![]() ![]() In 108 plate appearances against Valdez, Chicago’s current roster is hitting. However, FanGraphs shows that Houston was only slightly below average in runs when facing a slider (-1.3).Īgainst the fastball, it was 61.1 runs above average and 4.9 runs above average when facing a curveball.īut given how the White Sox hit against left-handed pitching, I don’t think you can rule them out against Valdez. Last season, according to Baseball Savant, Cease primarily utilized a three-pitch mix with a slider (42.9%), four-seamer (39.8%) and curveball (13.9%). 480 wOBA and an average launch angle of 18.3 degrees. In 56 plate appearances against Cease, Houston is hitting. ![]() If the Sox can stay healthy, there’s still a lot of pop in that lineup to give opposing pitchers fits.Īs for the Astros’ offense, they could be in for a big day at the plate. Given their talent on paper, Chicago largely underachieved, leading to a new manager in Pedro Grifol. They avoided arbitration with Cease ($5.7 million), Lucas Giolito ($10.4 million), Reynaldo Lopez ($3.6 million), Michael Kopech ($2 million) and Jose Ruiz ($925K).Īlthough Abreu is a big void to fill in the White Sox clubhouse, this team still has an above-average payroll at $174.9 million. The White Sox exercised their club option on Tim Anderson ($12.5 million). If we turn to the White Sox, outfielder Andrew Benintendi was their big signing at five years worth $75 million.įree agent starter Mike Clevinger got one year deal for $12 million, while veteran infielder Elvis Andrus is also on a one-year deal ($3 million). The Astros also handed out one-year contracts to Ryne Stanek ($3.6 million), Phil Maton ($2.55 million) and Blake Taylor ($830K) in the bullpen. Some prominent players who avoided arbitration include Valdez ($6.8 million), Kyle Tucker ($5 million) and Jose Urquidy ($3 million). Reliever Rafael Montero also got a three-year contract ($34.5 million), while outfielder Michael Brantley is back with the team on a one-year deal worth $12 million. The teams signed three free agents apiece, with Houston avoiding arbitration on six players compared with five for Chicago.Ībreu got the bulk of the free agent money on the Astros, signing a three-year deal worth $58.5 million. It was somewhat of a similar offseason for both teams as Spotrac lists the Astros 14th ($123.2 million) in total spending while the White Sox came in 15th ($112.7 million).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |