Headlines of April 6, 2015 “White Sox, Royals set for AL Central showdown” … Doug Miller, MLB.com

“White Sox finalize Opening Day roster” … Quinn Roberts, MLB.com “White Sox like Johnson's speed from nine-hole” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com

“Sophomore Abreu excited by club's lofty expectations” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Ventura: White Sox need to clean up spring 'sloppiness'” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com

“Jose Abreu excited for 2nd act with improved supporting cast” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune

“White Sox name Micah Johnson starter at second base” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “Series preview: White Sox at Royals” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune

“Melky Cabrera confident he'll fit in on field, in Sox clubhouse” … Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune “It's finally here: Jeff Samardzija ready to get White Sox season under way” … Daryl Van Schouwen,

Chicago Sun-Times

“White Sox announce Opening Day lineup; Johnson gets nod at second” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times

“Williams hopes 2015 is White Sox' happy anniversary” … Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times “What's up with ... former White Sox pitcher Floyd Bannister?” … Neil Hayes, Chicago Sun-Times

“Chicago White Sox's lineup set for opener” … Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago “Kyle Drabek gets White Sox's last bullpen spot” … Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago

“Rookie Micah Johnson wins White Sox 2B job” … Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago

“What to watch on Opening Day” … David Schoenfield, ESPN.com “5 for '15: Can Abreu match his rookie success?”… Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago

“5 for '15: Is White Sox's defense good enough to win?” … Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago “White Sox's Opening Day roster comes into focus” … Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago

“Predictions: American League MVP” … David Schoenfield, ESPN.com

“Lower in order, Alexei Ramirez looking more like himself already” … Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago “5 for '15: What/who holds rotation's big key?”… Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago

“MLB Preview: AL Central” … ESPN.com “White Sox: Opening Day energy hardly fazes Jeff Samardzija” … J.J. Stankevitz, CSN Chicago

“Jeff Samardzija must adapt to new routine with White Sox” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “'Different element' helps Micah Johnson win starting role” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago

“Father knows best: How White Sox GM Rick Hahn proved his dad right” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago

“Time for revamped White Sox to prove they're worthy of overhaul” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago “Alexei Ramirez was too valuable for White Sox to deal” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago

“White Sox sign Matt Lindstrom, make seven roster moves” … CSN Chicago “Johnson, Sanchez thrilled to make Sox Opening Day roster” … Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago

“White Sox GM says 'L-Train' Series would be 'fantastic for everybody'” … Ron Clements, Sporting News

“Chicago at Kansas City” … CBSSports.com “White Sox, Royals set for AL Central showdown” … Doug Miller, MLB.com

“White Sox not worried about spring pitching struggles” … Ron Clements, Sporting News “White Sox hope offseason moves help them contend in improved AL Central” … Ron Clements, Sporting

News

“Royals begin defense of AL pennant at home vs White Sox” … The Associated Press, USA Today “Jose Abreu not worried about power shortage in White Sox camp” … Shawn Krest, CBSSports.com

“Melky Cabrera fitting in with White Sox” … Shawn Krest, CBSSports.com

“2015 Baseball Preview - AL Central: Avisail Garcia, added speed put White Sox on top” … Bill Madden,

New York Daily News

White Sox, Royals set for AL Central showdown

Doug Miller / MLB.com | April 6, 2015

The last time the Royals played a game at Kauffman Stadium, they battled the Giants to the bottom of

the ninth inning of Game 7 in the World Series.

That one didn't end up in Kansas City's favor, with Alex Gordon stranded on third base as the potential tying run, but the new season begins for the defending American League champions on the same

diamond Monday at 3:10 p.m. CT.

Not that it will be easy. The Royals' beefed-up division rival from Chicago figures to make it a compelling

lid-lifter to a 2015 full of intrigue.

The White Sox have reloaded their pitching rotation and lineup, and they'll put one of their shiny new

acquisitions on display right away by starting right-hander Jeff Samardzija against Yordano Ventura in an early AL Central pitchers' duel.

Samardzija came to the South Siders in an offseason trade with Oakland, and the White Sox didn't stop

there. They also added outfielder Melky Cabrera and designated hitter Adam LaRoche to a lineup that already included 2014 AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu in an effort to not only move past Kansas City,

but also last year's division champion, the Detroit Tigers.

Samardzija pitched to a 2.99 ERA last season and struck out 202 batters in 219 2/3 innings while splitting

time between the Cubs and A's. And with a foot injury delaying the 2015 debut of White Sox ace Chris Sale, the former All-American wide receiver at Notre Dame gets another chance to shine in the Opening

Day spotlight. Samardzija also pitched the opener for the Cubs in 2013 and '14.

"The football [background] that he has, and the athletic part of him, just attitude-wise and everything, it

suits up well for him to be able to have an Opening Day [start]," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.

"Guys will be excited with him. Personality-wise, he likes to go after it."

Yordano Ventura does, too. In fact, his average fastball velocity of 97 mph, according to FanGraphs.com,

led all of baseball in 2014, and was one of the main reasons Ventura went 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 183 innings in his first full big league season.

Ventura, 23, gained valuable big-game experience in the postseason, with a Game 6 World Series victory

and a 1.46 ERA in two Fall Classic starts. Now, with former ace James Shields departed to San Diego via

free agency, Ventura gets the call to toe the slab for a championship team that returns most of its 2014 core, which featured the best defense in the Major Leagues and one of the best bullpens, too.

"I like their focus," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "They've come in with a definite mindset. We know

they play with a lot of energy and passion. But coming off a World Series, they have come in with even

more passion and energy.

"It was a great accomplishment last year, but I don't think anyone was satisfied with that. Their actions and focus show that every single day here."

White Sox finalize Opening Day roster

Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | April 5, 2015

The White Sox selected the contracts of right-hander Matt Albers, infielder Micah Johnson and catcher Geovany Soto on Sunday to finalize their roster ahead of Monday's Opening Day game against the Royals

at Kauffman Stadium.

Chicago also placed right-hander Jake Petricka, left-hander Chris Sale and left-hander Eric Surkamp on

the 15-day disabled list, all retroactive to March 27.

Those moves left the club with a 25-man roster featuring 11 pitchers and 14 position players.

Albers pitched in just eight games last season with Houston, but if able to pitch up to potential, could be

an important piece to the bullpen. In 2013 with the Indians, he pitched in 56 games, compiling a 3.14 ERA in 63 innings.

Johnson makes his first Opening Day roster and will be the team's second baseman. He hit .339 this

spring.

Soto makes the club as a backup catcher. After dealing with a torn meniscus during the 2013 and '14

seasons, Soto was able to stay healthy this spring to land a spot on the roster.

The White Sox Opening Day roster is as follows:

Pitchers (11): Albers, John Danks, Kyle Drabek, Zach Duke, Javy Guerra, Dan Jennings, Hector Noesi,

Zach Putnam, Jose Quintana, David Robertson and Jeff Samardzija Catchers (2): Tyler Flowers, Soto

Infielders (8): Jose Abreu, Gordon Beckham, Emilio Bonifacio, Conor Gillaspie, Johnson, Adam LaRoche, Alexei Ramirez, Carlos Sanchez

Outfielders (4): Melky Cabrera, Adam Eaton, Avisail Garcia, J.B. Shuck

White Sox like Johnson's speed from nine-hole

Scott Merkin / MLB.com | April 5, 2015

The White Sox finalized their 25-man Opening Day roster on Sunday by placing right-handed pitcher Jake Petricka (right forearm strain) and left-handed pitchers Chris Sale (avulsion fracture of right foot) and Eric

Surkamp (upper back strain) on the 15-day disabled list, all retroactive to March 27.

Right-handed pitcher Matt Albers, second baseman Micah Johnson and catcher Geovany Soto all officially were added to the 40-man roster, with the White Sox purchasing their contracts. The moves gave the

final relief spot to Kyle Drabek, who will serve as the team's long reliever.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura also announced Sunday that Johnson had won the starting second

base job, with the fleet-footed left-handed hitter batting ninth in the team's lineup on Monday against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Johnson, who swiped 84 bases at the Minor League level two years ago,

had an exceptional camp and provides a second leadoff man, of sorts, hitting ninth and in front of Adam

Eaton.

"I'm just happy to be in the lineup," said Johnson after Sunday's workout. "The nine hole, that's definitely something that's new to me. I got a few chances this spring but it's the same thing. My game doesn't

change. Just get on base and let Eaton do what he has to do and Melky [Cabrera], [Jose] Abreu, [Adam] LaRoche, all those guys."

"Talking to him a little bit today after he knew he was going to get the start, I'm proud of him," Eaton said. "He's very excited for the opportunity. I'm very blessed to hit behind him. I'm pumped. When you

can turn over a lineup like that with speed and aggressiveness, it's only going to add to the team and the spark to it."

• Ventura sees a little bit of Jack McDowell in Jeff Samardzija, the White Sox highly competitive Opening Day starter.

"There's an edge he has that raised everyone else around him up to that level," Ventura said. "He brings

people with him, which is important for a pitcher. He's in the games even when he's not pitching. He has that competitiveness. Part of it is the football that he had. He's aware of everything that is going on."

"I'm excited to go," Samardzija said. "It's what we prepared for, it's what we do all the hard work in the offseason for, and it's time to take a deep breath tonight and get ready for the long stretch of the regular

season."

• Sale remains on schedule to pitch in Arizona on Monday. If all goes well, the White Sox ace should

return to the rotation on April 12 against the Twins at home.

Sophomore Abreu excited by club's lofty expectations

Scott Merkin / MLB.com | April 5, 2015

A group of media members waited to talk to Jose Abreu following the White Sox workout Sunday at

Kauffman Stadium, in advance of Monday's Opening Day contest. The only problem was the reigning American League Rookie of the Year was working, still hitting in the cage.

The man with the specific daily plan never wavers. When Abreu did hold court in front of his locker, with

the help of interpreter and White Sox Spanish language announcer Billy Russo, he described himself as

the same person as he was last year at this time, although obviously quite a bit more established.

It's the potential for White Sox success that holds the greatest 2015 excitement for Abreu, who expressed that offseason sentiment to MLB.com when he talked about preparing for more than 162

games and the postseason.

"This year we have a much better team than last year," Abreu said. "I know the expectations are very

high but we have to keep the focus simple.

"Just play every day, play our game and not to try to win because we have to win, no. Just to keep the thing simple, play our game and do our job every day in the best way possible."

Abreu hit two homers in August and three in September in 2014, giving him 36 to set the single-season franchise record for a White Sox rookie. Abreu then hit just one during Spring Training. Of course, he hit

.376 in August, .298 in September and .508 in Cactus League action, so it's not as if baseball has adjusted to the Most Valuable Player candidate.

His power supply will be there, with Abreu having a better understanding of the rigors of a 162-game season, not to mention the help of a better lineup overall.

"Last year for me, it seemed more of guys just pitching around him and not giving him anything to the

point where they were going to throw a strike," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura of Abreu. "If [the

lineup] becomes dangerous enough, he's going to get some pitches to hit. He has the power. He

probably just didn't have the opportunity to get the pitches he needed to be able to hit home runs."

"I'm not concerned," Abreu said. "I don't know if I consider myself a good hitter but for the home runs? Just hit the ball and the ball will get out to whatever in the field. I just try to be myself in the batting

cage and that's it."

Ventura: White Sox need to clean up spring 'sloppiness'

Scott Merkin / MLB.com | April 5, 2015

Robin Ventura understands that statistics and results don't count during Cactus League play. No player

ever made the Hall of Fame from his Cactus League performance, and no team ever won a World Series

crown because of that 44- or 45-day stretch.

The White Sox manager also understands that sloppy play is sloppy play, regardless of the time of year. And it's not something that will be tolerated, especially for a team with lofty postseason expectations

entering the 2015 campaign.

"It wasn't necessarily the results," Ventura said during the White Sox workout Sunday at Kauffman

Stadium. "There was some sloppiness in there that we raised and took care of in some meetings.

"You need to play better. This is the Major Leagues. If you are not going to play clean baseball, you are not going to have a chance to win. We haven't played as well as we liked at the end here. So, for these

guys, it's all about the execution of what you do. We need to be good at it. We need to take care of the

baseball. There's a lot of details that you need to be good at and we need to be better at."

Defense is expected to be a stronger suit for the White Sox, with a full season of Avisail Garcia in right, Melky Cabrera replacing the Dayan Viciedo /Alejandro De Aza combination in left and Gold Glover Adam

LaRoche lending his contributions part of the time at first base with Jose Abreu. Micah Johnson was

named the starting second baseman Sunday, and his play in the field has developed throughout Spring Training.

That improvement on paper doesn't mean much if the execution of fundamentals isn't there, as Ventura

directly pointed out Sunday. It's a sentiment leadoff man and center fielder Adam Eaton agrees with.

"He's absolutely right. I think all of us know that," Eaton said. "Spring Training is Spring Training. Get the

kinks out in Spring Training. At the same time, there is an expectation to execute, with the bat, in the field, pitching, cuts and relays.

"This is the big league level and expectations are high to do that even in Spring Training. The lull of

Spring Training really got to us towards the end. When games don't matter and kind of the vibe is a little

different, it is difficult to come and perform well. But at the same time you know you're professional and it needs to be held at a little higher pace. With that being said, we'll have a little more adrenaline

tomorrow and hopefully it translates into some good, solid baseball."

Jose Abreu excited for 2nd act with improved supporting cast

Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune

April 5, 2015

The visitors clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium had cleared out Sunday, White Sox players and many coaches on a team bus heading back to their hotel.

Jose Abreu, however, was still hitting in the batting cage, getting in just a few more preseason swings before he begins his second major-league season Monday against the Royals.

It's moments like those witnessed over the 28-year-old first baseman's first year that have the Sox fairly

convinced he will have no trouble following up his American League Rookie of the Year season with more

success.

"He's very mature about how he goes about his business," manager Robin Ventura said. "He's not worried about the fanfare. He just wants to win, and I think that's the best part of him."

Neither Abreu nor Ventura put numbers on what would constitute another good season after he hit .317

with 36 home runs and 107 RBIs in 2014.

One of the few questions about that production — ranked in the top five in the AL in each category —

was the fall-off of his home run production late in the year. He hit just seven home runs after the All-Star break while fighting through his first 162-game season, though Sox coaches credited him with becoming

a better overall hitter during that time.

Abreu, who hit one homer while batting .508 this spring, said he is not concerned, adding he just tries to

be himself at the plate.

"Obviously I'm a little anxious because I want to hit home runs sometime," he recently said. "But if God is saving that for the season, it's good for me."

It doesn't bother Ventura, either, especially with hitters like Adam LaRoche and Avisail Garcia now in the lineup to hit behind Abreu and make pitchers think twice about putting a runner on base.

"It seemed guys (were) just pitching around him and not giving him anything," Ventura said of the drop-

off last year. "If (the lineup) becomes dangerous enough, he's going to get some pitches to hit. He has

the power. … He probably just didn't have the opportunity to get the pitches he needed to be able to hit home runs. Hopefully we can supply that for him."

Abreu, who will hit third, said he is excited to have such hitters on board.

LaRoche, who hit 26 home runs in 2014, signed a two-year, $25 million deal to be the designated hitter and will bat cleanup on opening day. Garcia is healthy again after missing much of last season with a torn

labrum and avulsion fracture in his left shoulder and will hit fifth Monday.

"These two guys behind me will be good because they will support me, not just for me but the team also," Abreu said. "Last year we probably didn't have the bat support behind me — with all respect to the

guys we had. But this year we are in a very good position with those guys. The whole lineup is good."

Abreu called himself "the same person" on this opening day as his first, even though his status shot from

unproven rookie to MVP candidate over the course of the year. But he also recognizes the increased expectations for himself and the Sox after a very big offseason by the front office.

"This year we have a much better team than last year," Abreu said. "I know the expectations are very

high, but we have to keep the focus simple. Just play every day, play our game and not try to win because we have to win. Just try to keep things simple."

Hitting coach Todd Steverson has faith in Abreu to do just that in his sophomore year.

"I don't really worry about him because he has such a sound mind," Steverson said. "That's not to say anybody can't go into a slump. Everybody's going to hit something, but there's not a panic with anybody

like that. … He has the capability of bringing himself back."

White Sox name Micah Johnson starter at second base

Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune

April 5, 2015

When Micah Johnson learned he would be making his major-league debut Monday as the White Sox starter at second base, he decided he needed to dole out his gratitude.

He called his high school coach and his mother and father — the latter deciding he needed a fresh haircut for the festivities — to inform them he had won the job for which he was competing with Carlos Sanchez.

Then Johnson made a trip around Camelback Ranch to thank each of the minor-league coaches who helped him grow from the team’s ninth-round draft pick in 2012.

“When I got drafted I was nowhere near major-league ready,” Johnson said. “Those guys put in countless hours of work. To me I didn’t make this on my own. It was God and those guys.

“When they told me, the first thing I could think about was thanking everybody because I wasn’t that

good. I definitely wasn’t an opening-day starter, not two years ago, not three years ago.”

It was a poised move for the 24-year-old, and the Sox are banking on that composure to carry on to the

field when they take on the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on opening day. Johnson doesn’t think the nerves will extend much beyond the first ground ball.

“You try to control the adrenaline,” Johnson said. “Baseball’s not really a game you can really play with

too much adrenaline. It’s not football. … It’s not going to be easy, but I think I can stay level-headed.”

Coming back from a late-season hamstring injury in 2014, Johnson was 20-for-59 with three doubles, a

triple, a home run, 12 runs scored and three stolen bases this spring.

Manager Robin Ventura said the “scrappy” Johnson will bat ninth, and he thinks Johnson and leadoff

hitter Adam Eaton together in a lineup will create “a dynamic we haven’t had here in a few years.” Eaton likes the idea of a pitcher having to face Johnson, Eaton and then Melky Cabrera and Jose Abreu.

“I think, ‘Where does a pitcher take a breath?’” Eaton said.

Samardzija ready: Right-hander Jeff Samardzija said he can benefit from the charged-up atmosphere

when he makes his third straight opening-day start Monday. He pitched a combined 15 scoreless innings

with 12 strikeouts in his last two opening-day starts with the Cubs.

“I definitely appreciate a full stadium,” Samardzija said. “Stay calm early but then as the game goes on really start feeding into that energy and let it be an aid instead of a hindrance.”

