WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF AUGUST 1, 2016 Melky s 3-hit day can t rally White Sox in finale Scott Merkin and Rhett Bollinger, MLB.com Frustrated Rodon seeks consistent execution Scott Merkin, MLB.com Sale, Quintana deals still possible for White Sox Scott Merkin, MLB.com White Sox deal Duke for OF prospect Tilson Scott Merkin, MLB.com Anibal squares off with surging Shields in Detroit Kyle Beery, MLB.com White Sox lose 6-4 to Twins in Carlos Rodon s return Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago White Sox face tough reality after Zach Duke trade Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago White Sox: Tim Anderson breaks out of longest dry spell of career Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago White Sox trade LHP Zach Duke to Cardinals for OF Charlie Tilson #WhiteSoxTalk, CSN Chicago Sunday s recap: Twins 6, White Sox 4 Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune Carlos Rodon makes bumpy return from sprained wrist in loss to Twins Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune Robin Ventura: White Sox trading Zach Duke to Cardinals a tough one Collen Kane, Chicago Tribune Why are Chris Sale and Jose Quintana still here? Steve Rosenbloom, Chicago Tribune Robertson, White Sox cope with trade rumors Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times Countdown to trade deadline: Chris Sale watch continues Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times White Sox trade Zach Duke for Cardinals AAA outfield prospect Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun- Times Rodon struggles in return as White Sox lose 6-4 to Twins Brian Hall, Associated Press White Sox land local product from Cardinals in trade for Duke Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Bernstein: Dead-end White Sox on clock at trade deadline Dan Bernstein, CBS Chicago White Sox reach their true potential in Minnesota Jon Greenberg, The Athletic Melky s 3-hit day can t rally White Sox in finale By Scott Merkin and Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com July 31st, 2016 MINNEAPOLIS -- With four errors, it wasn't the Twins' day, defensively. But they were able to overcome it, as right-hander Ervin Santana continued his impressive run with another strong start and was backed by two homers from Brian Dozier in a 6-4 win over the White Sox on Sunday at Target Field. Santana went six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Santana, who is a trade candidate for the Twins, has posted a 1.96 ERA over his last eight starts. "We didn't pick up our pitchers very well and made it tough on Ervin," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "He was only able to go six with his pitch count driven up by the errors. It's not often you're able to overcome that. Thankfully we got off to a good start." Santana outpitched White Sox lefty Carlos Rodon, who went 6 1/3 innings, surrendering five runs on eight hits and two walks. The Twins jumped out to an early three-run lead in the first, keyed by a two-run homer from Kennys Vargas. "Felt good," Rodon said. "I just have to be better."
"They jumped on him pretty good there early," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "They jumped on him and he battled back and velocity-wise I think he started getting a little stronger as the game went on." Dozier gave the Twins some breathing room with a solo blast off Rodon in the fifth before adding another solo shot in the seventh off Carson Fulmer. It was Dozier's fourth career multi-homer game, and his third against Chicago. The White Sox threatened in the eighth, scoring a run on Minnesota's fourth error of the game. But with the bases loaded and two outs, reliever Michael Tonkin was able to get Carlos Sanchez to ground out to first to end the inning. Ryan Pressly tossed a scoreless ninth for the Twins to get his first career save, striking out former Twins first baseman Justin Morneau with a runner at third to end the game. "It was fun," Pressly said. "I was just trying to get ahead of him and trying to get him [to] chase, and that's what I did." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Vargas baby, Vargas: The Twins jumped out to a three-run lead in the first, keyed by a leadoff double from Dozier. Robbie Grossman scored Dozier with an infield single that set the stage for Vargas' two-run blast. The ball left the bat at 109 mph and traveled 433 feet, per Statcast. "Dozier got us going and Vargas came up with a big hit," Molitor said. "We've talked about how from the right side, he struggled down there, but he's a done job from the right side when he gets opportunities. It was one of those [Harmon] Killebrew shots, hit high and far with a lot of carry." Anderson goes multi-hit: With singles in the third and the fifth, Tim Anderson picked up his 18th multi-hit effort in 44 career games. Anderson has hit in 32 of his 44 games since making his big league debut on June 10 against Kansas City. Anderson is hitting.354 during day games. "I just continue to work at it, get my work in in the cages. I'm really locking in and trying to have better ABs than I did," Anderson said. "I've seen a lot of offspeed [pitches], and I feel like I'm adjusting back. I've just been working on a lot of things. The sum total of the at-bats today, even last night, I feel like I can build off that and keep going." Sano makes costly error: With two outs in the fourth, Tyler Saladino hit a routine grounder to third baseman Miguel Sano, whose throw to first took Vargas off the bag for an error. The White Sox took advantage of the extra out, as Omar Narvaez came through with an RBI single with a second run scoring on a throwing error from center fielder Eddie Rosario. Melky's hot bat: With a 3-for-4 day, Melky Cabrera finished the three-game series with eight hits. He has a team-leading 38 multi-hit games, including four straight. He has hit safely in 15 of 16 games and has a.385 average during that stretch. QUOTABLE "You never know. I'm still here today, but you never know about tomorrow." -- Santana, on the chances of being traded before Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline "We'll just sleep in. If you get a phone call early, it's probably from your agent or your wife and that's about it." -- Todd Frazier, on having an off-day Monday as the non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches "We're still not out, but we have to put our winning shoes on like now and it has to come in bunches. It really does. We have to find a way to win games." -- Frazier, on the White Sox losing two of three to the Twins
