The White Sox obtained outfielder Dominic Fletcher in a trade with the Diamondbacks recently, though the offer might have been something of an either-or proposal.  According to U.S.A. Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Sox had the alternative of selecting either Fletcher or Jake McCarthy in the offer, with pitching possibility Cristian Mena still headed back to the D’Backs as the return piece in the one-for-one trade.

Fletcher and McCarthy share a comparable profile as 26-year-old, left-handed striking outfielders who can play any of the 3 positions on the yard.  McCarthy was the 39th total choice of the 2018 draft and has more Major League experience, with a .261/.331/.380 slash line over 736 plate looks in the Show.  A fourth-place surface in NL Rookie of the Year ballot in 2022 appeared to mean McCarthy’s prospective as a foundation for the Snakes, yet a hard 2023 season saw him relegated to the minors and after that to the Diamondbacks’ bench as the year established.  Arizona’s desire to carry on from either gamer and the Southsiders’ choice to take Fletcher supplies some intriguing wrinkles to this trade, and it may be intriguing to review this handle a couple of years’ time once we see how the professions of Fletcher, McCarthy, and Mena have actually established.

Here’s more from the Windy City’s 2 groups…

• Though the leading 4 in the Cubs rotation appears set and numerous prospects are competing for the 5th starter’s task, Jakob Junis “recently” drew some interest from Wrigleyville, according to The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma.  The depth of the interest isn’t understood, though it may’ve been something of a due diligence relocation by the Cubs considering that no official deal was made.  Junis’ experience as a swingman suggests that he wouldn’t have actually always even remained in the rotation, so the Cubs might’ve been taking a look at Junis to reinforce the bullpen and likewise include much more depth to the beginning mix.  In any case, Junis is no longer a choice, as the right-hander signed a one-year, $7MM agreement with the Brewers recently.
• In another piece from Mooney and Sharma, they take a look at the Cubs’ unclear 3rd base scenario.  Patrick Wisdom and Nick Madrigal appear poised to get the bulk of playing time, with Christopher Morel getting the periodic start at the hot corner, and Miles Mastrobuoni or novice Luis Vazquez offering more depth.  There’s adequate unpredictability here that Mooney/Sharma feel the Cubs may once again make a trade due date relocation at the position, similar to their offer for Jeimer Candelario this previous summertime.  Of course, the Cubs have actually likewise been connected to Matt Chapman this winter season if the group still had a bigger-ticket complimentary representative upgrade in mind, though a longer-term response may obstruct leading possibility Matt Shaw, who has actually been exercising as a 3rd baseman this offseason.
• Reports appeared last month that the White Sox were talking to advancement business Related Midwest about the capacity of developing a brand-new ballpark on a part of land in Chicago’s South Loop location.  Related Midwest just recently launched a series of artist makings to media (consisting of MLB.com’s Scott Merkin) about what this brand-new arena and the associated “ballpark village” location may appear like together with the Chicago River, in addition to some proposed makings of how the location around Guaranteed Rate Field might be established if the Sox relocated to a brand-new website.  Obviously a great deal of difficulties still need to be crossed with the White Sox, designers, civic and state authorities, and numerous other celebrations before this proposed ballpark might come true, and the earliest possible opening date would appear to be 2030, considering that the group’s lease at Guaranteed Rate Field goes through the 2029 season.