Extra innings: The final bullpen spot will go to right-hander Kyle Drabek, who joined the Sox off waivers from the Blue Jays last weekend. Ventura said he could be used in long relief. … Ventura wasn’t pleased

with play at the end of spring training. “There was some sloppiness in there that we raised and took care of in some meetings,” he said.

Series preview: White Sox at Royals

Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune April 5, 2015

Season series: First meeting. Royals led 13-6 in 2014.

Monday: 3:10 p.m., CSN.

RH Jeff Samardzija (7-13, 2.99 ERA in 2014) vs. RH Yordano Ventura (14-10, 3.20).

Wednesday: 7:10 p.m., WGN-9.

LH Jose Quintana (9-11, 3.32) vs. LH Danny Duffy (9-12, 2.53).

Thursday: 1:10 p.m., CSN.

LH John Danks (11-11, 4.74) vs. RH Edinson Volquez (13-7, 3.04).

Who's hot: Sox first baseman Jose Abreu hit .508 with eight RBIs in Cactus League play. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez had a team-high 17 RBIs and hit .297 this spring. Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain hit .382 with

four doubles and 10 RBIs this spring. Eric Hosmer was 21-for-63 with five doubles, four home runs and 14 RBIs.

Who's not: Samardzija gave up eight homers and 16 earned runs over his final three spring training

games. Danks allowed five runs on five hits, including two homers, to Triple-A Charlotte in his final

tuneup Friday. Volquez posted a 6.33 ERA this spring.

Melky Cabrera confident he'll fit in on field, in Sox clubhouse

Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune

April 5, 2015

White lines of tape stuck to the floor around White Sox left fielder Melky Cabrera's locker during spring training at Camelback Ranch, courtesy of his neighboring teammates.

"(Jose) Abreu and (Emilio) Bonifacio always said I take the three lockers, so they put the lines down to

limit the area," Cabrera explained through a team interpreter.

From the laughing and joking coming from the trio of lockers in a lighthearted spring atmosphere, it seems Cabrera has found an easy fit in his sixth major-league clubhouse. Much more businesslike on the

field, the career .286 hitter and his new team also think he is going to fit well in the Sox lineup when they open the season Monday against the Royals.

"I think there is a way you have to build a chemistry and a relationship with a team, and for me it's been easy here to adapt with the guys," Cabrera said.

Cabrera has had practice adjusting to new clubhouses during his 10-year major-league career, but with

his last two teams there was the question of whether the PED-user label would follow him. He was

suspended 50 games for testing positive for testosterone in 2012 while with the Giants, but Sox general manager Rick Hahn effectively put the issue in the past at Cabrera's introductory news conference.

Cabrera said he doesn't know what his teammates think of the suspension. He just knows he has left it

behind.

"I don't try to put my mind on that topic," Cabrera said. "I know that I made a mistake, and it was in the

past. Right now, I'm just trying to do my job … to help the team to win games. That's it, just try to be the best player I can be."

Cabrera was the priciest per-year acquisition the Sox made in the offseason, signing a three-year, $42

million contract. The Sox were willing to shell it out with an eye on another season like 2014, when

Cabrera hit .301 with 35 doubles, 16 home runs, 73 RBIs and a .351 on-base percentage.

Cabrera didn't put a number on his personal expectations, but when he pledged his allegiance to the Sox following some of their other offseason moves, he made his team expectations clear. He thinks the Sox

can be a playoff team, something he has already discussed with teammates.

"If I'm healthy, I know I can help the team to win games, and that is the most important," Cabrera said.

"I think we have a good chance to make the playoffs. That is our goal. And I'm very confident about it."

Cabrera hit .305 with two doubles, a homer, nine runs scored and six RBIs over 20 games this spring and did enough to earn the praise of center fielder Adam Eaton, whom he is likely to hit behind in the No. 2

spot.

"You can't say enough about him at the plate," Eaton said. "He handles the bat extremely well. It seems

like every time I was on base or around him, he was hitting the ball on the nose, so we're excited to have him."

Eaton said he also thinks Cabrera will clean up some "bumps in the road" defensively from this spring.

Cabrera dropped a few fly balls in the sun, contributing to three errors, but he promised he would be up

to par in left field, a problem area during the Sox's Dayan Viciedo/Alejandro De Aza era.

Sox manager Robin Ventura said he is happy to have the big arm of Cabrera, who along with Eaton and Avisail Garcia should help to deter baserunners. Cabrera had 13 assists and two errors last season.

"You want to be able to shut down the first to third," Ventura said. "When you have arms like that it just keeps people from taking that extra base."

Cabrera said he feels like he's in a "good spot right now" heading into the season. His confidence in the

Sox and their chemistry helps.

"We have the elements to compete this year," he said.

It's finally here: Jeff Samardzija ready to get White Sox season under way

Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times

April 5, 2015

The innings have been logged, the Cactus League starts checked off, the preparation and work complete.

The get-to-know-you time with new teammates is over.

It’s time to get this season started.

“Yeah, let’s do it,’’ right-hander Jeff Samardzija said.

If Chris Sale isn’t around, there’s no one better to do it for the White Sox than Samardzija, even if he is one of the new guys. Samardzija has excelled on Opening Days for that team on the other side of town,

and a game such as the one Monday against the defending American League champion Kansas City

Royals is one of the reasons the Sox acquired the All-Star during the offseason.

“It’s what we prepared for, it’s what we do all the hard work in the offseason for and it’s time to take a deep breath tonight and get ready for the long stretch of the regular season,” Samardzija, 30, said after

the Sox’ workout Sunday at Kauffman Stadium in preparation for their first game of the season (3:10

p.m., CSN, 670-AM).

As a star wide receiver at Notre Dame, Samardzija played in front of packed houses sooner than most baseball players, so he became acclimated to the bright lights sooner than most of his baseball

contemporaries. Kauffman Stadium will be buzzing with energy from an AL championship-ring and pennant-raising ceremony for the Royals.

Bring it on, Samardzija said.

“I definitely appreciate a full stadium, that’s for sure,’’ he said. “I enjoy doing [Opening Day]. There’s a little more buzz in the atmosphere, and you just kind of want to use it and stay calm early, but then, as

the game goes on, really start feeding into that energy and let it be an aid instead of a hindrance.’’

Manager Robin Ventura found it easy to choose Samardzija as his Opening Day starter when Sale broke

his right foot early in camp.

“There’s a little bit of [Jack] McDowell to him when he steps on the mound,’’ Ventura said, comparing Samardzija with his feisty former teammate and Sox ace. “There’s an edge he has that raises everyone

else around him up to that level. He brings people with him, which is important for a pitcher. He’s in the

games even when he’s not pitching.’’

Samardzija, like everyone else in the Sox’ clubhouse, counted down the days to the opener as spring training dragged on. Energy was in short supply. But they say they’re invigorated when they size up their

roster, believing their postseason aspirations are legit.

“Everyone is ready to get this thing going,’’ Samardzija said.

“We have high expectations. We’re really starting to see everyone come together and enjoy playing

together, and we’re getting to know what makes each other tick.

“Just the mentality and the feeling in this clubhouse, you feel a lot of confident guys who are ready to do

what they’re here to do, and that’s win ballgames. I don’t think there’s anything else on anyone’s mind here.’’

If Samardzija has those nine home runs allowed in spring training on his mind, he’s not saying. The

numbers that matter most to him were 18 strikeouts and only two walks.

“As long as I’m pounding the zone with all my stuff, that’s what we want,’’ he said.

All sorts of emotions and distractions could find their way into Samardzija’s day. Kauffman is where he

watched the Royals ruin his chance to pitch in the postseason last September. His Sox-fan family, which

no doubt would love to see his Sox career last more than one season (he’s a free agent after this season), will be in the big crowd. And former Cubs manager Dale Sveum will be in the Royals’ dugout.

He’s their hitting coach.

“With Sveum over there, he knows me pretty well and knows what I like to do,’’ Samardzija said last week. “I expect them to have a good game plan. Hopefully, ours is just a step ahead.’’

White Sox announce Opening Day lineup; Johnson gets nod at second

Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times April 5, 2015

Second baseman Micah Johnson will make his major league debut when the White Sox open the season against the Kansas City Royals Monday at Kauffman Stadium.

Johnson, who will bat ninth, was expected to get the nod, but manager Robin Ventura waited until

Sunday while the Sox were working out in preparation for the opener to make the announcement. Right-hander Kyle Drabek has also made the team, Ventura confirmed.

“In person you see the type of player he is, the tough at-bats and as fast as he is he adds a different element being able to stretch a defense, he makes them aware of him,” Ventura said Sunday. “Having

him bat ninth and coming right back to turn the lineup over with Adam [Eaton in the leadoff spot] it’s really a dynamic we havent’ had here in a few years. We have some guys who can run around the bases

and create a few runs when you need them.”

Here is the Opening Day lineup: Adam Eaton CF, Melky Cabrera LF, Jose Abreu 1B, Adam LaRoche DH,

Avisail Garcia RF, Gillaspie 3B, Alexei Ramirez SS, Tyler Flowers C, Micah Johnson 2B. Jeff Samardzija P.

Samardzija gets the start against the Royals’ Yordano Ventura. Samardzija got the nod with Chris Sale out for at least one start.

”For me there’s a little [Jack] McDowell to him when he steps on the mound,” Robin Ventura said. “There’s an edge to him that raises everyone to that level.”

The Sox need to raise their level now that the games are for keeps. Ventura wasn’t pleased with how the

Cactus League season finished on a low note.

“There was some sloppiness in there that we raised and took care of in some meetings,” Ventura said.

“You need to play better. This is the major leagues. If you’re not going to play clean baseball you’re not going to have a chance to win.

“We haven’t played as well as we’d like at the end here. You get to the point where it counts now. You can’t [say] it doesn’t mean as much. Now everything means something. It’s fun to get here, just the

attitude and mentality changes on a lot of these guys once you leave Arizona and everything counts.

“For these guys it’s all about the execution of what you do. And we need to be good at it. We need to take care of the baseball. There are a lot of details you need to be good at and we need to be better at.”

Here is the White Sox Opening Day roster:

Pitchers: Jeff Samardzija, Jose Quintana, John Danks, Hector Noesi, David Robertson, Zach Putnam, Zach Duke, Matt Albers, Dan Jennings, Kyle Drabek, Javy Guerra

Outfielders: Melky Cabrera, Adam Eaton, Avisail Garcia, J.B. Shuck

Infielders: Conor Gillaspie, Alexei Ramirez, Micah Johnson, Jose Abreu, Adam LaRoche, Carlos Sanchez, Gordon Beckham

Infield/outfield: Emilio Bonifacio

Catchers: Tyler Flowers, Geovany Soto

Williams hopes 2015 is White Sox' happy anniversary

Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times

April 4, 2015

In some ways, it seems like yesterday. In others, it seems like a baseball lifetime ago.

Ten years have passed since the White Sox gave their fans the treasure of their rooting lives by sweeping

the Houston Astros in the World Series.

On Monday at Kauffman Stadium, where the Kansas City Royals came so close to winning the Fall Classic in

October, the Sox will get cracking on the 10-year anniversary season of when they won it all. They are

equipped, they think, to contend for their first postseason berth since 2008.

And if you’re in the postseason, well, you have a shot. It’s a lot to dream about for a team that lost 99 games in 2013 and 89 games last season. But bad-to-good finishes aren’t as rare as they used to be (see

the 2013 Boston Red Sox and the 2014 San Francisco Giants), and the offseason additions of Jeff Samardzija, David Robertson, Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche and Zach Duke blended with a core led by

Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Jose Abreu and Adam Eaton make the Sox a team to watch.

Ken Williams put together the 2005 team when he was the Sox’ general manager. His bubbling

enthusiasm about this team, which he had a significant hand in constructing as executive vice president, can’t be contained.

‘‘We have a lineup that is going to be one of the most pleasurable of those we’ve had for me personally to watch,’’ Williams said. ‘‘Not necessarily because of the overall talent, but because there is a grind-it-out

mentality in each one of them, a fight mentality. We purposely went out to put this kind of roster together, and things fell into place.’’

Williams always has been a big grind, effort and fight guy. He saw it in games this spring that didn’t matter.

‘‘I have not been around a team that has played as hard in spring training as these guys,’’ Williams said.

‘‘You take that, combine the youth with experience, and there will be a certain amount of energy that you can expect on a day-to-day basis.’’

Those are the intangibles Williams insists will make a difference. As for the tangibles, Williams points to a pitching staff that became legit when Samardzija was added.

‘‘Our starting rotation, when Chris Sale gets back, can match up with anyone,’’ Williams said. ‘‘Our

bullpen, the [Jake] Petricka bump in the road, hopefully we can weather that storm for a while. And

Robertson says he feels good, so things are pointing upward.’’

Williams isn’t as hands-on in the day-to-day operation as he was as GM. Rick Hahn, his right-hand man in 2005, is at the helm now. This team that they put together with a plan set in motion in 2013 will make its

own identity.

‘‘There are similarities,’’ Williams said. ‘‘That ’05 team was a looser group; this is more of a workmanlike

group. I think guys like Melky will keep it fun for guys. There are guys who can lighten it up a little bit. And Eaton brings a certain edge, a little bit of a lightning rod.’’

This team will battle you, Williams said. And he loves that.

‘‘You’re going to have to work one through nine [in the order],’’ he said.

Will it be enough? Williams said he wants another ring as badly as he wanted the first one.

‘‘There have been a number of people in major-league baseball who have won a ring,’’ he said. ‘‘When you start talking about multiple rings, the pool shrinks. I’d like to be part of that. And I’d like this

organization not to have to wait so long, but here’s where we are.

‘‘Now I think we’re going to embark on something that hopefully has the chance to get back to the big

one.’’

What's up with ... former White Sox pitcher Floyd Bannister?

Neil Hayes, Chicago Sun-Times

April 4, 2015

Former pitcher Floyd Bannister found himself driving to the White Sox’ spring-training facility last week. It wasn’t to sign autographs or to reminisce with former teammates, although he would end up doing both.

This wasn’t about his old career; it was about his current one. Bannister was delivering lights and other equipment for a New York Times photo shoot.

‘‘I just did a shoot with Mike Trout and Buster Posey,’’ Bannister said. ‘‘When spring training is here, there

are a lot of athletes and golfers and endorsement shoots. It’s never boring. It allows me to have the

schedule I want, and it’s a real treat for me to see all these different athletes at the pinnacle of their careers and have the opportunity to shake their hands.’’

Bannister didn’t plan to open the photographic studio and film- and video-production center Loft 19 when

he retired in 1992 after a 15-year major-league career, including five with the Sox. It was his son, Brian,

who grew up juggling dual passions for art and baseball. Brian studied digital design and photography while being teammates with former Cubs ace Mark Prior at USC.

Brian invested the $100,000 signing bonus he received after being selected in the seventh round of the

2003 draft on a 9,000-square-foot studio in Phoenix that since has hosted singers Beyonce, Selena Gomez, Brooks and Dunn and Nick Lachey, as well as Danica Patrick, Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Johnson

and other athletes during the last 10-plus years.

Bannister manages what is now three studios with more than 20,000 square feet for his son, who not

only excelled in athletics and art but had a perfect score in math on the SAT.

During his five seasons with the Mets and Royals, Brian gained a reputation for using advanced statistics.

His combination of major-league experience and cutting-edge statistical analysis prompted Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington to hire him as a scout and analyst in January.

‘‘I wouldn’t be at this level without him,’’ Bannister said of his son. ‘‘He really did his homework. The goal

of the studio was to bring in the best photographers, filmmakers and videographers from around the country, rent them the best equipment and assist them with everything. It has really been something.’’

The Sox’ 1983 season is a frequent topic when Bannister talks about his career. The Sox dominated in the second half en route to the American League West title and their first postseason appearance since

the 1959 World Series before falling to the Orioles in the American League Championship Series.

Bannister, a left-hander, lost nine of his first 12 decisions that season before winning 13 of 14 in the

second half. He and right-handers LaMarr Hoyt and Richard Dotson amassed a combined record of 43-5 after the All-Star break.

‘‘It’s one of those things where you get into the second half and things start clicking and you can’t wait to

get out there,’’ he said. ‘‘There was an inside competition between the position players and the pitching staff where nobody wanted to let anybody down. Everybody wanted to keep everything rolling in the

right direction and keep pulling

for each other.

‘‘I was fortunate to win a lot of championships at the amateur level. A lot of things have to go your way. Things didn’t go our way in the playoffs. It was unfortunate.’’

The No. 1 overall draft pick in 1976, Bannister can relate to what rookie Carlos Rodon is going through. Rodon, the third overall pick last season, will start this season at Class AAA Charlotte despite a 3.06 ERA

with 21 strikeouts and five walks in 17⅔ innings this spring.

‘‘Guys like Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver and Gaylord Perry used to say that sometime in your career, you’re

going to doubt your ability,’’ Bannister said when he was asked about what advice he would give Rodon.

‘‘When Hall of Fame guys tell you that, it’s real. If you can create confidence at the level you’re at and keep moving forward, that’s key. You have to have something to fall back on that helps you get over the

hump. This is such a mental game that you don’t want to go backward.

‘‘The sad part is, it takes so long to learn the game and master the pitches and be successful that when you achieve that, it’s usually when your arm breaks down on you and you’re done.’’

Chicago White Sox's lineup set for opener

Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago April 5, 2015

There were no real surprises Sunday as Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura set his lineup for Monday’s season opener against the defending American League champion Kansas City Royals.

The batting order against Royals right-handed starter Yordano Ventura is as follows:

Adam Eaton, center field

Melky Cabrera, left field

Jose Abreu, first base

Adam LaRoche, designated hitter

Avisail Garcia, right field

Conor Gillaspie, third base

Alexei Ramirez, shortstop

Tyler Flowers, catcher

Micah Johnson, second base.

Jeff Samardzija will be the starting pitcher

The only unexpected lineup tweak is batting Gillaspie over Ramirez in the No. 6 spot. The original projection was for Ramirez to bat sixth and Ventura even hinted this spring that he could use his

shortstop in the No. 5 spot at times.

Ventura’s lineup gives the White Sox three left-handed hitters, as well as a switch hitter, in the top six

spots of the order. The lefty swingers are Eaton, LaRoche and Gillaspie, while Cabrera is the switch hitter.

The White Sox open their season by playing 25 of their first 28 games against American League Central rivals.

"It's huge to get off on the right foot and get the ball rolling in the right direction," Eaton said. "Is it make or break? No. You want to play better in September than come out of the gates hot. It's a long season,

but at the same you want to start off well. But like I said, it doesn't make or break the season."

