on a contract he signed before last season.

That last negotiation was filled with acrimony because of Benetti’s national obligations with Fox, which he joined last year. The relationship had soured, and the Tigers swooped in with a significant offer, according to a source, prompting Benetti to ask out of his contract.

Benetti’s departure ends a pairing with analyst Steve Stone that began in 2016, when Benetti called a partial schedule. He called 140 Sox games in 2018, and he and Stone became popular among viewers locally and nationally.

“Certainly, I enjoyed all of my time with Jason. He’s a wonderful broadcaster,” Stone said. “We all do things that either make our life easier, or we do things for assorted reasons. I wish him a whole lot of luck. He was a terrific partner.

“As far as Jason is concerned, he’s gonna find his own destiny. I’m sure they’re gonna really love him in Detroit. He’s probably the most well-prepared broadcaster that I know of. Again, you make decisions that are right for you, and apparently this one was right for Jason.”

Stone said he wasn’t aware of the chasm between Benetti and the Sox because he wasn’t in those meetings.

“I think if your bosses really enjoy your broadcasts, and I think Jason’s will wherever his bosses lie, you wanna have your guy as much as possible,” Stone said. “But Jason did have national commitments. What led to this probably was a lot of different things, I just don’t know them. We all do what’s best for us, and Jason felt at this point the thing that was best for him was to go to the Tigers.”

More to come ...