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Since the start of the 2013 season, Dozier leads all second baseman with 88 home runs. Robinson Cano has the second-most with 84. BUXTON LEAVES WITH INJURY Twins center fielder Byron Buxton left the game in the second inning with right knee soreness. Buxton, who is day to day, injured himself while running the bases. "We're a little bit optimistic because structurally it's fine," Molitor said. "There's some fluid in there. So he'll get an MRI [Monday] morning." REPLAY CHALLENGE The White Sox challenged a call in the second inning that Grossman was safe at first base on a ground ball to third baseman Saladino. The ruling was overturned by video review, and Grossman became the third out of the inning. WHAT'S NEXT White Sox: After an off-day Monday, James Shields is scheduled to open a series against the Tigers at Comerica Park on Tuesday with a 6:08 p.m. CT first pitch. The right-hander will be making his 11th start for the White Sox and has gone 3-3 with a 1.71 ERA over his last six starts covering 42 innings. Twins: The Twins head to Cleveland for a four-game series with the Indians that begins on Monday at 6:10 p.m. CT. Minnesota will call up top prospect Jose Berrios to make the start. Berrios was 10-5 with a 2.44 ERA in 16 starts with Triple-A Rochester. Frustrated Rodon seeks consistent execution Lefty allows five runs with seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 IP vs. Twins By Scott Merkin / MLB.com July 31st, 2016 MINNEAPOLIS -- As Carlos Rodon stood up to talk with the media following the White Sox 6-4 loss to the Twins on Sunday at Target Field, he took the chair where he had been seated and pushed it forcefully into his locker. This movement pretty much summed up how the White Sox southpaw felt about his performance against the American League Central's last-place team. Rodon hadn't pitched at the big league level since July 5, when he was roughed up by the Yankees for five runs on 12 hits, but that extended absence due to a sprained left wrist wasn't working as an excuse for the 23-year-old. "It's not an excuse. I've just got to be better," a clearly frustrated Rodon said after the White Sox fell to 51-54. "The team scores four runs and I have to keep these guys to less than four. That's my job. I didn't do it today. "Everything felt good. They just put good swings on the ball and made it happen. I have high expectations. It just didn't happen today." And those expectations might be where the problem lies for Rodon and White Sox fans. Taken as the third pick overall in the 2014 Draft, perceived by many as a true blessing to fall to three for the White Sox, Rodon hasn't achieved that elite starting status. Yes, he did have an eight-start stretch at the end of 2015 where the opposition scored two runs or less and he hurled at least six innings every time out, but his closing excellence has not carried over.
His 2-8 record and 4.67 ERA marks his first real brush with a subpar performance as a baseball player. He allowed three runs on four hits in the first inning Sunday, but finished with five runs allowed on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings, while striking out seven and walking two. Confidence and repertoire are in place for Rodon. It's about the execution for a developing pitcher. "There's some security in that you have the stuff," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "That stuff is hard to come by, what he has inside of him. If there's not success the first time through [the lineup], people want to write it off as though he can't do it. But not everybody grabs that the first time through. As much as everybody learns about him and he's learned about himself, it's going to take a little while." "It will start clicking soon," White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier said. "He knows what he needs to do. He's been working with [White Sox pitching coach Don] Cooper and [Chris] Sale and eventually it will start clicking." Sale, Quintana deals still possible for White Sox Chicago holds late-night discussions with Red Sox about Sale By Scott Merkin / MLB.com July 31st, 2016 MINNEAPOLIS -- The White Sox and Red Sox engaged in discussions about Chicago left-hander Chris Sale as Monday's 3 p.m. CT non-waiver Trade Deadline approached, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported. Teams have reached out to White Sox general manager Rick Hahn regarding left-hander Jose Quintana. Nightengale reported the Red Sox and Dodgers to be the likeliest candidates to land Sale, who is tied for the Major League lead in wins with 14 entering play Monday. Names connected with a possible Sale deal with Los Angeles include left-hander Julio Urias, first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger, outfielder Alex Verdugo and second baseman Willie Calhoun, MLB.com's Phil Rogers reported. Those players are ranked Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 6, respectively, among MLBPipeline.com's list of the Dodgers' Top 30 prospects. It will take nothing less than a can't-refuse offer to pry loose one or two of baseball's best left-handed starters, not to mention two of the most controllable contracts. That sort of rebuild would not have been imaginable back when the White Sox started the season 23-10, but the players know if Hahn does make those big moves, the change is on the players. "Oh yeah, and it's our own fault. It's the players' fault," White Sox right fielder Adam Eaton said. "We play up to what we're capable of playing and it's not even a discussion. "Rick has gotta do what he's gotta do to put us in the best position to be good now and later. Whatever he has to do, we've got to accept it as players because we put ourselves in this position." With Cleveland adding a late-inning force such as Andrew Miller, teams such as Boston and Texas might feel the pressure to do whatever is necessary to obtain a White Sox ace. The Yankees' recent prospect haul leaves them in a good spot to go after a player such as Sale, while on the National League side, a team such as the Dodgers might feel the need to go all-in and make a big move for the playoff push. Even if Sale and Quintana stay with the team and make their scheduled starts in Detroit, the thought of this sort of scenario is not what the White Sox envisioned back in early May. "The way we started and where we're at right now you are disappointed," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It goes back to when you see a guy like Zach [Duke] going out of here [traded to St. Louis Sunday]. It makes you think about a lot more things. You sit back and see what happens."