Kyle Drabek gets White Sox's last bullpen spot

Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago April 5, 2015

The last spot in the Chicago White Sox's bullpen will go to Kyle Drabek, manager Robin Ventura

announced before Sunday's final team workout in preparation for Opening Day.

Drabek, who was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on March 27, had just two spring

outings in a White Sox uniform. He didn’t give up an earned run, but still allowed five hits with one walk and three unearned runs over 2 1/3 innings.

The final two pitchers eligible for the last rotation spot were Drabek and Eric Surkamp, who will start the season on the disabled list with an upper back strain.

The White Sox will open the season with a seven-man bullpen, even though they could have added an

arm with starter Chris Sale opening the season on the disabled list. That extra spot went to infielder Carlos Sanchez instead.

Behind new closer David Robertson, the White Sox’s bullpen will open the season with Zach Duke, Zach Putnam, Dan Jennings, Javy Guerra, Matt Albers and Drabek. Duke and Putnam are expected to share

the setup duties until one of them establishes the spot for himself.

Right-hander Jake Petricka will open the season on the disabled list with arm soreness, but could return

as early as a week into the season. Petricka figures to compete for the setup role when he returns.

White Sox's poor spring finish addressed in meetings

Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago April 5, 2015

The Chicago White Sox ended spring training with a thud, and manager Robin Ventura was not going to

chalk it up simply to his club looking forward to the start of the season.

The White Sox not only lost their final Cactus League game 10-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, they then flew across the country and got thumped 10-2 again, this time by Triple-A Charlotte. That’s right, the

players who were deemed not quite as good as the ones in the major leagues, made it a point to get

themselves noticed.

The White Sox finished the spring 11-18-3, counting the game against Charlotte.

Robin Ventura expects the attitude and performance of his team will perk up now that the games will start counting.AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek

“We haven’t played as well as we would have liked at the end here,” Ventura said Sunday before the

team’s final workout in advance of Monday’s opener. “You get to the point where it counts now and you can’t ever put it on the fact that nothing really counts in spring training and it doesn’t mean much. Now

everything means something.”

While the scoreboard is the easiest element to look at, Ventura’s displeasure with the club went deeper

than that.

“There was some sloppiness in there so we raised the subject and took care of it in some meetings,” Ventura said. “We need to play better. This is the major leagues. If you are not going to play clean

baseball, you are not going to have a chance to win.”

Ventura does have seasoned veterans to work with, such as Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche and Alexei

Ramirez, so their demeanor moving forward will be key. Then there is the professional approach from Jose Abreu, who looked like a seasoned veteran in his rookie year of 2014.

And Ventura has Jeff Samardzija on the mound on Opening Day. The right-hander wasn’t necessarily

lights out this spring, allowing nine home runs, but he was able to control the action when throwing his

offspeed pitches. Samardzija pitched in the past two openers for the Cubs and didn’t give up a run over 15 combined innings, facing the Pittsburgh Pirates on the road both times.

“I just think the attitude, the mentality changes on a lot of these guys once you leave Arizona and start

getting ready for everything counting,” Ventura said. “So for these guys, it’s all about the execution of

what you do. We need to be good at it. We need to take care of the baseball.”

Center fielder Adam Eaton echoed Ventura's comments.

“The lull of spring training really got to us toward the end,” Eaton said. “When games don't matter and kind of the vibe is a little different, it is difficult to come and perform well. But at the same time you know

you're professional and it needs to be held at a little higher pace. With that being said, we'll have a little

more adrenaline [on Monday] and hopefully it translates into some good, solid baseball.”

All eyes will be on the defense early, especially on the infield. Three of the four White Sox infielders -- Johnson, Abreu and Conor Gillaspie -- can be considered average at best on defense. Outfield defense

gets a boost from Dayan Viciedo’s departure alone, but Cabrera and Avisail Garcia each went through

rough patches in the spring.

“There are a lot of details that you need to be good at, and we need to be better at,” Ventura said.

Rookie Micah Johnson wins White Sox 2B job

Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago

April 5, 2015

Coming in first place at second base was rookie Micah Johnson, although naming the newest starting infielder for the Chicago White Sox was not as simple as it looked like it would be just a few weeks ago.

Johnson came out on top in a spirited battle in which both second-base candidates -- Carlos Sanchez was the other -- accounted for themselves quite nicely.

In fact, both players made the Opening Day roster, with Sanchez grabbing the extra spot left vacant

because Chris Sale will start the season on the disabled list. The White Sox will carry just four starters and 11 total pitchers until Sale returns next weekend.

"I got the required work in and I got a lot of extra work in as well, offensively and defensively," Johnson said. "There’s obviously things you can work on because that’s never going to stop. I felt healthy, that’s

probably the most important of it, and the mistakes I made defensively or offensively, a lot of times I was being overly aggressive."

Johnson batted .339 with a .391 on-base percentage in 22 games (59 at-bats) this spring, stealing three bases. Sanchez batted .425 with a .489 OPB in 21 games (40 at-bats), stealing one base. Sanchez also

played the better defense of the two.

But Johnson’s dynamic speed, and the fact that he came out of the gates flying in spring training when a job opportunity was on the line, helped his cause. He will bat ninth on Opening Day, putting him one spot

before another speedster in Adam Eaton when the lineup turns over.

“Going into it, I hadn’t seen a ton of him," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Johnson. "You get

the reports and see some stuff on video. In person, you see the scrappy kind of player he is and the tough at-bats he has. As fast as he is, he just has a different element in being able to stretch the defense

and make them aware of him.”

The second-base assignment means Johnson’s first major-league game will come on Opening Day.

“Having him ninth and coming right back around and turning the lineup over to Adam, it’s a dynamic we

haven’t had here in a few years,” Ventura said. “We have some guys who can run around the bases and

create a few runs when we need them.”

Sanchez has 28 games of major-league experience, with all but one coming after Gordon Beckham was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in August of last year. Johnson, 24, started last season at Double-A

Birmingham but was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte, where he played 65 games and batted .275 with a .314 OBP.

"No, I just knew I had to worry about my game so that when I was called upon that I’d be ready," Johnson said. "That’s all I could control, and (Sanchez) played amazing. He did a great job, that’s why

he’s here. You don’t really worry about it. You don’t really try to jinx yourself either. You try to stay level-headed and that’s pretty much how I am."

What to watch on Opening Day

David Schoenfield, ESPN.com April 5, 2015

The baseball media does a terrific job of making spring training appear a lot more interesting than it

actually is. After more than a month of exhibition games and news that is mostly about somebody getting injured, we're all ready for games that count, starters who play the entire game and standings that are

worth paying attention to.

Yes, Opening Day is finally here. Here's a quick look at each game and why it's worth watching.

Toronto Blue Jays at

New York Yankees

1 p.m. ET, ESPN/WatchESPN

Starting pitchers: Drew Hutchison (TOR) vs.

Masahiro Tanaka (NYY)

You can watch to cheer Alex Rodriguez's return or, more likely, to boo it. After a spring training in which he hit .277 with three home runs in 45 at-bats, A-Rod will probably hit seventh as the designated hitter.

His final tune-up on Saturday was rough, as he fanned three times and was booed loudly by Nationals

fans each time up. If his spring stats are an indication of what's to come, he's going to strike out a lot, draw a lot of walks and hit some home runs, which may actually make him a useful cog in the Yankees

lineup. The Blue Jays made one of the more curious Opening Day decisions, choosing the 24-year-old Hutchison

to start over veterans Mark Buehrle or R.A. Dickey. It's also our first chance to see the middle of that Toronto lineup: Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson each hit at least 29 home runs last

season. If the Blue Jays are going to end the longest playoff drought in the majors, they have to learn

how to beat the Yankees. They're 27-47 against them the past four seasons.

Bonus: Tanaka tries to pitch with diminished velocity. He was effective in spring training, and there's no reason he can't deliver results like Hisashi Iwakuma if the elbow ligaments hold.

Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers

1:08 p.m. ET

Starting pitchers: Phil Hughes (MIN) vs. David Price (DET)

Price becomes the first Opening Day starter for Detroit not named Justin Verlander since Jeremy

Bonderman in 2007. Minus Max Scherzer and given Verlander's uneasy health status and production, there may be more pressure on Price than any pitcher in the sport. Considering that Price is a free agent,

the Tigers will try to squeeze every last ounce out of him, much like the Brewers did when they acquired

CC Sabathia in 2008. Keep an eye on new center fielder Anthony Gose and shortstop Jose Iglesias, as the Tigers hope for better defense up the middle.

Hughes became a fascinating pitcher to watch last season, as he made the decision to basically walk

nobody -- he issued just 15 unintentional free passes in 209.1 innings, the third-lowest walk rate for a

starting pitcher since 1920. Considering that Price is also a strike-throwing machine, this is the best bet for quickest game of the day, if that's your thing.

Bonus: Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.

Colorado Rockies at

Milwaukee Brewers

2:10 p.m. ET

Starting pitchers: Kyle Kendrick (COL) vs.

Kyle Lohse (MIL)

It's the battle of the Kyles! And, no, it's probably not a good sign for the Rockies that Kendrick -- with his

4.42 career ERA -- is their Opening Day starter. The other Kyle, however, has become one of the most underrated starters in the game, with the 17th-best ERA among starters over the past four seasons

(minimum 600 innings).

Bonus: A potential Carlos Gomez bat flip.

Boston Red Sox at

Philadelphia Phillies

3:05 p.m. ET

Starting pitchers: Clay Buchholz (BOS) vs.

Cole Hamels (PHI)

Hey, watch Hamels pitch against his future team! He's started five times against the Red Sox in his career and is 4-0 with a 1.97 ERA. So, Phillies fans, your team actually has a good chance of being in first place

for a day. After a busy offseason that saw the Red Sox sign Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval and

trade for Rick Porcello and Wade Miley, a lot of analysts are picking them to win the AL East, which suggests they think Buchholz will improve upon last year's 5.34 ERA. He allowed a .346 average in spring

training, so we'll see.

Bonus: Mookie! Yes, Mookie Betts is my sleeper MVP candidate.

Baltimore Orioles at

Tampa Bay Rays

3:05 p.m. ET

Starting pitchers: Chris Tillman (BAL) vs.

Chris Archer (TAM)

With last year's trade of Price to the AL Central, the precarious ligaments in Tanaka's arm and then the spring training forearm tendinitis that prevented Alex Cobb from starting this game for Tampa, Tillman

and Archer may be the two best starters in the AL East. Last year, Tillman had a 5.20 ERA through June

5, then posted a 2.38 ERA over his final 21 starts. He's not an ace in the sense that he racks up a ton of strikeouts, but he has improved his ground ball rate in recent seasons, eliminates the running game

(opposing runners had just one successful steal off him last year) and has pitched 200 innings the past two seasons.

Archer is a guy to love, both on and off the field. He's got one of the best arms in the league and went 10-9 with a 3.33 ERA in his first full season. He did that primarily as a two-pitch pitcher, mixing in an

occasional changeup with this four-seam fastball/slider combo. There's room for more.

Bonus: Manny Machado is back. Stay healthy, kid.

New York Mets at

Washington Nationals

4 p.m. ET, ESPN/WatchESPN

Starting pitchers: Bartolo Colon (NYM) vs.

Max Scherzer (WAS)

The Nationals enter 2015 with a team-record payroll of over $160 million, a rotation that has the potential to be one of the best we've ever seen and expectations of a World Series title or bust. They'll be

missing Anthony Rendon (knee), Denard Span (abdominal surgery) and Jayson Werth (shoulder) on Opening Day, although Werth may be ready later in the week, so their positional depth will be tested

early on.

As for the Mets, old man Colon (41 years old) draws the Opening Day assignment not just because he's a

respected a veteran but so the club can line up Matt Harvey to start the second game at home on April 14 -- you know, the game when attendance invariably falls off after the home opener. So watch this

game to see Scherzer's debut with the Nationals, but the most interesting game of this series will be

Thursday, when Harvey takes on Stephen Strasburg.

Bonus: Terry Collins tries to manage a National League game with four bench players!

Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals

4:10 p.m. ET

Starting pitchers: Jeff Samardzija (CHW) vs. Yordano Ventura (KAN)

In one of the more intriguing Opening Day pitching matchups, Samardzija gets the start while Chris Sale is on the disabled list. Samardzija had a rough spring, surrendering nine home runs in 21.1 innings. Yes,

it was spring, but it's a bit of a concern. Ventura -- who just signed a five-year, $23 million extension -- takes over from James Shields as Kansas City's No. 1 starter. Ventura's rookie campaign was a rousing

success, and now we get to see what he can do with that upper-90s fastball as a sophomore.

Bonus: Jose Abreu, Year 2.

Los Angeles Angels at

Seattle Mariners

4:10 p.m. ET

Starting pitchers: Jered Weaver (LAA) vs.

Felix Hernandez (SEA)

Are there two guys who know how to pitch better than these two? Of course, following the Mets' logic,

the Mariners should start the King in the second game of the season. Hernandez went 3-0 in five starts against the Angels in 2014, allowing just five runs. Weaver -- the AL leader in wins in 2012 and 2014 --

first squared off against Felix on July 3, 2006, winning 7-1. This will be their 12th career matchup against. Weaver is 5-3 in those games, Hernandez 3-6 (including a win last year on Opening Day).

Bonus: Mike Trout versus Robinson Cano, beginning a possible MVP duel.

Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds

4:10 p.m. ET

Starting pitchers: Francisco Liriano (PIT) vs. Johnny Cueto (CIN)

Cueto won 20 games last year, tied for the National League in strikeouts and posted a 2.25 ERA. Most

seasons, that would have earned him a Cy Young. He dominated the Pirates, going 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA in six starts. A free agent at season's end, he's also trade bait: If the Reds fall out of the race, Cueto is

going to be in big demand at the trade deadline.

Bonus: Joey Votto, healthy.

San Diego Padres at

Los Angeles Dodgers

4:10 p.m. ET

Starting pitchers: James Shields (SDG) vs. Clayton Kershaw (LAD)

I don't think I have to sell this one. Any game featuring Kershaw is worth watching, but you also get the new-look Padres, including Matt Kemp against his former team, and the new-look Dodgers, with Jimmy

Rollins, Howie Kendrick and rookie Joc Pederson in center field. How fun is that first Kershaw-Kemp showdown going to be? Kemp had a good spring, hitting .370 with four home runs.

Bonus: The continued adventures of Yasiel Puig.

Atlanta Braves at Miami Marlins

4:10 p.m. ET

Starting pitchers: Julio Teheran (ATL) vs. Henderson Alvarez (MIA)

Giancarlo Stanton showed no ill effects in spring training from last September's beaning, hitting .313 with

four home runs. Still, don't be surprised if Teheran throws a fastball or two up and in, you know, just to

see how Stanton reacts.

Bonus: The worst lineup in the game. Wait, that's not a good selling point. (Sorry, Braves fans.)

Cleveland Indians at

Houston Astros

7 p.m. ET, ESPN/WatchESPN

Starting pitchers: Corey Kluber (CLE) vs. Dallas Keuchel (HOU)

A battle of two of the biggest surprises of 2014. Reigning AL Cy Young winner Kluber just signed a five-year extension worth $38.5 million, a deal that also includes club options for 2020 and 2021. Kluber is a

late bloomer (he turns 29 on April), but it looks like a smart deal for Cleveland if he stays healthy and the team options mitigate the risk at the back end. Keuchel posted a 2.93 ERA after having an ERA over 5.00

each of his first two seasons. There was nothing fluky in either pitcher's numbers, however, so I expect

more of the same from both.

Bonus: Jose Altuve, hit machine.

San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks

10 p.m. ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN

Starting pitchers: Madison Bumgarner (SFO) vs. Josh Collmenter (ARI)

Can Bumgarner pick up where he left off last postseason? His historic postseason run was fueled by moving closer to the third-base side of the rubber in August, helping him get his fastball inside better to

right-handed hitters. If that was a real change in execution, he'll no longer be simply a very good pitcher with a great October résumé, but rather a great pitcher competing with Kershaw for Cy Young Awards.

Bonus: Well, you can't see Yasmany Tomas, because the expensive Cuban import will begin the season in

Triple-A. Your 2015 Diamondbacks, everyone!

Texas Rangers at

Oakland Athletics

10:05 p.m. ET

Starting pitchers: Yovani Gallardo (TEX) vs.

Sonny Gray (OAK)

The A's are a little banged up, with outfielders Coco Crisp and Josh Reddick both starting the season on

the DL, but they aren't going to get any sympathy from the Rangers. April will tell a lot about the direction of the 2015 A's as they play entirely within the division other than three games against Kansas

City. Minus Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss (plus last season's trade of Yoenis Cespedes), the lineup will have to rely more on getting on base than on power, with newcomers Ben Zobrist, Brett Lawrie,

Marcus Semien and Billy Butler the keys.

Bonus: Gray's curveball. He threw it 881 times last year and gave up just two home runs, both in the

same game.

5 for '15: Can Abreu match his rookie success?

Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago

April 5, 2015

Like a 7-footer who can play basketball on the perimeter, a hybrid sports car or even cold soup, Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu knows how to marry opposite ends of the spectrum.

Last year's American League Rookie of the Year is unanimously known as a home run threat, but when

his power chips are down, Abreu still has options.

Because of his versatility as a hitter, the expectation is that Abreu should be able to post numbers similar to his output last season, a lofty prediction because he became the first rookie in baseball history to finish

in the top five of all three Triple Crown categories.

His .317 batting average in 2014 was fifth-best in the American League. His 107 RBIs were fourth-best,

and his 36 home runs were third-best.

But where Abreu's artistry really came through last season was when his power numbers waned. Looking tired while playing in his first 162-game season, Abreu could manage only seven home runs after the All-

Star break and just five in the 51 games he played over the final two months.

But that didn't mean he was no longer helping the cause.

In what might have actually been a combination of exhaustion and pitchers no longer willing to challenge

him out over the plate, Abreu simply flicked pitches off the corners and became a singles machine.

Abreu had only 13 extra-base hits in August and September but still managed to deliver 50 singles in that

time frame, when he batted .341 with a .433 on-base percentage. Both numbers were well above his full-season totals.

Obviously, Abreu is being counted on for more than just singles, but the beauty of his approach is that

his lean power times seem to result in bloopers and flares for singles into shallow right field instead of 2-

for-45 droughts.

That's not to say Abreu is immune from struggles. He had one hit over a seven-game stretch in April, but never seemed to tail off to that extreme again. Yes, pitchers have more scouting reports on Abreu, but

he seems to be gaining knowledge on the league just as fast.

