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While baseball’s offseason deprives us of games, it doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of action over the winter.
Tuesday ended the baseball season, and Wednesday opened the offseason with the annual stampede of players to free agency. Add to that, there’s a lot of other business to take care of here at South Side Sox.
Here’s your clip n’ save look at everything happening that’s worth happening, between World Series end and Opening Day 2022.
(Bookmark this page, and/or stop in frequently, as at least early on we’re likely to be tweaking and adding items!)
November 3
Free agents file, which means four White Sox will no longer have South Side addresses: Leury García, Ryan Tepera, Billy Hamilton and Carlos Rodón.
November 3-8
After free agents file, they cannot sign with other teams for five days, giving “home” teams an exclusive window to negotiate with their own free agents. It’s conceivable that any of García, Tepera, Hamilton or Rodón come back to the White Sox in this period. If Rodón is issued an $18.4 million qualifying offer during this period, he’ll have 10 days to decide whether to accept it. (It’s a one-year deal if he accepts, and a first-round sandwich pick for the White Sox if he declines and signs elsewhere.)
And for their part, the White Sox will need whether to exercise options on Craig Kimbrel ($16 million for 2022, or a $1 million buyout) and César Hernández ($6 million, no buyout).
November 5
We celebrate Soxivus Pole, the fourth phase of South Side Soxivus, with a special treat from Adrian Serrano.
November 7
Gold Gloves winners are announced; Dallas Keuchel is the only White Sox nominee.
November 8
Free agency begins, although November is normally utter doldrums when it comes to signings (it was downright shocking and “early” that the White Sox signed Yasmani Grandal on Nov. 21, 2019). Labor agreement uncertainty could/should further cast a chill on the proceedings.
November 9
Phase five of South Side Soxivus is celebrated, as we recount our least favorite games of 2021.
November 11
Silver Slugger winners are announced; Tim Anderson, at a brutal AL SS spot, is the only White Sox nominee.
November 15
The final phase of South Side Soxivus is celebrated, Soxivus Miracles.
Also, Rookie of the Year winners are announced.
November 16
Manager of the Year is announced, so brace yourselves, Tony La Russa disdainers.
November 17
Cy Young winners are announced, with Lance Lynn and Rodón anticipated as impacting the race.
November 18
MVP winners are announced. José Abreu will not repeat in 2021.
November 19
With an eye toward the Rule 5 draft, 7 p.m. CT on this day is the deadline to add players to the 40-man roster to avoid poaching.
Who’s vulnerable? A player who signed a pro contract at age 18 or younger must be added to the 40-man within five seasons. Players who signed at 19 or older must be on the 40-man within four seasons after signing.
November 30
At midnight, the labor agreement carriage snaps back into a pumpkins, as the collective bargaining agreement expires. In theory (and likely, depending on the level of early contentiousness between owners and players), owners could choose to lock out players at midnight.
December 1
The White Sox must make their contract intentions known for arbitration eligibles. Of their seven arb prospects, only Lucas Giolito is an absolutely certain tender, with Adam Engel, Jace Fry and Reynaldo López probable, and Evan Marshall, Brian Goodwin and Jimmy Cordero varying levels of unlikely.
December 5
IF there is no lockout, the Winter Meetings begin, in Orlando. But without a labor agreement, even if the GMs meet the week promises to be pretty chilly.
December 9
The Rule 5 draft is held, likely even if there is no labor agreement, or even a lockout.
December 21
On or around this date, we’ll begin our Top Prospect Poll, from 1-50, with your votes on the Top 50 helping us fill out our White Sox Top 100 Prospects.
December 22
On or around this date, we’ll profile White Sox Prospect No. 100, as we begin a countdown of 2022’s top prospects that will end with No. 1 announced near Opening Day.
December 28
Right before the end of the year, we’ll post our third annual Veterans Hall of Fame ballot. The inaugural vote in 2020, over at South Side Hit Pen, enshrined Minnie Miñoso in the Hall of Fame. Dick Allen was a winner in SSS’s 2021 ballot.
The election runs from December 28 through January 2, with results announced on January 3.
Jan. 4, 2022
Our Hall of Fame Class of 2022 ballot will be released, with voting open January 4-9 and results announced on January 10. The new eligibles don’t impress, and it’s the last chance on the ballot for Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. So, there’s a chance no one makes the cut in 2022.
January 11
The most fun of all our Hall of Fame elections returns for a fifth run on this day, as we release the South Side Sox White Sox Hall of Fame ballot. Voting takes place January 11-16, with results announced on January 17.
January 21
The third Friday in January, at noon CT, is the arbitration deadline, when teams must come to terms with arb-eligible players or end up in a hearing. For the second straight year, Giolito is certain to garner the biggest contract of the bunch.
January 21-22
SoxFest, which has not been announced and is likely not happening this offseason, would be happening this weekend. Let’s hope the White Sox take a cue from their popular video series during spring training, and present some some sort of “SoxFest” virtual/video offering to fans — seminars or Q&As that would have happened in-person.
February 16
This is the most likely date the White Sox will require all pitchers and catchers (and, informally, most players) to report to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
February 21
This is the likely deadline for players to report to Camelback Ranch.
February 26
The White Sox are scheduled to open their Cactus League schedule hosting the Oakland A’s at Camelback Ranch.
March 31
A sort of a scary prospect, but it’s a home opener in March for the White Sox! Minny comes to town to start the season at Sox Park. The road opener is on April 4, at Kansas City.