"Losing [stinks], man," Eaton said. "A lot of people say they don't like losing, but I definitely take it to heart. I don't have fun at all when we lose. It's not enjoyable for me. I don't wash it off as easily as everybody else. It stays with me a little longer and the season has [stunk] so far with how it's gone. Very unacceptable with the talent we have in here. I'm not having much fun right now." White Sox deal Duke for OF prospect Tilson Speedy 23-year-old acquired from Cards ranked 5th on Chicago s prospect list By Scott Merkin / MLB.com July 31st, 2016 MINNEAPOLIS -- Zach Duke made one final trip around the White Sox clubhouse at Target Field Sunday morning, talking with teammates and coaches and saying his final goodbyes before moving on to the Cardinals. The left-handed reliever was sent to St. Louis in exchange for outfielder Charlie Tilson, who not only is a local kid from Wilmette, Ill., and New Trier High School, but moved to No. 5 among White Sox prospects, according to MLBPipeline.com. Duke, 33, was not surprised by the move when factoring in the modified rebuild direction expected to be taken by the White Sox. "Obviously you read some things about where the team is trying to head," Duke said. "I figured I might have some appeal to somebody out there. This could be a possibility. "It turns out it's a great situation for me and my family. It's about the closest team to our home base in Nashville. And they are a great organization. The Cardinals are top notch all the way. This will be a very good thing." With his 53 appearances, Duke stands tied for the Major League lead. He posted a 2-0 record with a 2.63 ERA, including one save, 20 holds and 42 strikeouts over 37 2/3 innings in '16. He was pitching in the second year of a three-year, $15 million deal. Tilson, 23, is hitting.282 with 16 doubles, eight triples, four home runs, 34 RBIs, 53 runs scored, 15 stolen bases and a.345 on-base percentage over 100 games with Triple-A Memphis this season. His eight triples are tied for the third-most in the Pacific Coast League. Tilson is hitting.380 against lefthanders in 2016 and could be part of the White Sox in the not-too-distant future. "Charlie is a left-handed-hitting outfielder whose speed and defensive ability enable him to do a number of things well to help his team win ballgames," said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn in the team's press release announcing the move. "We have liked him as a player since the Cardinals selected him out of New Trier in the second round in 2011." This Duke deal moves Dan Jennings into the role of primary late-inning left-hander for the White Sox, but trading the veteran really has little to do with the team's current bullpen alignment. The White Sox are trying to build for the future and break free from an extended period mired in mediocrity, meaning they have to subtract a highly thought of player such as Duke to start. "I love those guys in there," Duke said. "You spend a lot of time around each other, they become like brothers to you." "To see a guy like that go out the door, it's tough on everyone," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Don't know necessarily what it all means beyond that, but we lost a good one today."
"Zach's definitely a great baseball player and a great clubhouse member. He's been a lot of fun to have around," White Sox closer David Robertson said. "We're going to miss him, but that's part of baseball. He's moving on to a good place, and I wish him all the best." Anibal squares off with surging Shields in Detroit By Kyle Beery / MLB.com July 31st, 2016 The Tigers and White Sox are ready to write another chapter in their rivalry as they begin a three-game series on Tuesday at Comerica Park. This series comes a little more than a week after the White Sox split a four-game series with the Tigers in Chicago by grabbing walk-off wins in the final two games. The Tigers will be looking for revenge with Anibal Sanchez (5-11, 6.56 ERA) on the mound, while James Shields (5-12, 4.68 ERA) and the White Sox will be looking for their first three-game win streak against the Tigers since 2010. Shields got off to a brutal start when he came over to the Sox in a trade with the Padres. He went 0-2 with a 15.80 ERA in his first four starts with his new team. Since then, however, Shields has settled into quite the groove. He has turned in six straight quality starts and is 3-3 with a 1.71 ERA during that stretch. Sanchez is filling in at the back end of the Tigers' rotation with injuries to Jordan Zimmermann (neck) and Daniel Norris (right oblique), but he may be making a trip back to the bullpen shortly after his start Tuesday. He has spent time traveling between Detroit's rotation and bullpen this season. After a rocky beginning to the season as a starter, he was placed in the bullpen for most of June, where he went 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA. Sanchez, though, has posted a 3-10 record with a 7.13 ERA in 16 starts. Things to know about this game Sanchez allowed four runs on 10 hits across six innings in the series finale against the White Sox on July 24. He gave up one run over two relief outings spanning three innings against Chicago back in June. Shields had a tough first outing against Detroit in early June when he allowed six earned runs in five innings. He surrendered two runs over six innings the last time he faced the Tigers. Both runs came courtesy of solo home runs by Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera. Cameron Maybin has hit safely in 28 of 33 home games since joining the Tigers on May 16. He is hitting.397 at Comerica Park during that stretch. White Sox lose 6-4 to Twins in Carlos Rodon s return By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago July 31st, 2016 MINNEAPOLIS -- The White Sox certainly didn t expect to find themselves here. And based off the increasing frustration he has felt, Carlos Rodon didn t envision this, either. Making his first start in 26 days, Rodon struggled early on Sunday afternoon and the Minnesota Twins took advantage. Rodon allowed three quick runs and the White Sox never recovered in 6-4 loss in front of 29,670 at Target Field. The White Sox lost for the fourth time in five games and fell to 51-54 overall several hours after they completed a trade that sent reliever Zach Duke to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfield prospect Charlie Tilson. The deal could lead to more trades before Monday s 3 p.m. CST nonwaiver trade deadline for a team that once led its division by 6 1/2 games. I didn t think we d be in this position right now, third baseman Todd Frazier said. I thought we d be right in the thick of things, but it kind of spiraled a little bit. We re still not out, but we have to put our winning shoes on like now and it has to come in bunches. It really does. We have to find a way to win games.