"I'm working just to be better in all aspects of the game," Abreu said through an interpreter early in the

spring. "I really don't think about one specific thing to be better. I want to be good all-around and in all aspects of my game. I try to be the best person possible that I could be. Be the same way as a person as

you are as a player."

Once again this spring, Abreu is showing more plate coverage than power. With one more single in three

at-bats during Thursday's Cactus League finale, Abreu left Arizona with a robust .508 batting average.

His 30 spring hits in 59 at-bats came with just seven extra-base hits: five doubles, a triple and a lone home run. That means he still has just eight home runs in a White Sox uniform, exhibitions included,

since he suited up for the July All-Star Game in Minneapolis.

Yet nobody with the White Sox is the least bit worried. Abreu has even acknowledged the power drought

but isn't too worried after playing 19 practice games under the blazing desert sun.

"That's the plan, to come to spring training and start the season hot," Abreu said last week. "Right now, I

am very glad about what my results are, and I think I can keep the momentum into the season. I'm ready for the season. I am anxious and tired because the sun is so hot here."

With another season like the one he delivered last year, Abreu can move from the front yard to the front

porch of the house that inhabits the game's top repeat performers, such as Miguel Cabrera and Albert

Pujols. It comes as no surprise that Abreu lists both those names when asked for the hitters he likes to

watch most in the game.

And showing he's a glass-half-full type, Abreu is taking his spring numbers in stride now that he sits on the cusp of a new season.

"I am feeling good," he said last week. "Obviously, I'm a little anxious also because I want to hit home runs as well. But if God is saving that for the season, it's good for me. I'm just trying to get ready for the

season and do my job."

5 for '15: Is White Sox's defense good enough to win?

Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago

April 5, 2015

As incredible as the offseason roster additions were by the Chicago White Sox front office, one area that wasn't addressed as well was team defense.

It remains one of the club’s bigger question marks, along with how the bullpen handles the innings in front of new closer David Robertson.

That’s not to say there weren’t any upgrades in the field, it’s just that none jumped off the page like the

addition of Jeff Samardzija to the rotation, the acquisition of Robertson for the bullpen and the arrival of Melky Cabrera for lineup continuity out of the No. 2 spot.

Jose Abreu doesn't offer much range at first base, but the White Sox hope he'll get better on defense with more playing time.Allan Henry/USA TODAY Sports

Cabrera, though, does represent a defensive upgrade in left field. Nobody is going to confuse him with a Gold Glover, but the simple move from Dayan Viciedo to Cabrera in left means that the outfield defense

just improved.

Cabrera’s plus arm also gives the White Sox solid throwers in the outfield from Cabrera to Adam Eaton in

center field and Avisail Garcia in right. The jury is still out on Garcia’s overall defense in right field.

Fleet of foot for a big man, Garcia is still a work in progress when it comes to routes and reaction time on

hard hit balls.

The biggest defensive concern for the White Sox, though, resides on the infield. The infield corner defense of Conor Gillaspie at third base and Jose Abreu at first ranked in the bottom half of baseball. As a

big man, Abreu’s range never will be great, but his footwork and his ability to dig balls out of the dirt are slowly moving in the right direction.

The White Sox are also expected to see a defensive upgrade from Gillaspie after the long offseason, but his battle with plantar fasciitis restricted his movement. Gillaspie said it was a non-issue, and manager

Robin Ventura added the foot problem is now behind him.

Defense also brings the battle for the second base job into closer examination. Both Micah Johnson and

Carlos Sanchez played well in the battle for the job, and Johnson is believed to be the likely candidate to start at second on Monday at Kansas City.

Sanchez, though, actually plays better defense. With both players making the Opening Day roster, the

winner of the only spring battle remains unknown.

Can the White Sox afford to have three average to below-average defenders on its four-man infield?

That lone plus defender on the infield would be shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who vaulted himself into Gold

Glove contention last year by bouncing back from a troubled 2013. Ramirez did not with the award, but finished among the top three finalists.

Also finishing as a Gold Glove finalist last year was Eaton, who will now be the anchor in center for a long time after signing a five-year, $23.5 million extension that includes two team option years that could take

the deal to 2021.

If defense is an issue once the season starts, the White Sox do have options, although each of them would probably mean an offensive downgrade.

Even if Johnson wins the second base job, Sanchez could also replace him there even if his offense doesn’t project to be as dynamic. Gordon Beckham could be used at third as a defensive upgrade at

third, although he was a shortstop in college and a second baseman during most of his time with the White Sox so his repetitions at third have been limited.

The final defensive upgrade could come by playing Geovany Soto over Tyler Flowers at catcher, although at the age of 32, the risk of injury is always present if Soto ends up in heavy rotation. Soto is solid

against the opponents' running game.

One change on defense that wouldn't affect offense would be to have Adam LaRoche play more first base over Abreu, wth Abreu taking more days in LaRoche's designated hitter spot. But the White Sox are wise

in getting Abreu as many days on defense as possible since he isn't going to get better by watching, and

they don't want to be dealing with his defensive shortcomings in two years when LaRoche's contract expires.

While the pitching mound certainly resembles an island, no pitcher can work alone. An improved White

Sox pitching staff is going to need a solid defense behind it to deliver the results that are expected.

White Sox's Opening Day roster comes into focus

Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago

April 4, 2015

After a flurry of roster moves Friday, the Chicago White Sox have nearly settled on their 25-man Opening

Day roster.

With the early-spring foot injury to ace pitcher Chris Sale, the White Sox will carry 11 pitchers into the opener, instead of 12 as had been expected when the spring began. Sale is eligible to return from the

disabled list on April 11, but isn’t expected to make his season debut until April 12.

Micah Johnson and Carlos Sanchez were in a battle for the starting second base job, with the loser of the

duel expected to be headed to the minor leagues, but the White Sox already had announced that both would make the roster. Sale’s injury essentially gave the White Sox room to carry both players.

Manager Robin Ventura is not expected to name his starting second baseman until Sunday.

Here are the 25 players the White Sox will have available Monday at Kansas City in the opener:

Pitchers (11): Jeff Samardzija, Jose Quintana, John Danks, Hector Noesi, David Robertson, Zach Duke, Zach Putnam, Javy Guerra, Dan Jennings, Matt Albers, and Kyle Drabek or Eric Surkamp.

Catchers (2): Tyler Flowers, Geovany Soto.

Infielders (8): Jose Abreu, Micah Johnson, Carlos Sanchez, Alexei Ramirez, Conor Gillaspie, Gordon Beckham, Emilio Bonifacio, Adam LaRoche.

Outfielders (4): Melky Cabrera, Adam Eaton, Avisail Garcia, J.B. Shuck.

Sale and reliever Jake Petricka will start the season on the disabled list. Both are due back before the end of April.

Soto, Albers and Johnson each have to be added to the 40-man roster before they can be named to the

25-man squad, so the White Sox opened some 40-man spots Friday.

Among the moves made after a 10-2 defeat to Triple-A affiliate Charlotte, the White Sox optioned Erik

Johnson to Charlotte and also outrighted Maikel Cleto and Onelki Garcia to Charlotte. They reassigned Jairo Azencio, Engel Beltre, George Kottaras and Arcenio Leon to minor league camp.

Predictions: American League MVP

David Schoenfield, ESPN.com April 4, 2015

MVP voters emphasize two things: Players on playoff teams and players who put up big home run and

RBI totals. They've gotten a little better in recent years at paying attention to things like WAR, but the

first two categories still triumph. See Miguel Cabrera winning two MVP trophies over Mike Trout or down-the-ballot results like Nelson Cruz finishing seventh in last year's American League vote over several

players with higher WAR. The last MVP winner from a non-playoff team was Albert Pujols in 2008. The interesting twist in recent years has been Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw winning MVP honors in

2011 and 2014; before that, a starting pitcher hadn't won since 1986.

Here are my top 10 AL MVP candidates, which is different from a list of the 10 best players in the league.

Emphasis will be on players on teams I'll be predicting to reach the postseason.

10. Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians

Michael Brantley was last year's big breakout performer in Cleveland, and while I think he'll have another

good year, my gut says Santana has a big season in him. Of course, I've thought that for several years. But freed from catching and that experiment at third base, he'll move to first base and be able to focus

just on his hitting. He hit 27 home runs last year, drove in 85 runs and led the AL with 113 walks, but hit just .231 after hitting .159 through May. With a more consistent season, I can see 30-plus homers, 100-

plus RBIs and a better average to go with his high OBP.

If healthy, Jose Bautista should be able to put up some big numbers in Toronto's lineup.Steven Bisig/USA

TODAY Sports 9. Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays

Did we mention the voters like offense? Bautista is 34 and you worry about the injuries after he missed time in 2012 and 2013, but he hit 35 bombs last year and finished sixth in the MVP voting. He anchors

what should be a powerful middle of the lineup, which means a lot of RBIs and a lot of runs.

8. Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

Yes, he's going to be this good. The injury to Rusney Castillo guaranteed Betts the Opening Day job in

center field, and his big spring training just cemented his potential -- he's hitting .451 with 12 of his 23 hits going for extra bases. None of the projection systems I've seen have him hitting .300. He's going to

hit .300, maybe hit 15 home runs, bash out a lot of doubles, steal 25 bases and score a ton of runs.

7. Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles

He's one of the most consistent performers in the league, hitting between .280 and .287 each of the past

five years and hitting 32, 33 and 29 home runs the past three. While he probably hasn't deserved the Gold Gloves he's won the past three years, defensive reputation is all that matters in MVP voting.

Amazingly, even though he never walks, pitchers haven't figured out a way to exploit his aggressiveness. I like Baltimore's chances to return to the postseason and that makes Jones a down-the-ballot MVP

candidate.

6. Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox

I don't have the White Sox making the playoffs; if they do, Abreu is going to finish higher than sixth in

the voting, because it likely means he had a monster season.

5. Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners

I called him the most underrated player in the game, so I better back that up by including him here. I

think he's got a little more in him after a .268/.334/.454 line that included 25 home runs, 96 RBIs and a Gold Glove. He needs to remain strong throughout the season since he's tired down the stretch each of

the past two seasons. If he does that, he could approach 30 home runs and slug close to .500,

impressive numbers for Safeco Field.

4. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

I love that 25 home runs, 52 doubles and a .313 average constituted an off year. He had surgery after

the season to remove bone spurs in his ankle and repair a stress fracture in his foot. If healthy, I'm guessing some of those doubles turn back into home runs. The big question: Are the Tigers a playoff

team?

3. Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays

OK, I'll buy the Donaldson MVP talk. That's not exactly going out on a limb considering he's finished

eighth and fourth in the voting the past two seasons. Moving to Toronto should help his numbers as he plays in a better hitters' park. His defensive metrics are terrific, which helps his WAR, a category he's

ranked second in behind Mike Trout each of the past two seasons. If he hits closer to the .301 he hit in 2013 than the .255 he hit last year, he's got a chance to surge past Trout in the voting if Toronto makes

the playoffs.

2. Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners

Cano is starting to climb that list of best players never to win an MVP award. He's finished no lower than

sixth in the voting the past five seasons. His power numbers were down last year, in part because he had

trouble turning on balls early in the season (he had just two home runs through May), in part because he moved away from the cozier ballparks of the AL East to Safeco Field and the other hitters' parks in the

West. But I expect those power numbers to go back up a bit and the Mariners should have more runners on in front of him, which means more RBI opportunities. In fact, the Mariners were last in the majors in

on-base percentage from both their leadoff hitters and No. 2 hitters. Everybody talks about Cruz providing protection for Cano, but it's actually more about getting guys on base in front of him.

1. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

He's not a lock. The Angels could miss the playoffs, part of the reason he didn't win in 2012 or 2013. Maybe pitchers continue to exploit his weakness on high fastballs. Or maybe he adjusts, hits 40 home

runs, cuts down on his strikeouts, hits .300 again, steals a few more bases and wins his second straight

unanimous MVP trophy.

Of course, we're likely to see some dark horses crack the top 10. After all, Brantley finished third in the voting last year and Victor Martinez second and nobody would have predicted that. Some longer shots

would include Evan Longoria (bounce-back year, Rays surprise), Brett Lawrie (A's shock everyone and return to the playoffs), Jacoby Ellsbury (maybe he has another 2011 in him), Jason Kipnis (love the

Indians), George Springer (40 home runs?), Dustin Pedroia (not washed up yet), Russell Martin (gets

credit for Blue Jays' success), Hanley Ramirez (has to stay healthy), Albert Pujols (remember him?), Alex Gordon (fifth among AL position players in WAR last year), Chris Davis (hits 50 again!), Manny Machado

(stay healthy, Manny) and any of the stellar pitchers.

Lower in order, Alexei Ramirez looking more like himself already

Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago

April 4, 2015

Alexei Ramirez’s identity crisis appears to be over now that Melky Cabrera has joined the Chicago White Sox.

The up-and-down ride of Ramirez in the No. 2 spot in the lineup will be a thing of the past as long as Cabrera stays healthy and uses his sword-like bat-wielding ability to move over runners and deliver

whatever the situation requires.

Ramirez never was ideally suited for the second spot; he was merely the best candidate for a franchise

that has been without an ideal No. 2 man for some time now. Gordon Beckham also took a turn in the role and struggled with its nuances.

Ramirez generally tried to have the same approach at the plate as a No. 2 hitter that he did in any other

slot in the lineup, although he did give plate discipline a try at times. That didn’t seem to suit him, either.

This year, Ramirez looks to be lined up for more of a run-producing role in the No. 6 spot in the order,

with manager Robin Ventura saying that it isn’t out of the question that Ramirez could even find himself batting fifth at times.

“I’ve been feeling good in that spot and it’s good for me because I’m in a position where I can drive in

runs and that’s good for my game,” Ramirez said through an interpreter. “I hope to accomplish that and

succeed with the responsibility they have given me.”

The early reviews show the change has been a rousing success. Ramirez left Arizona leading the Cactus League in RBIs and in a four-way tie for the lead in all of baseball. His 17 RBIs matched Pedro Alvarez of

the Pittsburgh Pirates, Eduardo Escobar of the Minnesota Twins and Michael Morse of the Miami Marlins.

Back to an aggressive approach at the plate with the opportunity to hit away more than simply comply

with what the situation requires, it has freed Ramirez’s offensive game.

“I think that in the spring, it is the thing I have been doing well,” he said. “I just hope to keep healthy, use the same approach and do the same job during the season.”

Ramirez is a career .277 hitter with a .318 on-base percentage over 361 games (1,473 at-bats) in the second spot in the lineup. The next two spots where he has seen the most time are in the No. 7 hole

(.260/.305 in 659 at-bats) and the No. 8 hole (.293/.328 in 744 at-bats).

His track record shows he can take advantage of people on base in front of him. In the Nos. 7 and 8

spots he has 41 home runs and 196 RBIs in 1,403 at-bats. As a No. 2 hitter, generally with less on-base types in front of him other than the leadoff man, he has 30 home runs and 165 RBIs in 1,473 at-bats.

As a No. 6 hitter, the spot where he figures to spend the most time this year, he has just 468 at-bats in

his career, batting .269 with a .292 on-base percentage. He has 11 home runs there and 37 RBIs.

Last year, though, his 185 at-bats as a No. 6 hitter where the most he has had in that spot in a single

season. He batted .297 with a .313 on-base percentage, hitting two home runs with 11 RBIs.

“There’s thoughts of moving him around, being able to pick some good spots for him,” Ventura said. “He’s been swinging it great. I thought his patience has been good, too. He’s going to have some

opportunities with some guys on base. Any time you have that as a player, it intensifies everything. And

for his game, that’s perfect.”

Last season, Ramirez drove in 74 runs and he could be poised to top his career-best RBI total of 77 in his rookie season of 2008. If he can add Gold Glove-caliber defense on top of that, he will give the White Sox

one fewer worry for the upcoming season.

Ramirez was on the White Sox’s last playoff club in that 2008 season, and he and longtime teammate

John Danks, survivors of the club’s rebuild in recent seasons, would like to reach that level again.

“He’s always been a very talented guy, good teammate and a big part of our teams,” Danks said of Ramirez. “But in the last few years, he has taken that last step and become a leader. He is a guy we

count on heavily to produce and help us win ballgames.”

Sensing he was being talked about, Ramirez fired Danks a look from across the clubhouse in Arizona and

the two shared a laugh. Ramirez might not say much, and his English is limited, but he always seems to get his point across.

“He’s a great ballplayer -- we all know that -- but he’s a great guy, too,” Danks said. “We all like having him around and I’m certainly glad he’s on my team.”

As the new season approaches, Ramirez insists he won’t be doing anything different at the plate. The

difference, then, must be subconscious as the 33-year-old veteran of seven big-league seasons looks as comfortable at the plate as he has in some time.

“I will always be the same hitter, I’m just trying to do my work and try to help the team in any spot of the lineup they need me,” Ramirez said. “When I was in the second spot, it was good for me and I did

my job. When I was hitting seven or eighth, I also did my job. This is just another spot and I have to keep doing my job.”

5 for '15: What/who holds rotation's big key?

Doug Padilla, ESPN Chicago April 4, 2015

Slice and dice the Chicago White Sox's rotation any way you’d like and the most “important piece” keeps

coming back as Chris Sale.

Yet, depending on how you define “key piece,” another name might come to mind.

John Danks sits in a unique spot of being the highest-paid player on the roster at $14.25 million but

having moderate expectations in the rotation’s No. 4 spot. He will pitch in the third game of the season because everybody was moved up a spot with the foot injury to Sale.

The White Sox need a steady and productive John Danks to help round out their pitching staff.AP

Photo/Chris Carlson The White Sox feel like steady results are ahead from Sale, Jeff Samardzija and Jose Quintana. If Danks

can also deliver his best season since undergoing shoulder surgery in 2012, with steady contributions

from start to finish, the rotation would wind up with a foursome to envy.

It won’t be easy, as Danks clearly has lost the top velocity he had before surgery. But the reinvention of his pitching arsenal is heading into its third season, meaning that the left-hander has plenty of lessons to

fall back on now.

Of the 39 pitchers that qualified for the American League ERA title in 2014, Danks was 36th with his 4.74

mark. It was only a fraction better than his 4.75 mark from 2013. But Danks did manage to pitch 193 2/3 innings, completing a season when he was healthy and made all his starts.

Of the goals he was willing to reveal for this season, Danks wants pitch more than 200 innings, admitting

that falling short of that goal in 2014 left him with an incomplete feeling.

“John Danks going out and giving us 180 some odd, 200 innings of similar ball to what we’ve seen from

him in the past is going to be valuable even if he’s not part of that Cy Young consideration,” general manager Rick Hahn said at the start of spring. “It’s a matter of getting as many quality innings filled as

we can and we think we are in a good position to do that with quality stuff.”

Another positive sign from the soon-to-be 30-year old is how Danks closed strong last year, even though

he was throwing more innings than he had since 2010. He went 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA over his final three starts with opponents hitting just .141 against him in that stretch.

On Sept. 27, his final start of the season, he shut down the Kansas City Royals, who were building a World Series run at the time. He hopes his mechanical refinements allow him to continue his late-season

success.

“We’re just trying to cut out the movement in my motion,” Danks said. “The more movement I have, the better chance I have to mess it up before I let go of the ball. We’re trying to find a way to get more

movement on the fastball, and by doing that help me keep it down in the zone, keep the ball in the

ballpark.”

All this focus on Danks, though, still means that guys like Sale, Samardzija and Quintana have to produce. And in order to produce, they will need good health.

Sale will already start the season on the disabled list after fracturing a bone in his right foot just as spring training was starting. The good news is that he will miss just one start and is expected to make his

season debut on April 12.

That won’t put to rest all of the injury concern when it comes to the lean left-hander. In each of his first

three seasons as a starter, Sale has dealt with an early-season bout of arm soreness. In 2014, his forearm issues were enough to put him on the disabled list for the only time in his career.

In addition, reliever Jake Petricka will open the season on the DL with arm soreness, but he isn’t

expected to be out long either.

So although the person who could hold the biggest key for the pitching staff’s success is Danks, the

health factor is even more vital in potentially making a playoff run.

MLB Preview: AL Central

ESPN.com

April 4, 2015

Editor's note: Projections and tiebreakers from ESPN Insider Dan Szymborski. Contribution age is a team's average age, weighted by 2015 projected wins above replacement (WAR). The more a team is

fueled by younger players, the lower the contribution age will be.

1. Detroit Tigers

Projected record: 86-76

Contribution age: 29.32

Classic core vets

With a contribution age just shy of 30, it's win or bust in Detroit. An increasingly brittle Justin Verlander (who will start the season on the DL) must improve upon his lowest strikeout rate (6.9) since 2006, and

fellow starters Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene must cover for the losses of Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello. Fortunately, the Tigers can score their way to an AL title on the bats of DH Victor Martinez and

1B Miguel Cabrera: The duo, which anchored a lineup that finished second in runs last season, project to

hit 49 homers. The issue? Martinez is 36; Miggy is 31. -- David Schoenfield

The favorites, but not by much Detroit's front-end talent makes it the favorite in the division. But the team's aging core and lack of depth

at almost every key position makes it more vulnerable than it's been in years. Martinez is expected to

make a full recovery from his latest injury, and while the team can say it was bad luck to lose him before the season even started, that's the risk of an aging team that relies on fewer key players to advance to

the playoffs every year. Scherzer is a loss the team cannot fully replace -- a full year of David Price can't make up for the large drop from Scherzer and Porcello to Greene and Simon. -- Dan Szymborski

Value Judgment*

*Young player (25 or under) and vet (30 or older) with team's highest projected WAR.

2. Cleveland Indians

Projected record: 84-78

Contribution age: 27.23

Sustainability issues Second-half numbers can get overanalyzed, but it's hard to dismiss that Indians starters had a 2.95 ERA

after the All-Star break, the lowest in the AL. That stretch coincided with Corey Kluber's unbelievable surge to the Cy Young Award. (The 28-year-old struck out 269 batters and had an AL-best 2.35 ERA.)

The return of Carlos Carrasco (1.30 ERA over his final 10 starts with a 7.1 K/BB ratio) to the rotation

didn't hurt, either. Both, however, project to regress, and the team must play better defense to contend for the division: The Indians ranked last in the league with minus-75 defensive runs saved last season. --

Schoenfield

Questions remain

The Indians are the team ZiPS feels has the best chance to challenge Detroit's supremacy, though it has a number of questions to answer. Kluber at the top of the rotation is secure -- pitchers who strike out

269 batters with a 2.35 fielding independent pitching aren't likely to be flukes. But did Carrasco's latest rotation stint show he figured it out? Can Trevor Bauer remain in control of his command? Is Gavin Floyd

healthy? Is Danny Salazar the pitcher he showed in 2013? Can the team resist the yearly temptation to stick Josh Tomlin in the rotation for some unknown reason? Cleveland can contend, but it would help to

answer "Yes" to a lot of those questions. -- Szymborski

Value Judgment*

*Young player (25 or under) and vet (30 or older) with team's highest projected WAR.

3. Kansas City Royals

Projected record: 81-81 Contribution age: 28.31

Reign delay

The trio of Greg Holland, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera (1.28 ERA over 204 IP) should dominate in relief

of promising starters Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy. And the outfield (46 defensive runs saved in 2014), led by CF Lorenzo Cain, will track down everything. But no team had a more depressing offseason

than K.C., which replaced James Shields, Billy Butler and Nori Aoki with 34-year-old OF Alex Rios (.709 OPS in 2014) and DH Kendrys Morales (minus-1.0 WAR). That's what we call subtraction by addition. --

Schoenfield

Tough to repeat

Yes, the Royals were a hair away from winning the World Series. But they remain a team with significant holes that lost Shields and, rather than use the offseason as an opportunity to take advantage of a newly

energized fan base, chose to use its limited funds to overpay marginal players. Morales, Rios and Edinson

Volquez won't make the Royals contend. If they match 2014's win total, it likely will be because one of their young players took a step forward. -- Szymborski

Value Judgment*

*Young player (25 or under) and vet (30 or older) with team's highest projected WAR.

4. Chicago White Sox

Projected record: 78-84 Contribution age: 27.76

Gotta score to win First, the good news: 1B Jose Abreu, 28, led the majors in slugging percentage, and left-hander Chris

Sale, 25, led the AL with 10.8 K's per nine innings and allowed two extra-base hits to lefties all season. Then there are the offseason acquisitions of SP Jeff Samardzija, LF Melky Cabrera, RP David Robertson

and 1B/DH Adam LaRoche. All good, right? Well, here's the bad news: It still won't be enough to get the South Siders into contention. The team was outscored by 98 runs last season, and its rotation ranked

third-to-last in MLB in WHIP at a terrible 1.41. And the Sox still have huge offensive holes in infielders

Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham, a duo who project to have a .300 on-base percentage in 2015. -- Schoenfield

Still need some help

With top-tier talent in Sale and Abreu, the organization had one of the busiest winters, aggressively --

and expensively -- filling in holes with Robertson, Samardzija, Cabrera and LaRoche. Although the team looks a lot better than last year's edition, it also needs some help to really make the Tigers nervous, be it

Avisail Garcia staying healthy and figuring out the strike zone or Carlos Rodon tearing through the minors quickly. -- Szymborski

Value Judgment*

*Young player (25 or under) and vet (30 or older) with team's highest projected WAR.

5. Minnesota Twins

Projected record: 74-88

Contribution age: 26.74

Not in the numbers The Twins are projected to improve for the fifth straight year -- yay! But there's still massive need for

improvement -- boo! In addition to myriad other issues, most stemming from an aversion to analytics, the Twins had the worst outfield defense in the league last season with minus-50 defensive runs saved.

How did they fix it? They signed hometown hero Torii Hunter, 39, who was third worst in baseball in DRS

at minus-18. Then they signed fly-ball pitcher Ervin Santana (note -- this preview was posted before news of Santana's 80-game suspension) to a four-year, $55M deal to ace a staff that already surrendered

a lot of fly balls. If they're lucky, they'll see the debuts of top prospects Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. If not, Twins fans are in for a long season of more of the same. -- Schoenfield

Not in contention By bringing Hunter back to Minnesota and signing Santana, the Twins have hinted that they're fairly close

to competing in the AL. They're not. The best talent in the organization isn't in the majors, and while the team struck it rich in its gamble on Phil Hughes, the rotation remains mediocre behind him. While the

team finished a surprising fifth in the AL in runs scored in 2014, almost everything went right to make

that happen, a state of affairs unlikely to be repeated in 2015. Minnesota's future is bright, but the future isn't 2015. -- Szymborski

Value Judgment*

*Young player (25 or under) and vet (30 or older) with team's highest projected WAR.

White Sox: Opening Day energy hardly fazes Jeff Samardzija

J.J. Stankevitz, CSN Chicago April 5, 2015

Jeff Samardzija will make his third consecutive Opening Day start Monday at Kauffman Stadium, though this time it’s for the Chicago team based on the South Side of the city.

The 30-year-old right-hander has had success in his two previous Opening Day starts with the Cubs,

combining to throw 15 shutout innings with seven hits, three walks and 12 strikeouts against Pittsburgh

at PNC Park in 2013 and 2014. He said he’s learned how to harness the energy of the day and not let it

become a problem, which as a starting pitcher that adrenaline certainly can turn into.

“Yeah I definitely appreciate a full stadium, that’s for sure,” Samardzija said. “I enjoy doing it, there’s a little more buzz in the atmosphere and you just kind of want to use it and go out there and stay calm

early but then as the game goes on really start feeding into that energy and let it be an aid instead of a

hindrance for sure.”

With Kansas City coming off its first playoff appearance — and a Game 7 loss to San Francisco in the World Series — since 1985, the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium on Monday should be turned up a few

notches. Prior to first pitch, the Royals will receive their 2014 American League championship rings and their 2014 American League pennant will be raised.

But Samardzija pitched in a similar environment last year, when Pittsburgh had just ended its own long-standing playoff drought, and fired seven shutout innings — albeit, in a 1-0 loss.

And this is a guy who has experience playing in front of 81,000 fans as a star wide receiver at Notre

Dame, too. He’s not someone easily fazed by the moment, be it Opening Day or the Bush Push game (in

which he caught six passes for 99 yards with a touchdown).

“I have my pregame routine I do down to the minute, start it at the same time, obviously tomorrow will be a little bit of a sideshow with everything that’s going on so we’ll need to adjust accordingly to the

timeframe,” Samardzija said. “But mostly just approach it like any other start and be on your time and be ready to go when that first pitch happens.”

Preview: White Sox-Royals Monday on CSN

CSN Chicago April 5, 2015

The new-look White Sox begin their 2015 campaign as they square off with their AL Central rival and defending American League champion Kansas City Royals today at 3:10 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet.

Coverage begins with White Sox Pregame Live at 2 p.m., followed immediately by first pitch. Be sure to stick around after the game for White Sox Postgame Live, featuring player reaction and instant analysis.

Jeff Samardzija must adapt to new routine with White Sox

Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago April 5, 2015

Seeing as he can’t hop in Doc Brown’s DeLorean, Jeff Samardzija’s top challenge this season is to figure

out what to do with those extra minutes in the dugout.

Asked for the biggest difference between the National League and the American League, the White Sox

pitcher quickly answers it’s what he won’t do -- swing a bat -- that figures to be most trying.

Hitting, he explains, gives pitchers a chance to perform without expectation. Even rarer, Samardzija said,

hitting a home run is akin to time travel as he’s vaulted back to his youth, like the time he helped Valparaiso High rally for a stunning victory over rival Chesterton by slamming two homers and driving in

six runs in the same inning.

But the real test for Samardzija now is how to stay focused in between innings, something the ex-Cubs and Notre Dame football star feels he can handle after a trial run with the Oakland A’s last season. As he

makes the transition to full-time AL pitcher, Samardzija knows he needs to show more discipline in the

dugout.

“In the NL, you’re hitting, you’re putting your gloves on, you’re putting your helmet on, you’re moving around, you’re on deck, even if you don’t get to hit,” Samardzija said. “Your time is busy, it’s filled up

with things you need to do. In the AL, you don’t have to do anything, you’re just there. For me a big

adjustment was making sure I stayed focused on the game sitting on the bench and I didn’t start mingling too much.”

When an NL pitcher makes the switch to the AL, much of the discussion normally surrounds how he will

hold up against deeper lineups. Not only is there an extra hitter, that batter is a dedicated hitter instead of a pitcher.

But Samardzija has already proven he can handle the transition. He posted a 3.14 ERA in 16 starts with the Oakland A’s after a midseason trade from the Cubs and has a ringing endorsement from his former

manager.

“He's very athletic guy, he'll fit in anywhere,” Bob Melvin said. “He's quite the competitor, real old school

and I really valued the time I had with him.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. … Really, the only thing he misses in the American League was getting to hit.”

* * *

Samardzija isn’t shy about his distaste for AL rules, which since 1973 have required that a designated hitter hits instead of the pitcher.

“It stinks,” he said.

You only have to look back at his three-year varsity career at Valparaiso High to understand why. That’s where Samardzija said his deep bond with baseball began to form.

As a sophomore, Samardzija started for a team that spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the state

in Division 6A. The team finished 26-6 with Samardzija playing right field and pitching. By the time he

was a senior, Samardzija led the Vikings to their second conference title in three years. He batted third and hit .452 with seven homers and 36 RBIs, earning All-State honors as a center fielder. Even though he

was a free swinger, Samardzija, who was 6-foot-5, 201 pounds at the time, commanded enough respect to draw 20 walks.

“People did not want to pitch to him,” said former coach Todd Coffin. “He adjusted well to pitches and

had good power to all fields. I wouldn’t call him a true power or pull hitter, but when he hit the ball he hit

it hard. They were frozen ropes most of the time.”

Opposing coaches called for more free passes after a critical Duneland Athletic Conference meeting with Chesterton. Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the sixth (games lasted seven innings), Samardzija started and

ended a nine-run rally with home runs. His two-run blast put Valparaiso, which finished 25-5, on the

board and his grand slam put them ahead for good, 9-6.

“After the game the other coach said ‘He’s never going to see another pitch again,’” Coffin said. “They were not cheapies either. The second one cleared the fence by 100 feet.”

Samardzija wouldn’t see any pitches while playing baseball at Notre Dame, either.

As long as he only pitched, Samardzija was given permission to play baseball even though he was in school on a football scholarship.

It wouldn’t be until he played at Double-A Tennessee in 2007 that Samardzija was given the chance to hit

again, going 2-for-7 in nine plate appearances. He made his major league hitting debut in 2008 and

struck out in his only at-bat of the season against Pittsburgh Pirates reliever T.J. Beam, a plate appearance he auspiciously doesn’t recall -- “I do not remember that,” he said. “Usually I have a pretty,

good lock-tight memory.”

A season after that, Samardzija -- who has two career homers -- took a trip down memory lane on Sept. 23 when he ripped a sixth-inning round-tripper off Milwaukee’s Chris Narveson, the first hit of his career.

“It’s kind of like time traveling back to when you were in Little League and you could actually hit,” he said. “You kind of remember what it feels like to square a ball up on the barrel and feel that trampoline

effect and kind of takes you back.”

“That's where you learn to love the game. I think when you're young like that and you're playing all the

positions and playing every day, that's where the foundation of love for this game just starts and you've got to have that to have success up there because if you don't love the game you're not going to work

hard at it.”

* * *

Samardzija had already been in Oakland for nearly a month by the time the A’s acquired Jon Lester from

the Boston Red Sox. But he knew pretty quickly he had a role model for how to pitch in the AL, a guy who’s style he plans to emulate this season.

After Lester came over, Samardzija watched how the left-hander handled himself in between innings and

took notes.

“He had the same routine every time,” Samardzija said. “Whereas in the NL you really don’t have that

routine just because you can’t, you’re always constantly doing different things. For me, I had to make a set tone that I’m going to sit my butt down on the same spot on the bench.”

Lester doesn’t recall giving Samardzija any critical advice on the subject. But less than two months into his NL career, Lester can see how different the two leagues are from each other.

“It really is a different animal in the AL,” Lester said. “You go out and pitch and you come back and have

your break. You can evaluate, you can talk to your catcher, you have time to kind of regroup.

“It’s a whole other animal, I understand. I get what he said. But I just sit in the dugout and watch the

game. I don’t know what I showed him. Hopefully he’ll learn a little more this year from it.”

Samardzija handles the idle time well, according to catcher Geovany Soto, who played with him with the Cubs and again in Oakland last season.

Though Samardzija may be disappointed to not hit, Soto believes he’ll appreciate the chance to rest in between innings.

“The tradeoff is you don’t get to hit, but you get a breather because it’s a tougher lineup,” Soto said.

“He’s been doing a great job knowing his hitters, knowing who’s up next and who he’s got to face. He’s been doing a great job the last couple of years.”

Samardzija would probably enjoy life in the AL a little more if he could hop in the DeLorean and travel back to before 1973. When it comes to the pitchers hitting, Samardzija definitely has a strong opinion.

But since that change won’t occur any time soon, Samardzija is using his 2014 experience to design a game plan on how to handle the additional time.

“I like to hit,” Samardzija said. “It’s real baseball.

“You’ve got nine guys out there, nine guys should be playing. We don’t get ghost runners when pitchers get on the bag so I don’t think we should get ghost hitters, either.

“But I’m going to watch the game and that’s it and really put myself in that mode to pay attention and

not get distracted.”

'Different element' helps Micah Johnson win starting role

Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago

April 5, 2015

He impressed them from the outset and on Sunday afternoon the White Sox named Micah Johnson their

starting second baseman.

The rookie is hitting ninth in manager Robin Ventura’s lineup on Monday afternoon when the White Sox open the 2015 campaign against the Kansas City Royals. Johnson posted a .339/.391/.475 slash line and

scored a team-high 12 runs this spring while using his game-changing speed to steal three of four bases.

Ventura named Johnson his starter as part of several moves made by the White Sox, including that Kyle Drabek won the final spot in the bullpen.

“He had a good spring,” Ventura said. “You see the scrappy kind of player that he is and tough at-bats.

As fast as he is, he just has a different element in being able to stretch the defense and make them

aware of him.”

Johnson said he tried to remain oblivious to the idea he and Carlos Sanchez, who also is on the Opening Day roster, were competing for the same job. The Indiana product started the spring strong and never

really slowed down despite four errors in the field. Sanchez also showed strong, finishing the spring with

a .425 average and six RBIs.

“Sanchy played amazing,” Johnson said. “He did a great job, that’s why he’s here. You don’t really worry about it. You don’t really try to jinx yourself either. You try to stay level headed and that’s pretty much

how I am.

“It’s exciting. It’s a true blessing. But I’m excited just to get ready for another season.”