Rodon s first inning made that goal more difficult to attain. He hadn t pitched since July 5. And even though he peppered the zone with strikes (68 of 99 pitches), too many early offerings caught the plate and Minnesota did damage. Brian Dozier, who also homered twice, opened the game with a double and scored on Robbie Grossman s RBI single. Two batters later, the Twins held a 3-0 advantage when Kennys Vargas blasted a two-run homer. They jumped on him pretty good there early, manager Robin Ventura said. He was probably knocking a little rust off and getting back into it. But they jumped on him and he battled back and velocity-wise I think he started getting a little stronger as the game went on. That s probably par for the course of how long he has been away and still trying to feel for it somewhat. Jorge Polanco also doubled in a run off Rodon in the third and Dozier homered off him in the fifth to make it a 5-3 game. Dozier later homered off rookie Carson Fulmer, who pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief. Rodon allowed five earned runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out seven. The loss dropped his record to 2-8. (Rust is) not an excuse, Rodon said. I ve just got to be better. The team scores four runs and I have to keep these guys to less than four. That s my job. I didn t do it today. Everything felt good. They just put good swings on the ball and made it happen. I have high expectations. It just didn t happen today. Melky Cabrera went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk in the losing effort. Rookie catcher Omar Narvaez drove in a run and singled twice. The Twins committed four errors, including one to allow a run in the eighth inning. But Michael Tonkin struck out Carlos Sanchez with the bases loaded to keep the Twins ahead by two. The White Sox are just 28-44 since their 23-10 start in mid-may. Frazier didn t want to think about the possibilities of what could happen over the next day after Duke was traded. I don t know what it means to be honest with you, Frazier said. Good, bad or ugly I m not thinking about anything like that. But to lose a guy like Zach is good because he s a good left-handed specialist and he s going to help the Cardinals a lot. White Sox face tough reality after Zach Duke Trade By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago July 31st, 2016 MINNEAPOLIS -- The reality that they ve been mired in mediocrity finally hit the White Sox clubhouse on Sunday morning when reliever Zach Duke was traded to St. Louis. Whereas division rival Cleveland has considerably upgraded its roster with the addition of Andrew Miller, the White Sox have potentially begun to sell off key pieces in hopes of cashing in on a talented roster that has underperformed. In exchange for Duke, the White Sox acquired outfielder Charlie Tilson, a speedy center fielder/contact hitter who is already rated the No. 5 prospect in the farm system. While the organization hopes Tilson can soon take over as its everyday center fielder, players and coaches are saddled with the realization that a season full of promise only two months ago has taken yet another harsh turn. Once 23-10 and 6 1/2 games up in the American League Central, the White Sox headed into Sunday six back of Boston for the second wild-card spot.
The way we started and where we re at right now, you are disappointed, manager Robin Ventura said. It goes back to when you see a guy like Zach going out of here. It makes you think about a lot more things. The White Sox have sent mixed signals over the past week and a half about which direction they intended to head. On July 21, general manager Rick Hahn said the club had ruled out the addition of short-term rental players and was open minded about listening to the offers of other clubs on its big-ticket items like Chris Sale and Jose Quintana after yet another disappointing season. Executive vice president Kenny Williams said Tuesday the team was day to day in determining how it wanted to proceed. Then on Wednesday, Ventura said he wasn t sure if the White Sox planned to do anything significant even though rumors continued to fly about the availability of Sale and Quintana. On Saturday, outfielder Adam Eaton said players only have themselves to blame if the front office began to trade significant pieces. With one move complete, it's only natural for players to wonder if the floodgate has been opened, Ventura said. It will affect guys, Ventura said. That s normal when somebody of Zach s stature goes out of here, it s going to be a tough day for guys. Any time you get around the trade deadline and something like this happens, it affects guys differently. But they re professional, they ll go out there and continue to play. But definitely a tough day. Duke said he learned about the deal at 9 a.m. when Hahn called. Even though it s the first time he has been traded before the deadline, Duke wasn t overly surprised given he s a left-handed reliever. He s excited to be headed to St. Louis to help the Cardinals push for yet another postseason appearance. But Duke also said he s disappointed to leave behind a tight-knit group in the bullpen. The way we started out, we were all excited and all pumped up, Duke said. It s unfortunate that the season has progressed the way it has. We all wanted to win more and felt like we were capable of winning more. So it s unfortunate we are at this point. Really, this is a great group of guys in that clubhouse and we all really wanted to win and put in the effort. It just unfortunately hasn t worked as well as we wanted to at this point. Just how the bullpen will operate without Duke -- who had a 2.63 ERA in a big league-high 53 games -- remains to be seen. Signed to be the left-handed specialist they missed for several seasons, Duke appeared in 124 games for the White Sox the past two seasons. He went 5-6 with two saves and a 3.11 ERA. But Duke was also admired by other relievers for his experience. A candid veteran who said he became a reliever only after he was fired as a starting pitcher, Duke was a critical member of the group. He s been a vital part of the bullpen, not just in the games but being around all the time, closer David Robertson said. There s going to be a hole there for a little bit, but we ll figure it out and fill that hole. We ll keep moving forward and trying to win ballgames. Ventura said it won t be so easy for players to immediately turn the page. The loss of Duke may only account for 60 innings pitched out of 162 games. But the move itself potentially signals more difficult moves ahead. It s a tough one any time you give up a good guy like him, a big presence inside our clubhouse and very effective pitcher, Ventura said. To see a guy like that go out the door, it s tough on everyone. Don t know necessarily what it all means beyond that, but we lost a good one today.