Claimed off waivers late last month, Drabek is expected to hold the long relief role for now. He also could

provide a valuable arm given that the White Sox placed Jake Petricka on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday. Chris Sale and Eric Surkamp also went on the DL on Sunday.

Father knows best: How White Sox GM Rick Hahn proved his dad right

Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago April 5, 2015

It doesn’t matter if you’re a teenager, a major league general manager or the president, nobody wants to

admit that his or her parents were right.

Rick Hahn is no different.

But as he and the White Sox front office navigated their way through one of the most active offseasons

in franchise history, Hahn knew how handy his law degree -- the one his father swore would change how he thought -- was as he operated at a break-neck pace to fill the holes on his team’s roster.

In adding 11 new players and evaluating countless others, Hahn relied upon his ability to process reams

of information from numerous sources to make the best decision at the correct moment. For while each acquisition ultimately goes on his record, Hahn believes it would be reckless to go at it alone.

Therefore, Hahn -- now in his third season as the club’s GM and an attendee of Harvard Law School from 1993-96 -- relies on the same support system the White Sox have had in place for 15 years. He trusts a

legion of others, including executive vice president Kenny Williams, scouts, coaches and other key members of the front office to put him in an optimal position to make the right call -- just like Fred Hahn

suggested he would when he urged him to attend law school more than 20 years ago.

“He used to tell me you go to law school to learn how to think like a lawyer,” Hahn said. “I used to think

that was nonsense until I went to law school, came out of law school and sort of saw the way it impacted my decision-making process. Really, the general manager’s job is a decision-making job. You process

information from various sources, you prioritize what you feel is important and you advocate to ownership or those above you why certain things make sense.”

Not many around baseball would argue with how Hahn has conducted himself since he took over as the White Sox GM on Oct. 26, 2012.

One year after the White Sox acquired core pieces Avisail Garcia, Jose Abreu and Adam Eaton, Hahn,

Williams and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf determined they’ve had enough losing and decided to move

forward.

That meant plugging the roster’s myriad holes, including: a left-handed power bat, a closer, a right-handed starting pitcher, at least one left-handed reliever, though preferably two, additional bullpen help,

a catcher and one to two utility players as well as a backup outfielder.

When faced with so many needs, time is of the essence. At each spot, the White Sox had roughly a

dozen options to make contact with.

“When you have as many holes to fill as we did, it’s a constant juggle,” assistant GM Jeremy Haber said.

Somehow, and much to the dismay of rival GMs, Hahn and the White Sox filled them all.

“I was joking with somebody that I'm getting tired of complimenting Rick on his offseason,” Cleveland

Indians GM Chris Antonetti said last month. “I'd be happier to do it if he was in a different division.

“They had a great offseason again and infused a lot of talent into the organization.”

* * *

A history undergrad at Michigan and a graduate of Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of

Management, Hahn doesn’t pretend to have the same baseball background as some of his most trusted sources.

While his business school classmates spent their summers working in the financial world, Hahn’s passion for baseball was ignited when Reinsdorf allowed him to shadow scout Nathan Durst, now the club’s

national cross checker, in 1996 and 1997.

But Hahn started his career as an associate to super agents Jeff Moorad and Leigh Steinberg with an

expertise in contracts. He knows he’s not a scouting expert and wouldn’t be as comfortable projecting the potential of a 16-year-old kid from the Dominican Republic as would Marco Paddy, the club’s head of

international operations.

And so, similar to his predecessor, Hahn draws upon what Williams describes as a “circle of trust and confidence.”

“With all the respect to John Schuerholz or any Hall of Fame caliber GMs, nobody is going to be strong in all the elements of the job,” Hahn said. “The key is knowing where your strengths are and surrounding

yourself with those who are strong in those other areas so that as a group you’re proficient in every area you need to be to make the best decisions.”

Hahn’s ability to lead -- Williams calls him a “good bridge builder and an overall steady force,” -- is known both inside and out the organization. Los Angeles Angels GM Jerry DiPoto and Hahn, who worked

together in December 2013 on the three-team deal that included Hector Santiago and Eaton, have known each other since both were assistant GMs.

“He's very smart,” DiPoto said. “Contractually he understands the game as well as anybody. He has a

very good feel for player evaluation. He has a very good feel for who to trust around him. And I also

think he's one of the more subtle dry humor guys in the game, he's fun to be around.”

Williams said the White Sox front office operates almost exactly as it has since 2000 with one critical difference. Whereas Williams came from a background of scouting and player development, Hahn’s

approach is based in sabermetrics and analytics. Williams said their styles have blended together well for

a long time and over the years he has a better understanding for how Hahn thinks.

What he truly appreciates is how Hahn always has a plan, but doesn’t remind everyone he’s the smartest guy in the room.

“He comes prepared to any and every conversation,” Williams said. “So unless I have a strong opinion on something, I will defer to him, which I often do particularly on the peripherals of day-to-day operations.

Since the onset it has been a complimentary relationship and for a guy as smart as he is, he is really a humble and funny guy.”

* * *

Even though the team’s board of potential offseason targets included more than 100 names, Hahn made the first contact with each free agent’s representative.

When he’s on a reconnaissance mission with an agent or a rival GM, Hahn tries to be as direct, honest

and aggressive as possible while trying to maintain a “level of appreciation and understanding and

empathy” for the other side --- a trait he believes he acquired while working as an agent.

When other GMs see Hahn’s name on their caller ID, they know what to expect.

“Tough man. He’s an agent at heart,” Texas Rangers GM Jon Daniels said with a smile. “No, he's good. He's honest. He's straight forward. He knows what he wants to do and he's easy to deal with.”

He’s also persistent as Oakland A’s assistant GM David Forst, who has known Hahn since 2001, can attest. Trade talks with Oakland for Jeff Samardzija lingered for six weeks as the two teams exchanged

“a fair amount of names,” Hahn said. While shortstop Marcus Semien was a constant, the teams couldn’t decide on the rest of the package.

On several occasions, Hahn recalls thinking the deal would fall apart and he’d have to move on to a new target. But as he weighed his options, Hahn decided Samardzija was worth the pursuit and the sides

finally reached an accord at the Winter Meetings in December.

“When Rick knows what he wants he’s very determined,” Forst said. “He and I did most of the Samardzija deal together because of the relationship.”

The key reason Samardzija is starting for the White Sox on Opening Day was Hahn’s tolerance, Forst said.

“Mostly him being patient with me,” Forst said. “Look, it's fun. We're going to talk anyways. Whether it's

email or text, he and I are going to keep in constant contact. So it gave us something specific to discuss

for six weeks.”

Whereas Hahn knows he must consider the needs of other teams when discussing trades, that luxury doesn’t always exist in free agency.

With 29 other teams capable of signing the same player, anything can and will happen during the pursuit

of a player. In David Robertson’s case, there were a number of factors involved in the process, from

competing teams to expected salary to the pitcher’s qualifying offer from the New York Yankees and more.

But what stuck with Robertson’s agent, Scott Leventhal -- who also represents Sox minor leaguers

George Kottaras and Tyler Saladino -- is how Hahn conducted himself throughout the process.

From their first conversation after the World Series concluded until the four-year, $46-million deal was

agreed upon on Dec. 10, the message never changed.

“Everything with the David Robertson negotiation couldn’t have been more professional and smooth,”

Leventhal said. “Rick is an extremely credible, and classy GM. If he says something, I can take it to the bank. As an agent, that’s something you look for in a GM.”

That’s not to say that Hahn’s honesty is always taken at face value. Though his reputation has begun to

take a foothold, not everyone knows Hahn isn’t angling to get a better deal.

But with so many needs this past offseason, Hahn had to operate in a cutthroat manner at times.

“Stalling or waiting or worrying about what’s behind door No. 2 so that you get paralyzed isn’t as

conducive to getting as much as we needed to get done,” Hahn said. “So I’d prefer to be direct and aggressive and if it doesn’t work we move onto the next one.

“By now they sort of know it’s not bluster. At the same time, guys certainly do say ‘Okay that’s fine’ and we move on and have to revisit the conversation when they resurface about a month later.”

* * *

The final result is an impressive haul of free agents who received $137 million in new contracts and

acquisitions, including Samardzija and reliever Dan Jennings.

Another “great offseason” for Hahn has the White Sox in contention, Dipoto said.

But prior to the puzzle being pieced together, long before the first call was lobbed to an agent or a GM,

the White Sox had to devise their plan of attack.

The creation of The Board includes figuring out what the team’s needs are and which holes are more important than others.

A considerable group of people is involved in these discussions and all are not only welcome to give their

input, its encouraged. Anyone who has a seat at the table is there because Hahn respects their opinion.

“We place considerable value on the opinions of all of our scouts and player development staff,” Williams

said. “It's a sort of circle of trust and confidence.”

The views presented in those meetings help Hahn determine which direction he wants to head. They may

strengthen the assertions or feel he previously had for a player or it could dissuade him and force him to reverse course.

Then come the other factors: How much can he spend? Does he sign Player C now because Player A may

not be ready for another month? When is it time to give up on a trade? Does this make sense?

And though he’d like to deny it, with each decision Hahn’s mind is working methodically to grasp the

whole picture just as Fred Sr., an attorney of 40 years, predicted it would. The elder Hahn knew his son might never practice law but wanted him to have the experience anyway.

Turns out father did know best.

“You prioritize what you feel is important and you advocate to ownership or those above you why certain things make sense,” Hahn said. “The legal background does sort of train your mind for dealing with that

and wading disparate information and sort of shepherding the wheat from the chaff, the sound from the noise, the important information from the less important, and I fear that means thinking like a lawyer at

times.”

“I’m really irritated … because it proves my dad right.”

Time for revamped White Sox to prove they're worthy of overhaul

Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago

April 4, 2015

Rick Hahn, Kenny Williams and Jerry Reinsdorf have done their part.

Through a massive roster overhaul, the White Sox head into the regular season in position to contend for

the first time in several seasons. With 11 new players (12 if you count returnee Gordon Beckham),

including a revamped bullpen and a refurbished lineup, the club is optimistic about its chances of reaching the postseason in 2015.

Manager Robin Ventura’s group has spent all spring preparing for the next six months. New teammates

have found common ground and created bonds, producing a festive atmosphere in a clubhouse full of pranks and Hector Noesi selfies.

But now that the regular season is here, the White Sox know all the feel good moments in the world won’t get them anywhere. It’s time for a group of players representing $137 million in free-agent

contracts and two trades to show they’re worthy of the front office’s effort.

“Expectations are high and we certainly agree with that,” White Sox starting pitcher John Danks said.

“We knew that Rick, Jerry, Kenny weren’t going to go for what happened last year. That’s not the culture they’ve created here. They’ve certainly given us all the guys to go out there and compete and we’ve just

got to go out and play good baseball. That’s all that’s left to do and I like our chances.”

Beckham likes the team’s new feel.

At the core of the offseason plan was an effort to bring in players who are not only talented, but also

boast good reputations in the clubhouse. Veterans Jeff Samardzija, Adam LaRoche, Zach Duke, David Robertson, Emilio Bonifacio and Melky Cabrera are seen as players who can set the tone on and off the

field.

“It’s a good group,” Beckham said. “The guys they brought in, they’re just competitors. Like Samardzija, I

love his attitude, the way he goes about it. That’s good for us.

“You just look around the clubhouse and you’ve got some guys that know what their role is, know what they’re going to do and are confident in what they do. There’s not a lot to leave to the imagination.”

There are questions to be answered.

Despite three new relievers, a bullpen that blew 21 of 57 save tries in 2014 has been shaky this spring, though injuries and spring training schedules — with groups of pitchers throwing on opposite days — has

kept the unit from working together.

A defense that has averaged 114 errors over the past two seasons also must show it can get back to

respectability.

The lineup features two very inexperienced bats in Avisail Garcia and Micah Johnson, though Hahn believes the front office has insulated them enough with the additions of Cabrera, LaRoche and Geovany

Soto.

While there are few questions about the trio of Samardzija, Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, the back end

of the rotation, Noesi and Danks, has to be much more consistent than it was in 2014.

And, because 25 of the team’s first 28 games come against American League Central opponents, it’d be good if those questions are quickly answered.

Robertson thinks the team’s veteran makeup should help.

“The more veterans you have in the clubhouse, guys that know how to play and have been through this for years, I think the better your chances are of winning ballgames and have a good tight-knit group of

guys,” Robertson said. “That’s all you can really hope for is a group that’s tough together, stays together

and plays hard.”

The group didn’t play its best ball in March, finishing the Cactus League with an 11-17-3 mark.

But Ventura thinks his club has already shown signs it can work together.

“I like the way they interact as far as pushing each other and when they’re on the field, either

encouragement or getting on each other for the way we’re playing or the way things are going they do a very good job as far as pushing each other’s buttons,” Ventura said. “I like that part.”

There’s no question White Sox players are fond of each other. But that doesn’t count for anything once

there are wins and losses on the line.

“It’s a good culture in here so far, but I’m sure 29 other teams can say the same thing,” Danks said. “I’ve

been on bad teams before where we all liked each other. (The new guys) fit right in. It’s like they have been here forever and all that’s left to do now is go play good baseball.”

Alexei Ramirez was too valuable for White Sox to deal

Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago April 4, 2015

The perception outside the organization in November was the White Sox entertained trading Alexei

Ramirez.

But those rumors were based on bad information that the club would continue its rebuild and pass on an

opportunity to contend this season.

Executive vice president Kenny Williams and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf had already determined in August that “enough was enough,” Williams said --- that the White Sox had the pieces in place and the financial

flexibility to contend in 2015. So while Rick Hahn and Co. may have listened to interested parties queries

about the Gold Glove finalist, he and the White Sox ensured Ramirez would be the starting shortstop when the team takes the field in Kansas City on Monday by asking for a king’s ransom in return.

“I think everyone else talked more about trading him than we did,” Williams said. “I don’t remember a

conversation where we seriously had anything to entertain...You see what the landscape is and if

something is appealing and makes sense then you talk to them. To portray that we were actively pursuing deals for him, it’s incorrect.”

The landscape was pretty good for those teams possessing an attractive, available shortstop. There

weren’t many to be had.

Jimmy Rollins netted Philadelphia two prospects, including first-rounder Zach Eflin from the Los Angeles

Dodgers via the San Diego Padres. The Oakland A’s received closer Tyler Clippard in exchange for Yunel Escobar.

With a $10 million salary for 2015 and a $10 million club option for next season, and coming off a Silver

Slugger award and Gold Glove candidacy, it's easy to see why Ramirez looked attractive.

But the reward they could have reaped wasn’t enough to move the White Sox off their price.

“It certainly was a possibility that we were going to continue down the path of trying to add younger,

controllable, potentially impact, near-ready position players or pitchers,” Hahn said. “But as we looked

around...we sure had a lot of pieces here and some economic flexibility that allowed you the chance to build around them instead of making them wait another year deeper in their prime for us to be in that

position.”

Still, Ramirez heard the rumors. They were loud, especially during the general manager’s meetings in November.

He couldn’t help but notice his name thrown about and wondered if he would join the collection of high-price players sold off earlier in the rebuild. Ramirez said it was a difficult period to see friends traded,

including outfielder Alex Rios. The White Sox also traded away Jake Peavy, Jesse Crain, Gordon Beckham, Adam Dunn and Matt Thornton over a 13-month period.

“For me it was tough because I had a very good relationship with them, especially Rios,” Ramirez said through an interpreter. “But this is a business and we have to adjust.

“I (was) prepared for everything. It’s something I can’t control. I can just control what I do on the field.

That’s it. I know it’s a business.”

Business wasn’t just good for the White Sox in the offseason -- it was brisk.

Hahn quickly signed Zach Duke and Adam LaRoche in November. He traded for Jeff Samardzija and Dan

Jennings in December and added free agents David Robertson, Melky Cabrera and Emilio Bonifacio after that.

Instead of starting from scratch at shortstop, the White Sox looked wise for hanging onto Ramirez.

“Had we not we been able to convert on any of our targets perhaps we would have a different feeling now about the decision,” Hahn said.

Ramirez feels good about the team’s choice.

After a rough 18 months, the White Sox intend to move forward again. He’s happy in the clubhouse and said the White Sox are like a family, laughing and joking.

He’s responded well, too. Ramirez has had a great spring and looks to take advantage of his spot in the

lineup as a run producer, having driven in 17 and hitting .295 during Cactus League play.

“It’s a good team we have here,” Ramirez said. “It was something good for me to know that the team

has that evaluation of me. That evaluation of my job and what I’ve done the last seven years is something made me feel good.”

Breaking down the White Sox Opening Day roster

J.J. Stankevitz, CSN Chicago April 4, 2015

With the White Sox opening the 2015 season Monday in Kansas City (coverage starts at 2 p.m. on

Comcast SportsNet), here’s a look at the 25 players (and two injured ones) that’ll be introduced at

Kauffman Stadium:

CATCHERS

No. 21 Tyler Flowers

Bats: R | Throws: R Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 245

Age: 29 | Service Time: 3.148 Has an excellent rapport with White Sox pitchers and, if he can find offensive consistency, could be a

threat to hit 20 home runs.

No. 58 Geovany Soto

Bats: R | Throws: R Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 235

Age: 32 | Service Time: 7.096

Veteran backup threw out 53 percent of runners down the stretch for Oakland last year and his presence

should allow Tyler Flowers to rest more than he did last year.

INFIELDERS

No. 5 Carlos Sanchez Bats: S | Throws: R

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 195

Age: 22 | Service Time: 0.045 Regarded as the better defensive second baseman, Sanchez is still young and does own a .364 on-base

percentage as a minor leaguer.

No. 7 Micah Johnson

Bats: L | Throws: R Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 210

Age: 24 | Service Time: 0.000 Explosively fast second baseman has some defensive concerns, but major offensive upside.

No. 10 Alexei Ramirez

Bats: R | Throws: R

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 180 Age: 33 | Service Time: 7.00

Since moving to shortstop in 2009, has averaged 3 WAR per season thanks to strong defense combined with decent back-of-the-order power.

No. 12 Conor Gillaspie Bats: L | Throws: R

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 195 Age: 27 | Service Time: 2.069

Didn’t hit for much power last year (7 HR) but did post a .282/.336/.416 slash line; should have less

pressure on him in the lineup with Adam LaRoche in the middle.

No. 15 Gordon Beckham Bats: R | Throws: R

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 185 Age: 28 | Service Time: 5.123

Returned to the White Sox after being dealt to the Angels last summer, provides good defense and a

veteran presence as a backup.

No. 25 Adam LaRoche Bats: L | Throws: L

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 205

Age: 35 | Service Time: 11.000 Has averaged 27 home runs per 162 games in his 11-year career, gives the White Sox a steady left-

handed bat between Abreu and Avisail Garcia.

No. 79 Jose Abreu Bats: R | Throws: R

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 255

Age: 28 | Service Time: 1.000 Proved himself to be an elite right-handed power hitter last year, made impressive adjustments as the

season went on to keep his production high.

OUTFIELDERS

No. 1 Adam Eaton

Bats: L | Throws: L Ht: 5-8 | Wt: 185

Age: 26 | Service Time: 2.030 Proved the White Sox faith in him last year with a .300/.362/.401 slash line in 123 games; still room for

improvement as a base-stealer.

No. 20 JB Shuck

Bats: L | Throws: L Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 195

Age: 27 | Service Time: 1.111

Only a year removed from hitting .293/.331/.366 over 129 games with the Angels, provides a solid bat and good speed off the bench.

No. 26 Avisail Garcia

Bats: R | Throws: R Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 240

Age: 23 | Service Time: 1.167

White Sox have high hopes for Garcia to break through in what will be, barring another injury, his first full season in the major leagues.

No. 53 Melky Cabrera

Bats: S | Throws: L

Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 210 Age: 30 | Service Time: 8.148

Appears to be the ideal No. 2 hitter who should afford Jose Abreu more RBI opportunities than he had last year, when White Sox No. 2 hitters combined for a .279 on-base percentage.

No. 64 Emilio Bonifacio Bats: S | Throws: R

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 206 Age: 29 | Service Time: 6.066

Versatile utilityman has logged significant major league innings at second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield positions.

STARTING PITCHERS

No. 29 Jeff Samardzija Bats: R | Throws: R

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 225

Age: 30 | Service Time: 5.028 The former Notre Dame star last year slashed his walks (1.76 per nine IP) and posted a 2.99 ERA

between the Cubs and A’s, his best as a starter.

No. 48 Hector Noesi Bats: R | Throws: R

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 205

Age: 28 | Service Time: 3.006 Has excellent stuff but needs to figure out how to fix his home run issues (28 in 172 1/3 IP last year).

No. 50 John Danks

Bats: L | Throws: L

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 210 Age: 29 | Service Time: 8.000

Entering his third year removed from shoulder surgery but hasn’t been the same since (4.74 ERA in 2013-2014), but White Sox are hopeful tweaked delivery will reverse that downward trend.

No. 62 Jose Quintana

Bats: L | Throws: L

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 220 Age: 26 | Service Time: 2.133

How’s this for a steady hand: Has a 3.42 ERA over 400 1/3 IP since 2013, making him one of the better scouting finds and development projects the White Sox have had in recent memory.

RELIEF PITCHERS

No. 30 David Robertson Bats: R | Throws: R

Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 195 Age: 29 | Service Time: 6.070

Big-ticket free agent posted a 2.81 ERA in seven seasons with the Yankees before signing a four-year,

$46 million deal with the White Sox in the offseason.

No. 33 Zach Duke Bats: L | Throws: L

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 210

Age: 28 | Service Time: 8.054 Lowered his arm slot and became an awfully effective reliever, striking out 74 with a 2.45 ERA in 58 2/3

innings with Milwaukee last year.

No. 34 Matt Albers

Bats: L | Throws: R Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 225

Age: 32 | Service Time: 7.141 Shoulder issues wiped out his 2014 season, but he posted a 2.77 ERA over 123 1/3 innings in 2012 and

2013.

No. 41 Javy Guerra

Bats: R | Throws: R Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 190

Age: 29 | Service Time: 2.133 Former Dodgers closer had a solid 2.91 ERA over 42 relief appearances for the White Sox last year.

No. 43 Dan Jennings Bats: L | Throws: L

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 210 Age: 27 | Service Time: 1.171

Acquired from Miami for Andre Rienzo this winter and has a 2.43 ERA over 100 career innings of the Marlins’ bullpen.

No. 51 Kyle Drabek Bats: R | Throws: R

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 205 Age: 27 | Service Time: 2.080

Former top prospect and son of ex-Sox pitcher Doug Drabek was picked up on waivers in March, hasn’t

had success in the majors and has a 3.98 career ERA in the minors.

No. 57 Zach Putnam Bats: R | Throws: R

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 225 Age: 27 | Service Time 1.135

Developed into a solid middle relief option with a 1.98 ERA and a 53 percent ground ball rate last year.

DISABLED LIST

No. 49 Chris Sale

Bats: L | Throws: L

Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 180 Age: 26 | Service Time: 4.061

Expected back April 12, the ace of the White Sox rotation has the fourth-best ERA (2.79) of any starter with at least 500 IP from 2012-2014.

No. 52 Jake Petricka

Bats: R | Throws: R

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 205 Age: 26 | Service Time: 1.044

Hard two-seam fastball led to a ton of ground balls (63.4 percent of batted balls) and a solid 2.96 ERA in his first full year in the majors.

White Sox sign Matt Lindstrom, make seven roster moves

CSN Chicago April 3, 2015

The White Sox have signed relief pitcher Matt Lindstrom to a minor-league deal, the team announced Friday.

Lindstrom, 35, has spent the last two seasons with the White Sox. He compiled a 2-2 record with a 5.03

ERA and six saves in 35 games last season, which he missed a portion of due to injury.

But that's not the only move they made.

Following their final spring training contest tonight, the White Sox optioned RHP Erik Johnson and

outrighted RHP Maikel Cleto and LHP Onelki Garcia to Class AAA Charlotte, and also re-assigned RHP Jairo Asencio, OF Engel Beltre, C George Kottaras and RHP Arcenio Leon to minor-league camp.

The White Sox have condensed their 40-man roster to 37, and currently have 28 players left in the major-league camp with two catchers, four outfielders, eight infielders, and 14 pitchers.

Johnson, Sanchez thrilled to make Sox Opening Day roster

Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago

April 3, 2015

They may have been pegged as competing for the same spot but Carlos Sanchez and Micah Johnson

haven’t been concerned.

Both players have earned a spot on the team’s Opening Day roster, though manager Robin Ventura

hasn’t identified which has won the starting job. On Thursday morning they worked together as Johnson interpreted for Sanchez during an interview session.

“I didn’t really see it as a competition because we’re great friends and I put my work in every single day

and I’m trying to do whatever I can to win,” Sanchez said. “I’m just happy I’m here. We’re both happy and I’m just going to continue to work hard.”

Neither player has anything to be embarrassed about with how they performed this spring.

Johnson went 1-for-3 with a walk in Thursday’s 10-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields. He hit .339 and finished with a .391 on-base percentage and a team-high 12 runs scored. He’s

also displayed fantastic range all spring, including a pair of ground balls on Thursday.

Sanchez went 0-for-1 to finish hitting .425 with six RBIs.

Asked what they liked about the other’s game, both responded “nothing” and laughed.

Johnson then said he’s happy for both players to have the opportunity to start the season at Kansas City

on Monday.

“It’s a blessing,” Johnson said. “It makes you think about all the Little League games you had and all the

people who helped you get here. It’s awesome.”

-- Jose Quintana allowed six earned runs and eight hits in two innings pitched in his final spring start.

Quintana said he feels good but wasn’t sharp with his offspeed pitches. The left-hander finished spring with a 4.94 ERA and next starts on Wednesday in Kansas City.

“I had two bad outings,” Quintana said. “But I feel great. This spring was good for me and good time for

preparation. I’m ready to go.”

-- One of several relievers up for the final spot in the bullpen, Kyle Drabek gave up three unearned runs,

three hits and a walk in his one inning. Drabek, Maikel Cleto, Arcenio Leon and Jairo Asencio are several pitchers vying for the last spot in the bullpen.

-- Zach Putnam allowed a run in his inning. Matt Albers and Dan Jennings both pitched two scoreless

innings. Albers struck out two.

White Sox GM says 'L-Train' Series would be 'fantastic for everybody'

Ron Clements, Sporting News

April 5, 2015

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn doesn’t put too much stock in preseason predictions.

That said, he is aware of the Sporting News prediction that the Cubs will win the World Series and

welcomes the idea of an “L-Train” series.

MORE: White Sox predictions | Eaton inks five-year extension | Bo Jackson breaks down career for

LaRoche's son

“That’d be fantastic for everybody,” Hahn said Friday afternoon at BB&T Ballpark, home of the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox Triple-A affiliate. “I’d probably have to be sedated or have to leave town for about

10 days and everybody could let me know how it turned out."

The White Sox have been aggressive this offseason, signing former Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera to

join last year’s American League Rookie of the Year, Jose Abreu, toward the top of the lineup. Former Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche was also added to boost an offense that finished 13th in runs

scored in 2014. Those three combined for 78 home runs and 272 RBIs last year.

Not to be outdone, the Cubs added a bona fide ace in Jon Lester and two-time AL Manager of the Year

Joe Maddon this offseason to accent their slew of rising talent. That's given many across baseball reason to believe the Cubs may be ready to end their stretch of futility and contend in the National League.

“Baseball is better when there’s excitement in Chicago," Hahn said. "The fact that the Cubs are on the

cusp of bearing fruit from their struggles over the last few years and we’re in a position now to get back

in the position we want to be in is going to benefit everybody. It should be a fun summer in Chicago.”

White Sox lefty Chris Sale finished third in AL Cy Young voting last year and the club acquired All-Star Jeff Samardzija from the Athletics. The club also added David Robertson, who had 39 saves for the Yankees a

season ago, and lefty Zach Duke to the bullpen.

Hahn said the Sox were aggressive to not waste the talents of Abreu and Sale during the prime of their

careers.

“It was time to take the next step to surround them with the talent we needed to in order to contend,” Hahn said. “We’re not done. The process isn’t over. There are still areas we can get better. But we’ve

taken that young core and added to it enough to put us in a position to contend this year and hopefully

into the future.”

Chicago at Kansas City

CBSSports.com

April 5, 2015

Time: 04:10 P.M. EST Venue: Kauffman Stadium

They'll certainly enjoy this one.

The American League champions will celebrate last season's dramatic run to Game 7 of the World Series on Monday before facing the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. It is the first game in a 162-game

odyssey that they hope will deliver them right back to the playoffs.

Kansas City snapped a 29-year postseason drought in a big way. After squeaking into the wild-card

game, the Royals knocked out Oakland with an epic extra-inning comeback. Then, they swept all the way to the final game of the Fall Classic, where they were finally stopped by Madison Bumgarner and the San

Francisco Giants.

''I just expect for us to go out and compete,'' Royals manager Ned Yost said. ''I think we're a much more experienced team. It's a very confident team. These guys know that they can produce under the most

intense situations, under the brightest spotlights, and that's what playoff and World Series experience

does for you. I'm excited to get started.''

So are the White Sox, who spent the offseason retooling just about everything in the hopes of catapulting from a fourth-place finish in the AL Central.

They signed right-hander Jeff Samardzija to boost their rotation and left-hander Zach Duke to help out in the `pen. They inked first baseman Adam LaRoche to provide some power, Melky Cabrera to solidify the

outfield and right-hander David Robertson to close games.

Among many other moves that make the White Sox look nothing like they did six months ago.

''Everyone is settling in guys are getting used to each other on and off the field and I think we're jelling

together as a team,'' said center fielder Adam Eaton, one of the notable holdovers. ''Hopefully that translates to wins in April.''

The Royals will send 23-year-old Yordano Ventura to the mound on opening day, and the touted

flamethrower is sure to get quite the reception from a sellout crowd.

Sure, fans will remember his masterful performance in Game 6 of the World Series, when he shut down

the Giants and kept Kansas City's postseason hopes alive. But they are also sure to thank him for the long-term deal he signed Saturday, a $23 million, five-year pact that includes two option years and could

keep Ventura pitching for the Royals for quite a while.

''For me he's a complete package, a guy that I think is going to be very, very successful in major league

baseball,'' Yost said. ''There's no telling what he's going to be able to achieve.''

Samardzija will get the opening day nod for the White Sox, in part because ace left-hander Chris Sale is recovering from a fractured bone in his right foot. Samardzija started on opening day for the Cubs the

past two seasons, holding Pittsburgh without a run each time.

The Royals will try to change his fortunes with a slightly different lineup than they trotted out a year ago.

Designated hitter Billy Butler is gone, replaced by Kendrys Morales. Alex Rios is not in right field, signed to replace Nori Aoki and provided some pop.

Otherwise, the rest of the Royals return largely intact. That means a bunch of guys who put together a dream season a year ago will get to celebrate it in front of their home fans.

Right before they start trying to prove it wasn't a fluke.

''We're a real close team. Our team chemistry is off the charts,'' Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said,

''and over the course of a year, 162 games, you really do need that. It's a group of guys that are used to

playing with each other. We feel like that's an advantage and I think we can use that to help us throughout the season.''

White Sox, Royals set for AL Central showdown

Doug Miller, MLB.com April 5, 2015

The last time the Royals played a game at Kauffman Stadium, they battled the Giants to the bottom of

the ninth inning of Game 7 in the World Series.

That one didn't end up in Kansas City's favor, with Alex Gordon stranded on third base as the potential

tying run, but the new season begins for the defending American League champions on the same diamond Monday at 3:10 p.m. CT.

Not that it will be easy. The Royals' beefed-up division rival from Chicago figures to make it a compelling

lid-lifter to a 2015 full of intrigue.

The White Sox have reloaded their pitching rotation and lineup, and they'll put one of their shiny new

acquisitions on display right away by starting right-hander Jeff Samardzija against Yordano Ventura in an early AL Central pitchers' duel.

Samardzija came to the South Siders in an offseason trade with Oakland, and the White Sox didn't stop

there. They also added outfielder Melky Cabrera and designated hitter Adam LaRoche to a lineup that

already included 2014 AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu in an effort to not only move past Kansas City, but also last year's division champion, the Detroit Tigers.

Samardzija pitched to a 2.99 ERA last season and struck out 202 batters in 219 2/3 innings while splitting

time between the Cubs and A's. And with a foot injury delaying the 2015 debut of White Sox ace Chris

Sale, the former All-American wide receiver at Notre Dame gets another chance to shine in the Opening Day spotlight. Samardzija also pitched the opener for the Cubs in 2013 and '14.

"The football [background] that he has, and the athletic part of him, just attitude-wise and everything, it

suits up well for him to be able to have an Opening Day [start]," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Guys will be excited with him. Personality-wise, he likes to go after it."

Yordano Ventura does, too. In fact, his average fastball velocity of 97 mph, according to FanGraphs.com, led all of baseball in 2014, and was one of the main reasons Ventura went 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA and

159 strikeouts in 183 innings in his first full big league season.

Ventura, 23, gained valuable big-game experience in the postseason, with a Game 6 World Series victory

and a 1.46 ERA in two Fall Classic starts. Now, with former ace James Shields departed to San Diego via free agency, Ventura gets the call to toe the slab for a championship team that returns most of its 2014

core, which featured the best defense in the Major Leagues and one of the best bullpens, too.

"I like their focus," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "They've come in with a definite mindset. We know

they play with a lot of energy and passion. But coming off a World Series, they have come in with even more passion and energy.

"It was a great accomplishment last year, but I don't think anyone was satisfied with that. Their actions

and focus show that every single day here."

White Sox not worried about spring pitching struggles

Ron Clements, Sporting News

April 5, 2015

For the White Sox to contend this year, manager Robin Ventura knows they’ll need good pitching. But

through six weeks of spring training, things haven’t been going well.

Chicago finished its Cactus League schedule with a 5.43 team ERA — second-worst in baseball, ahead of only the Rangers.

MORE: Must-see photos from the Sox-Knights exhibition

The Sox have been without ace Chris Sale, who suffered a broken foot and sprained ankle during an accident at his home in February. His rehab progress has been going well — he struck out 13 over six

innings during a minor league rehab start on Wednesday. Even with Sale on the mound last season, the White Sox had baseball's fourth-worst team ERA at 4.29.

In Sale's place, former Cubs All-Star Jeff Samardzija will get the opening day start Monday against the Royals. Samardzija, traded to the A’s last summer, signed with the White Sox on Jan. 16.

He has a 3.85 ERA in 99 career starts, but an 8.44 ERA in 21 1/3 innings this spring. He gave up nine

home runs in five starts. New closer David Robertson has also struggled this spring, posting an 8.10 ERA in 6 2/3 innings after recording 39 saves last year with the Yankees. He reported forearm soreness last

month.

General manager Rick Hahn isn’t concerned about how Samardzija or Robertson will perform once the

regular season begins.

“Jeff walked two guys all spring,” Hahn said. “Yeah, he gave up some home runs, but the ball does fly (in

Arizona). When you’re talking about a veteran guy who’s been through it repeatedly, as long as they’re healthy and ready to take the ball when their turn comes up and they’re throwing strikes when they’re on

the mound, we’re not that concerned about the performance issues.

“It makes it easier when they’re performing well, so we don’t have to have these conversations. That’s understandable (that) people look at spring performances because that’s all we have to go on right now,

but the track record in games that matter is much more important to us.”

The White Sox were 11-17-3 during the spring and their pitching woes continued Friday night against the

Charlotte Knights, their Triple-A affiliate. The Knights were 10-2 victors as White Sox starter John Danks gave up a pair of two-run homers. Journeyman reliever Jairo Asencio surrendered a two-run blast to

Neftali Soto in the fifth inning. The White Sox reassigned Asencio to minor league camp after the game

as part of a series of roster moves.

As the White Sox await the return of Sale, Ventura is confident Samardzija, Robertson and the rest of the staff will right the ship sooner rather than later.

“You always want your guys to have better number than they’ve always had, but spring training baseball is different,” Ventura said. “Both those guys are getting acclimated to us and we’re getting acclimated to

them.

“As far as seeing what they have and the tools they’re bringing to the table, we’re very excited about it.”

White Sox hope offseason moves help them contend in improved AL Central

Ron Clements, Sporting News

April 5, 2015

The American League Central is as competitive as it’s ever been.

The Royals are coming off a World Series appearance, the Tigers claimed the division crown and the

reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, Corey Kluber, resides in Cleveland.

So the White Sox knew they had to do what they could to keep up and surround their young stars with

more talent. White Sox assistant general manager Buddy Bell said every AL Central team got better in the offseason.

“The parity is probably something we haven’t seen in a while,” Bell said Friday at BB&T Ballpark, home of

the club’s Triple-A affiliate. “Minnesota is rebuilding, but they have a lot of good young ball players and

they always seem to be tough to play. The rest of the teams — Detroit, Kansas City, our club — it’s going to be tough.”