White Sox: Tim Anderson breaks out of longest dry spell of career By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago July 31st, 2016 MINNEAPOLIS -- Tim Anderson has begun to adjust back to how he has been pitched. Through two hitless at-bats on Saturday, Anderson experienced the longest dry spell of his career as he was 6-for-36 dating back to last Friday. But the rookie shortstop finished Saturday s contest with three hits and had two more in a 6-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday for his 18th multi-hit game of the season. [SHOP: Gear up, White Sox fans] Anderson, who is hitting.276/.284/.417 with five home runs and 12 RBIs, said he has noticed how pitchers have attacked him different than before. I ve seen a lot of offspeed, and I feel like I m adjusting back, Anderson said. I ve just been working on a lot of things. The sum total of the at-bats today, even last night, I feel like I can build off that and keep going. I just continue to work at it, get my work in in the cages. I m really locking in and trying to have better ABs than I did. White Sox trade LHP Zach Duke to Cardinals for OF Charlie Tilson By #WhiteSoxTalk / CSN Chicago July 31st, 2016 With the trade deadline approaching crunch time (Monday, 3 p.m. CT), the White Sox traded left-handed pitcher Zach Duke to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Charlie Tilson. The move indicates the White Sox may be looking to sell in an effort to acquire future assets. Duke, 33, was 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA, 20 holds and 42 strikeouts across 53 relief appearances this season with the White Sox. Tilson, 23, is batting.282 with four home runs, 34 RBI and 15 stolen bases over 100 games this season with Class-AAA Memphis. A native of Wilmette, Ill., Tilson is a career.293 hitter and was named a Texas League All-Star after hitting.295 with four homers and 32 RBI in 2015 with Class-AA Springfield. "Charlie is a left-handed hitting outfielder whose speed and defensive ability enable him to do a number of things well to help his team win ball games," White Sox senior vice president/general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. "We have liked him as a player since the Cardinals selected him out of New Trier in the second round in 2011." Tilson was a second-round pick (No. 79 overall) by the Cardinals in the 2011 first-year player draft. Sunday s recap: Twins 6, White Sox 4 By Collen Kane / Chicago Tribune July 31st, 2016 In his first start since July 5, White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon gave up five earned runs in 6 1/3 innings in a 6-4 loss to the Twins at Target Field. In his return from the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained left wrist, Rodon gave up hits to four of the first five batters he faced in a three-run first inning.
Robbie Grossman had an RBI double, and Kennys Vargas hit a two-run homer to give the Twins a 3-0 lead. At the plate Adam Eaton and Tim Anderson singled off Twins right-hander Ervin Santana with two outs in the third, and Melky Cabrera drove in a run with a single to center field. The run scored, but Anderson rounded second too far and was caught off base to end the top of the inning. The Sox benefitted from two Twins errors in the two-run fourth. Tyler Saladino reached on Miguel Sano s throwing error, and after Omar Narvaez s RBI single drove in the first run, Saladino scored when Eddie Rosario s throw to third sailed into the stands. The Sox added a run in the eighth on the Twins fourth error of the game. On the mound Jorge Polanco added on in the third inning with an RBI double to left field off Rodon. Brian Dozier hit a solo home run off the bottom of the third deck in left field in the fifth. In relief Dozier hit his second homer in two at-bats on Carson Fulmer s second pitch in the seventh inning for a 6-3 Twins lead. Carlos Rodon makes bumpy return from sprained wrist in loss to Twins By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune July 31st, 2016 Carlos Rodon made his first start since July 5 on Sunday at Target Field, and White Sox manager Robin Ventura said the young left-hander had problems "knocking a little rust off" in a 6-4 loss to the Twins. In his return from the disabled list and a sprained left wrist, Rodon gave up hits to four of the first five batters he faced in a three-run first inning. Robbie Grossman had an RBI double and Kennys Vargas hit a two-run homer. "(The layoff) is not an excuse," Rodon said. "I've just got to be better. The team scores four runs, and I have to keep these guys to less than four. That's my job. I didn't do it today." Jorge Polanco added an RBI double in the third, and Brian Dozier hit a solo home run off the bottom of the third deck in left field in the fifth. Dozier also homered in the seventh off reliever Carson Fulmer. Rodon allowed five earned runs on eight hits in 61/3 innings to drop to 2-8 with a 4.67 ERA in 17 starts this year, and he said afterward he has higher expectations for himself. "He's young, and not everybody gets it the first time through," Ventura said. "He's got some great stuff. You're going to have to find your way. That's part of what he's going through right now, trying to find your way and locate." Melky Cabrera continued his hot streak, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a run and an RBI. He doubled with two outs in the ninth and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Justin Morneau struck out. The Twins committed four errors, and the Sox benefited from two of them in the two-run fourth. Tyler Saladino reached on Miguel Sano's throwing error, and after Omar Narvaez's RBI single drove in the first run, Saladino scored when Eddie Rosario's throw to third sailed into the stands. The Sox scored another run in the eighth on a fielding error by Polanco.