The Sox signed former Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera to join last year’s AL Rookie of the Year, Jose

Abreu, in the lineup. Former Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche was also added to boost an offense that averaged four runs per game last year. Chicago also gave an extension to center fielder Adam Eaton,

who hit .300/.362/.401 last year and led the AL with 10 triples.

The ace of the pitching staff, Chris Sale, finished third in AL Cy Young voting last year and the Sox added

former Cubs and A’s starter Jeff Samardzija to the rotation. Closer David Robertson, who had 39 saves for the Yankees last year, and left-handed reliever Zach Duke were bullpen additions.

“We picked up Duke first, we got LaRoche, then kind of a flurry with Samardzija and Melky and Robertson. It’s exciting,” said Ventura, who played for the White Sox from 1989-98. “Anytime you pick up

players with the track record and who are as well-equipped as these guys, you get excited about it — not only as a staff and an organization, but the players do, too.”

The White Sox are trying to get to the postseason for the first time since 2008 and are coming off a 73-

89 season. In order to contend in the AL Central, Ventura knows pitching will be key. Samardzija, who

struggled this spring with an 8.44 ERA in 21 1/3 innings, will be the opening day starter Monday against the Royals with Sale coming off a broken foot and sprained ankle.

Sale’s recovery is going well. He made his first spring training start Wednesday, striking out 13 over six

innings against Reds minor leaguers. He will make one more rehab start and is expected to join the big

club for its game against the Twins on April 12.

“We couldn’t be more pleased,” general manager Rick Hahn said of Sale’s rehab progress. “We thought we could be missing him for an extended period of time, but it should be just one turn through the

rotation and that’s it.”

LaRoche, who helped the Nationals go from a last-place team in 2010 to a playoff club in both 2012 and

2014, shares his manager’s enthusiasm.

“We’re trying to get right back in the middle of it and it’s going to be fun to a part of that again,” said LaRoche, who added that Chicago’s current situation is similar to what the Nationals were trying to do in

2011. “I’m excited for the year. It’s always exciting to come into some place new and putting a

contending team out there, try to make something happen and find a way to keep playing in October.”

While the White Sox are optimistic about the 2015 season, LaRoche says it’s a cautious optimism.

“You can look on paper what you have in spring training, but you get a month or two in the season, you

find out what you’ve really got,” LaRoche said. “There were some positive vibes in spring training coming off of some years that weren’t so great, but it’s a fresh start.”

Royals begin defense of AL pennant at home vs White Sox

The Associated Press, USA Today

April 5, 2015

It has been four long years since the Kansas City Royals opened a season at home.

They'll certainly enjoy this one.

The American League champions will celebrate last season's dramatic run to Game 7 of the World Series on Monday before facing the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. It is the first game in a 162-game

odyssey that they hope will deliver them right back to the playoffs.

Kansas City snapped a 29-year postseason drought in a big way. After squeaking into the wild-card game, the Royals knocked out Oakland with an epic extra-inning comeback. Then, they swept all the way

to the final game of the Fall Classic, where they were finally stopped by Madison Bumgarner and the San

Francisco Giants.

"I just expect for us to go out and compete," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "I think we're a much more experienced team. It's a very confident team. These guys know that they can produce under the most

intense situations, under the brightest spotlights, and that's what playoff and World Series experience

does for you. I'm excited to get started."

So are the White Sox, who spent the offseason retooling just about everything in the hopes of catapulting from a fourth-place finish in the AL Central.

They signed right-hander Jeff Samardzija to boost their rotation and left-hander Zach Duke to help out in

the 'pen. They inked first baseman Adam LaRoche to provide some power, Melky Cabrera to solidify the

outfield and right-hander David Robertson to close games.

Among many other moves that make the White Sox look nothing like they did six months ago.

"Everyone is settling in guys are getting used to each other on and off the field and I think we're jelling

together as a team," said center fielder Adam Eaton, one of the notable holdovers. "Hopefully that translates to wins in April."

The Royals will send 23-year-old Yordano Ventura to the mound on opening day, and the touted

flamethrower is sure to get quite the reception from a sellout crowd.

Sure, fans will remember his masterful performance in Game 6 of the World Series, when he shut down

the Giants and kept Kansas City's postseason hopes alive. But they are also sure to thank him for the long-term deal he signed Saturday, a $23 million, five-year pact that includes two option years and could

keep Ventura pitching for the Royals for quite a while.

"For me he's a complete package, a guy that I think is going to be very, very successful in major league

baseball," Yost said. "There's no telling what he's going to be able to achieve."

Samardzija will get the opening day nod for the White Sox, in part because ace left-hander Chris Sale is recovering from a fractured bone in his right foot. Samardzija started on opening day for the Cubs the

past two seasons, holding Pittsburgh without a run each time.

The Royals will try to change his fortunes with a slightly different lineup than they trotted out a year ago.

Designated hitter Billy Butler is gone, replaced by Kendrys Morales. Alex Rios is not in right field, signed to replace Nori Aoki and provided some pop.

Otherwise, the rest of the Royals return largely intact. That means a bunch of guys who put together a

dream season a year ago will get to celebrate it in front of their home fans.

Right before they start trying to prove it wasn't a fluke.

"We're a real close team. Our team chemistry is off the charts," Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said,

"and over the course of a year, 162 games, you really do need that. It's a group of guys that are used to playing with each other. We feel like that's an advantage and I think we can use that to help us

throughout the season."

Jose Abreu not worried about power shortage in White Sox camp

Shawn Krest, CBSSports.com

April 5, 2015

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu only had one home run during spring training, but he's not concerned about the lack of power.

That may have something to do with the fact that his batting average during spring games was .508.

"I am feeling good," Abreu said, per ESPN. "Obviously, I'm a little anxious also because I want to hit home runs as well. But if God is saving that for the season, it's good for me. I'm just trying to get ready

for the season and do my job."

Melky Cabrera fitting in with White Sox

Shawn Krest, CBSSports.com

April 5, 2015

New White Sox outfielder Melky Cabrera is with his sixth MLB organization, but he feels comfortable.

"I think there is a way you have to build a chemistry and a relationship with a team, and for me it's been

easy here to adapt with the guys," Cabrera said, per the Chicago Tribune.

Cabrera hit .305 in spring games and impressed his teammates at the plate.

"You can't say enough about him at the plate," center fielder Adam Eaton said. "He handles the bat

extremely well. It seems like every time I was on base or around him, he was hitting the ball on the nose, so we're excited to have him."

Cabrera's powerful arm has also helped improve the team's defense.

"You want to be able to shut down the first to third," manager Robin Ventura said. "When you have arms like that it just keeps people from taking that extra base."

2015 Baseball Preview - AL Central: Avisail Garcia, added speed put White Sox on top

Bill Madden, New York Daily News April 4, 2015

1. WHITE SOX (90-72)

THE BIG PICTURE: It was after the 2013 season, in which the White Sox fell from 85-77 the year before

to last place in the AL Central at 63-99, that GM Rick Hahn set about remaking the club. It began with trades for right fielder Avisail Garcia and center fielder Adam Eaton in 2013, along with the $68 million

signing of Cuban free agent first baseman Jose Abreu, and culminated this past winter with a sweeping series of free agent signings — first baseman Adam LaRoche ($25M), closer David Robertson ($46M), left

fielder Melky Cabrera ($42M), lefty setup man Zach Duke ($15M) and super utility man Emilio Bonifacio

($4M) — and a trade for starter Jeff Samardzija, giving Hahn potentially the best, most balanced lineup in the division, a rotation with three formidable starters in Chris Sale, Samardzjia and Jose Quintana, and an

All-Star closer.

WHY THEY’LL FINISH FIRST: For all of Hahn’s splashy winter acquisitions, the biggest addition could be getting back Garcia — who may be their best player — for a full season. The lineup looks to be further

bolstered with added speed in prospect Micah Johnson, who stole 84 bases in the minors in 2013 and

won the second base job in the spring. If there’s one concern for the Sox, it’s the back end of the starting rotation, and it’s very possible that last June’s No. 1 draft pick, N.C. State lefty Carlos Rodon, will have to

be pressed into major-league duty a little ahead of schedule.

2. TIGERS (88-74)

THE BIG PICTURE: The window of opportunity for the Tigers to give 85-year-old owner Mike Ilitch that

long-awaited World Series championship is closing fast. Over the winter, team president Dave Dombrowski further fortified what already was a power-packed lineup — including Ian Kinsler (17 HR/92

RBI), Miguel Cabrera (25 HR/109 RBI), Victor Martinez (32 HR/103 RBI) and J.D. Martinez (23 HR/76 RBI) — with a curious trade of Rick Porcello, who was arguably their best starter the second half last

year, for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, whom the Red Sox were eager to dump because of his less-than-

diligent work habits. Apparently Dombrowski felt there was no way he could re-sign both Porcello and David Price. To replace Porcello, Dombrowski acquired Shane Greene from the Yankees, with the hope

that, after adding a changeup to his arsenal, he will build on his solid (5-4, 3.78) rookie season in the Bronx.

WHY THEY’LL FINISH SECOND: The Tigers are an old, slow team but still have one of the most fearsome lineups in baseball, although it’s questionable whether Anthony Gose, the lifetime .234 singles hitter

Dombrowski acquired from the Blue Jays, will be able to handle the leadoff or No. 2 spot as planned. Their biggest addition is getting shortstop Jose Iglesias back after missing all last season with a shin

injury. The rotation of Price, Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez, Alfredo Simon and Greene is quality but

not nearly as dominant as in years past when it included Scherzer and Verlander in Cy Young prime, and Dombrowski failed to address what has been the Tigers’ recurring Achilles heel throughout this recent run

of four straight division titles — the bullpen. Instead, he is apparently hoping that 40-year-old closer Joe Nathan rebounds from his horrible 2014 season and that Joakim Soria, who suffered an oblique injury

after being acquired from Texas, regains his pre-Tommy John form with the Royals.

3. INDIANS (85-77)

THE BIG PICTURE: Wow! Sports Illustrated is picking the Indians to win it all this year. Just what Tribe

manager Terry Francona needs: The SI cover jinx. The Indians have a talented team, talented enough that their No. 1 prospect, switch-hitting shortstop Francisco Lindor, is starting the season at Triple-A

Columbus because of how incumbent shortstop, Jose Ramirez, also a switch-hitter, handled the job as a

rookie last year. Ramirez teams up with an All-Star second baseman in Jason Kipnis, and there is power in the lineup around them in catcher Yan Gomes (21 HR/74 RBI in ’14), first baseman Carlos Santana (27

HR/85 RBI), left fielder Michael Brantley (.327/20 HR/97 RBI) and OF/DH Brandon Moss, who had 25 homers and 81 RBI for Oakland last year. Where the SI jinx comes in is with the pitching. After 2014 AL

Cy Young winner Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, who pitched himself out of the bullpen into a No. 2 starter last year, the Tribe rotation is just okay.

WHY THEY’LL FINISH THIRD: Like we said, the Indians don’t have the kind of dominant pitching you need to win a division title. The prospective 3-4-5 starters, Trevor Bauer, T.J. House and Zach McAllister,

had a collective yield of 360 hits in 341 innings last year. The Indians are also going to need a far better year than what they got in ’14 from center fielder Michael Bourn.

4. ROYALS (84-78)

THE BIG PICTURE: The Cinderella story was nice while it lasted but now it’s over. After last season’s fantastic finish, in which they won six of their last eight games to earn a wild card, then swept (8-0)

through the ALDS and ALCS into their first World Series since 1985, the Royals seemingly took a step back over the winter when their veteran staff leader, James Shields, departed as expected as a free

agent but wasn’t replaced. The Royals also let longtime DH (and another clubhouse leader) Billy Butler

take a free-agent hike and replaced him with Kendrys Morales, who hit just .218 with 8 HR for the Twins and Mariners in ’14. To make it back to the postseason, the Royals are banking on further production

upticks from Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, who all came into their own last year, as well as another season-long, slam-the-door performance from Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg

Holland, their high-voltage relief tandem.

WHY THEY’LL FINISH FOURTH: The Royals’ replacement for Shields, Edinson Volquez (13-7, 3.04 as a

No. 3 starter with the Pirates last year), had a very rocky spring, and after Yordano Ventura and lefty Danny Duffy, the rest of the rotation — Jeremy Guthrie (13-11, 4.13) and Jason Vargas (11-10, 3.71) —

is ordinary at best. We should not be surprised if one or both of their top pitching prospects — lefties Brandon Finnegan and Sean Manaea, who are starting the season at Double-A North Arkansas — find

themselves in the majors at some point this year.

5. TWINS (74-88)

THE BIG PICTURE: The long and painful rebuilding process for Twins GM Terry Ryan — four straight last-

place seasons — is finally beginning to bear fruit, and the best is yet to come, possibly as soon as June.

Given a charge by rookies Danny Santana, Kennys Vargas and Oswaldo Arcia, the Twins finished a surprising seventh in runs last year. Now comes the real treat for Minnesota fans, as sometime in June,

the Twins are expected to bring the signature pieces of their youth movement — outfielder Byron Buxton and third baseman Miguel Sano — to the big leagues.

WHY THEY’LL FINISH FIFTH: The hardest part of the rebuilding process for Ryan has been finding quality starting pitching. He finally hit paydirt with ex-Yankee Phil Hughes, who led Twins starters in wins (16),

ERA (3.52), innings (209.2) and strikeouts (186) last year. Unfortunately Ricky Nolasco, to whom Ryan gave four years/$48M, was a complete flop (6-12, 5.38). Undeterred, Ryan tried again this winter,

signing Ervin Santana (four years/$55M), who was 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA for Atlanta last year and just got hit with an 80-game PED suspension. But until proven otherwise, the Twins’ pitching remains very iffy

and an impediment to the youth movement that has rejuvenated the offense.

* * *

SCOUTING REPORTS - By Justin Tasch

WHITE SOX

WHAT’S NEW: The White Sox brought in three key players to upgrade three different areas. They gave outfielder Melky Cabrera a three-year, $42 million deal, they traded for starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija

and they signed former Yankees closer David Robertson to a four-year, $46 million contract.

WHO’S HOT: The South Siders took a risk on Cuban first baseman in the fall of 2013, signing him to a

six-year, $68 million deal, and the early returns have been enormous. His .317/.383/.581 slash line, 36 homers and 107 RBI earned him the AL Rookie of the Year award, All-Star honors and a fourth-place

finish in the AL MVP voting. He’s looked great in spring training despite a lack of power.

WHO’S NOT: Southpaw John Danks had a 4.74 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 2014, gave up 25 homers and has

been hit around during spring training.

MEDICAL REPORT: Ace Chris Sale suffered an avulsion fracture in his foot in late February and will miss Opening Day but should be back in mid-April.

TIGERS

WHAT’S NEW: The Tigers acquired power-hitting outfielder Yoenis Cespedes over the winter in a deal that sent Rick Porcello to Boston. He hit 22 homers and 100 RBI last season with Oakland and Boston,

and will add even more pop to the middle of the Detroit lineup.

WHO’S HOT: The lowly Astros gave up on J.D. Martinez, much to the delight of Detroit. Martinez was

lights-out last season for the Tigers, hitting .315 with 23 homers, 70 RBI and 30 doubles in 441 at-bats and has played well this spring.

WHO’S NOT: Once considered the best pitcher in baseball, Justin Verlander was anything but last season.

He had a 4.54 ERA and just 159 strikeouts in 206 innings, a big drop-off. Now 32 with 298 regular-season starts on his arm and coming off a rough spring, it’s fair to wonder if Verlander will ever return to

form.

MEDICAL REPORT: Miguel Cabrera (foot) and Victor Martinez (knee) both made their spring debuts on

March 22 and have good chances at being ready for Opening Day. Verlander (triceps) might miss a start.

INDIANS

WHAT’S NEW: Looking to add some pop to the lineup, Cleveland acquired Brandon Moss in a trade with

Oakland at the start of December’s winter meetings. Moss was an All-Star for the first time last season, hitting 25 homers and 81 RBI. He had 21 homers in the first half but a hip injury bothered him down the

stretch.

WHO’S HOT: Perhaps no player had a bigger breakout last season than Corey Kluber. The righthander

took a solid 2013 and turned it into an AL Cy Young campaign last season. He went 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA. Outfielder Michael Brantley also had a huge season, posting a .327/.385/.506 slash line with 20

homers, 97 RBI, 45 doubles, 94 runs and 23 steals.

WHO’S NOT: Jason Kipnis, once considered a possible franchise player, was a massive disappointment in

2014, hitting just .240 with six homers in 500 at-bats.

KID STUFF: Top shortstop prospect Francisco Lindor is likely to begin the season in Triple-A, but he probably will be called up at some point.

ROYALS

WHAT’S NEW: Fresh off a surprising playoff run that fell short in the World Series, the Royals added veteran outfielder Alex Rios on a one-year, $11 million deal. The 34-year-old hit just four homers last

season, but has three already in a quality spring for him. Ace James Shields left for San Diego.

WHO’S HOT: Greg Holland remains one of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball. In 65 games last

season he earned 46 saves, pitching to a 1.44 ERA with a .91 WHIP. He had 90 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings and finished ninth in the AL Cy Young voting while receiving MVP votes.

WHO’S NOT: Mike Moustakas homered five times in the playoffs, but only after a rough regular season in

which he put up a .212/.271/.361 slash line with 15 homers and 54 RBI in 140 games. His bat still leaves

a lot to be desired.

MEDICAL REPORT: Former Braves Kris Medlen is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. He could be back around the All-Star break.

TWINS

WHAT’S NEW: Rather than sign with a contender at the end of his career, Torii Hunter opted to return home to Minnesota, the team that drafted him in 1993. He left the Twins after the 2007 season and

spent five seasons with the Angels and two with the Tigers, but the 39-year-old took a one-year, $10.5 million deal to probably finish his career where it started.

WHO’S HOT: Second baseman Brian Dozier was just rewarded with a four-year, $20 million extension after a breakout 2014. He hit 23 homers with 71 RBI, 112 runs, 21 steals and 89 walks in 156 games —

valuable numbers at his position.

WHO’S NOT: Ricky Nolasco turned a solid 2013 into a $49 million contract and proceeded to get knocked around last season. He went 6-12 with a 5.38 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 159 innings.

MEDICAL REPORT: Backup catcher Josmil Pinto was dealing with a concussion but was cleared for action on March 30.