Todd Frazier was back after missing two games with the flu, and he filled in at first base for Jose Abreu, who has gone a career-high 30 straight games without a home run. The Sox learned before the game that veteran reliever Zach Duke was traded to the Cardinals, a tough start to the morning, Frazier said. "It's the business part, man," Frazier said. "Everybody loved him. He'll be missed. Maybe it took a little bit out. (But) when the anthem is over you go play and think about it afterward." Robin Ventura: White Sox trading Zach Duke to Cardinals a tough one By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune July 31st, 2016 White Sox manager Robin Ventura called Sunday "a tough day" for his team after the front office traded left-handed reliever Zach Duke to the Cardinals for Triple-A outfielder Charlie Tilson. Ventura and the Sox players will have to wait and see if Monday will be an even tougher one. In parting with a steady veteran bullpen presence like Duke, the Sox demonstrated their willingness to move key pieces to bolster their future. The Sox have plenty of valuable players they could move before Monday's 3 p.m. deadline, so the focus of a day off before the Tigers series will be whether trade speculation will amount to anything, especially involving pitchers such as Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, James Shields and David Robertson. "It's a tough one, any time you give up a good guy like (Duke), a big presence inside our clubhouse and very effective pitcher," Ventura said. "To see a guy like that go out the door, it's tough on everyone. I don't know necessarily what it all means beyond that, but we lost a good one today." General manager Rick Hahn delivered the message that a sell-off was possible earlier this month when he proclaimed the team "mired in mediocrity," so the Sox players wouldn't be shocked by it. "It's the players' fault," outfielder Adam Eaton said. "We play up to what we're capable of playing and it's not even a discussion. Rick has got to do what he's got to do to put us in the best position to be good now and later." Tilson, a New Trier graduate, was ranked the No. 12 prospect in the Cardinals system by MLB.com. He was hitting.282 with 16 doubles, eight triples, four home runs, 53 runs scored, 15 stolen bases and a.345 on-base percentage over 100 games with Triple-A Memphis this season. In consecutive seasons, Baseball America ranked him the fastest baserunner and the best defensive outfielder in the Cardinals organization. Hahn said in a statement the Sox have kept their eyes on him since the Cardinals drafted him in the second round out of high school in 2011. "Charlie is a left-handed-hitting outfielder whose speed and defensive ability enable him to do a number of things well to help his team win ballgames," Hahn said. Duke, 33, was 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA, 20 holds and 42 strikeouts in 53 relief appearances this season. His departure leaves Dan Jennings as the only left-handed pitcher in the Sox bullpen and takes away one of their stable options for the seventh and eighth innings. Duke said he was a little groggy but not completely surprised when Hahn called him about 9 a.m. Sunday. It is his first in-season trade in 12 major-league seasons, and he joked it was a milestone "career achievement" that left only retirement as the final box to check.
Duke said it would be tough to part with teammates who were "like brothers." But he also was excited to join a Cardinals team looking to stay in contention, and one of the closest teams to his home in Nashville, Tenn. "I played against the Cardinals for a long time and was always envious of how well they played the game of baseball," Duke said. "So now I'm going to get to experience their process and the way they do things and kind of what makes them so successful year in and year out." Duke's departure frees up money for the Sox. He signed a three-year, $15 million contract before the 2015 season, including $5 million this season and $5.5 million in 2017. Why are Chris Sale and Jose Quintana still here? By Steve Rosenbloom / Chicago Tribune July 31st, 2016 Waiting, White Sox. Wait. Ing. In the past week, the Yankees have traded the two best lefthanded relievers in the game and built up their farm system in a big way. The Yankees are ahead of the Sox in the wild-card race, such as you can call it a race for either team, so how can the Sox not know they re sellers and not buyers as Monday afternoon s trade deadline approaches? The Sox are 10 1/2 games behind the Indians in the AL Central, and now the Indians have Andrew Miller to close games. The Sox are seven games and five teams out of a wild-card berth, and remember, there s an extra wild-card berth and the Sox still need the Hubble Telescope to find it. So, sell already. The Dodgers now have Bud Norris injury issues to go along with Clayton Kershaw injury issues. The Dodgers have spent too much money to let the Giants pants them again. Hello, Chris Sale. The Red Sox have money and bodies. The Rangers have money and bodies and years of failure. Both teams know that one of the best left-handed starters on the market could clinch an ALCS between them. Hello, Jose Quintana. White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana delivers to the Tigers in the first inning on July 24 at U.S. Cellular Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Some kind of deal has to be there. Somebody must have the motivation to overpay. Some team has to be willing to turn over a farm system to the Sox, even if the Sox might not know how to develop it. Check out what the Yankees got for guys who pitch one inning, and Aroldis Chapman made sure he let people know he only wants to pitch one inning, saying he doesn t like four-out saves, and that s some team player, huh? Yes, I know the Sox traded left-handed reliever Zach Duke to the Cardinals on Sunday for outfielder Charlie Tilson, who immediately was rated the fifth-best prospect in the Sox organization after being ranked the Cardinals 12th-best prospect according to MLB.com. That tells you how fallow the Sox system is. That also tells you how badly they need to make a big move to fix that.
The Sox could deal Jose Abreu, too, and I d be fine with that, but I don t know what kind of market there is for a slugger who couldn t slug one stinkin home run in July. Not one, people, do you hear me? They could deal Todd Frazier and David Robertson, too, and could bring back something. But nothing would produce the jackpot that Sale or Quintana would. Here s the thing: If trading Duke is the only deadline move the Sox make, then I wouldn t return to The Cell if I were them. Just stay on the road the rest of the season. Go from Minnesota to Detroit to every other city on the schedule for the next two months and call it a season. The Sox would be giving their fans no reason to show up, and besides, at least they d be playing before a decent number of fans on the road. The Sox regularly tell their fans they need to show up so the team can make moves, and maybe the best reason to stay away is to force Sox management wonks to make the only move available: sell. Sell and change the look and philosophy of a franchise that has won a World Series, yes, but has won one playoff game since them. I m not telling Sox fans to boycott home games. I don t have to. They re smart enough to do it themselves, and they ve shown they will. If the Sox don t make the big moves with the roster and farm system that this consistently failing team is screaming for, then we can only assume the Sox will make a big move with management wonks who consistently provide those failing rosters. Robertson, White Sox cope with trade rumors By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times July 31st, 2016 MINNEAPOLIS David Robertson and Zach Duke were the key bullpen acquisitions when the White Sox won the offseason leading up to 2015. Less than two years later Duke has been unloaded for a prospect and Robertson, the answer to a huge White Sox void at closer, could be next. Robertson heard his name in trade rumors before the deadline as a New York Yankee in 2014. He lasted the year in New York and signed with the Sox in the following winter for $46 million and four years, two of which are left on his deal over the next two seasons ($12 million in 2017, $13 million in 2018). It doesn t really affect you that much, he said of trade rumors. The decisions are going to be made by the people upstairs, not by me. So I just have to focus on what I m doing that particular day. If something happens, it happens. There s nothing I can do about it but move forward to the next day. Every contender has bullpen help on its wish list. The Giants and Rangers are among them and are known to be more than mildly interested in Robertson. When Robertson was part of an aggressive go-for-it offseason that also reeled in Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche and Duke as free agents and Jeff Samardzia via trade, general manger Rick Hahn was being touted as the executive of the winter and vice president Ken Williams beamed on TV interviews from the winter meetings in San Diego. The Sox believed they had pieced together a postseason contender but they finished 76-86. One and a half seasons later, Robertson could probably be had for the right package of prospects. My name is probably getting tossed around a lot, he said. That s part of baseball, teams in front are picking up pieces and moving forward.
Robertson likes where he s at, calling Chicago a great spot but seemingly ready to roll with the flow if he gets moved. I ve never been traded but if I did you re still moving on to a group of guys doing the same thing you re doing, just in a different place, he said. Robertson had 34 saves last season and is at 25 this year but says he s disappointed with how he has pitched for the Sox with a 3.41 ERA last season and 4.15 ERA this year while blowing a couple of games in epic fashion. Throw four outings (one in mop-up duty) totaling 16 earned runs allowed over 2 2/3 innings, though, and Robertson s ERA is 0.86. That s not how he looks at it. Personally, I ve had some tough games this year, Robertson said. A couple I pitched awful, pitched like crap and it s been frustrating for me. These have been the worst years of my career but it s not going to bring me down. It s probably not going to bring down the interest level in Robertson, who has a good enough cutting fastball and two different curveballs to get hitters to swing and miss at a 12 percent rate. Trading Chris Sale or Jose Quintana would be bigger, bolder and riskier than Robertson, while moving the closer from a team that has little to save except money seems more likely. Countdown to trade deadline: Chris Sale watch continues By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times July 31st, 2016 The Chris Sale trade watch is winding down to its final hours. The non-waiver deadline for trades is at 3 p.m., and the Sox are holding firm to their position of blow us away or go away when it comes to the All-Star Game starter and top American League Cy Young candidate. Will the Sox front office be swayed? Only if a team the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are known to be in discussions but the Dodgers acquired left-hander Rich Hill from the Oakland Athletics around noon Monday is willing to part with a package of at least four or five players that would inject a needed burst of young talent into the Sox thin system. Such a deal would probably take a package of major league ready players and prospects. The Sox will not budge off their huge asking price, an American League Central source said. Could [a trade] happen? Sure. Is it likely? No. The Sox traded veteran left-hander Zach Duke for AAA outfield prospect Charlie Tilson on Sunday, perhaps signaling the start of something more to come. As deals of left-handers go, the Duke trade would become an afterthought if Sale is moved. In any Sale talks, the Sox hold all the cards with no pressure to trade now. The Sox aren t pushing the envelope to trade Sale his recent dust-ups with management notwithstanding and the market could improve during the offseason. After a 23-10 start, the Sox (51-54) look all but certain to miss the postseason for the eighth consecutive year. They have won one playoff game since winning the World Series in 2005. With Sale would be a tremendous acquisition for any team, contender or otherwise, not only because of his talent he has made the All-Star team in each of his five seasons as a starting pitcher but also the five-year, $32.5 million contract extension he signed before the 2013 season. Sale, 27, is earning $9.15 million this season and will be paid $12 million in 2017. The White Sox hold options for $12.5 million and $13.5 million in 2018 and 2019, bargain prices for his value, especially in advance of a freeagent market expected to be thin in pitching.
Despite a strong starting rotation of Sale, All-Star Jose Quintana, former All-Star James Shields, Miguel Gonzalez and 2014 No. 3 overall draft pick Carlos Rodon, the Sox find themselves three games under.500 at the deadline after going 28-44 over the last two and a half months, leaving general manager Rick Hahn no choice but to sell, not buy, at the deadline. Oh yeah, and it s our own fault, right fielder Adam Eaton said. It s the players fault. If we play how we re capable of playing it s not even a discussion. Rick has to do what he has to do to put us in the best position to be good now and later. Whatever he has to do, we ve got to accept it as players because we put ourselves in this position. Two weeks ago, Hahn said the Sox were mired in mediocrity and that chairman Jerry Reinsdorf would consider all options to improve the club, including a rebuild. White Sox trade Zach Duke for Cardinals AAA outfield prospect By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times July 31st, 2016 The White Sox made their first move before the trade deadline Sunday morning, dealing veteran lefthanded reliever Zach Duke to the St. Louis Cardinals for AAA center field prospect Charlie Tilson. Then they lost to the Minnesota Twins 6-4, dropping a series to the AL Central s last place team and falling to 17-23 in the AL Central. The trade, while not unexpected, was the first tangible evidence of a selling mode before the Monday trade deadline. The game s result was just the latest proof it s the right choice. Just how much more trading is done by 3 p.m. will depend on what general manager Rick Hahn can get in return. Everything is on the table, including All-Star lefties Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, though there is a growing sense that the Duke trade is more in line with what the Sox, who are under no pressure to deal now, will do now. The 23-year-old Tilson, who bats left and throws left, is a fast, high-contact, low-power hitter who is expected to be wearing a Sox uniform this season, perhaps soon. The former second-round draft pick out of New Trier (Hahn s alma mater) is batting.282 with four homers, eight triples, 16 doubles, 34 RBI and 15 stolen bases for AAA Memphis. Rated as the 12th-best prospect in the Cardinals system by MLB.com, he became the Sox fifth-best prospect Sunday, an indication of where the Sox farm system stands. Charlie is a left-handed hitting outfielder whose speed and defensive ability enable him to do a number of things well to help his team win ball games, Hahn said in a statement. Duke, 33, went 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA over 53 relief appearances this season. He was in the second year of a three-year, $15 million contract, which includes $5.5 million in 2017. The Sox (51-54), who are off Monday, are 28-44 since their 23-10 start. The way we started out, we were all excited an all pumped up, Duke said. It s unfortunate that the season has progressed the way it has. It s a tough one, Ventura said of the trade. Any time you give up a big presence inside our clubhouse and very effective pitcher. to see a guy like that go out the door it s tough on everyone. On the field, things were just as tough, even for those looking for hope for the future. No. 3 overall draft choice Carlos Rodon, making his first start since June 5, fell to 2-8 with a 4.67 ERA by giving up five runs over 6 1/3 innings. Jose Abreu, at one time the centerpiece of the offense, was given a day off he had failed to hit a home run and drove in only eight eight runs since June 23.
Carson Fulmer, the No. 8 overall pick a year ago, issued his fifth walk and allowed his eighth run in his fifth appearance. Shortstop Tim Anderson, the first-round pick from 2013 batting.276 with a.284 on-base percentage, collected two hits but struck out for the 57th time in 197 plate appearances to go with two walks all season. Anderson was also thrown out when he strayed too far off second base. Growing pains for all. It s tough, said Todd Frazier, who walked twice, struck out twice playing with a virus that kept him out of the first two games of the series. I didn t think we d be in this position right now. I thought we d be right in the thick of things but it kind of spiraled a little bit. Frazier destroyed a bat in the dugout after taking a good pitch for a third strike on one of his strikeouts. But it s kind of past the point of frustration for the Sox players, who await to see who follows Duke out the door Monday. Rodon struggles in return as White Sox lose 6-4 to Twins By Brian Hall / Associated Press July 31st, 2016 MINNEAPOLIS -- In May, the Chicago White Sox were dreaming of a possible playoff race with three lefthanders anchoring the starting rotation. One day away from the major-league trade deadline, Chicago is now a seller and uncertainty marks each of left-handers Carlos Rodon, Chris Sale and Jose Quintana. Brian Dozier hit two home runs to spoil Rodon's first start since July 5, and the Minnesota Twins handed the White Sox a 6-4 loss on Sunday. Melky Cabrera had three hits for Chicago, which lost for the fourth time in five games. "It's not an excuse," Rodon (2-8) said of his absence while recovering from a sprained left wrist. "I just got to be better. A team scores four runs, you got to keep these guys at less than four, man, that's my job. I didn't do it today." The recent stretch only reinforced the White Sox trade-deadline position. Before the game, Chicago traded left-handed reliever Zach Duke to the St. Louis Cardinals for speedy minor-league outfielder Charlie Tilson. Sale and Quintana, meanwhile, have been mentioned in trade rumors leading into Monday's deadline after the team started 23-10 this season and had Sale looking like a Cy Young Award candidate. The White Sox are 6-11 since the All-Star break after previously trading for starter James Shields and signing Justin Morneau as a free agent. Rodon managed to last 6 1/3 innings in his return to the rotation but gave up five earned runs and eight hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Kennys Vargas hit a two-run homer as part of a three-run first inning for Minnesota. "They jumped on him pretty good there early," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. "Probably knocked a little rust off, and get back into it. He battled back. Velocity-wise, he started getting a little stronger as the game went along. I think that's maybe par for the course for as long as he's been away, and still trying to feel for it somewhat." Rodon lost his fourth straight decision and allowed two home runs for the third straight start. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft, Rodon owns a 4.67 ERA and has giving up 14 earned runs in his last three starts.