Chicago White Sox could still get more of the “305 boys”
The Chicago White Sox have focused their efforts on recruiting Manny Machado by bringing in his friends. More are still available!
The Chicago White Sox have been attempting to bring in a host of Manny Machado’s long-time friends this offseason. Already, they’ve brought in his brother-in-law Yonder Alonso via trade and signed his friend Jon Jay.
Alonso and Jay are part of a group of friends known as the “305 boys”, a group of friends that Machado worked out within Miami as a youngster before becoming the #3 overall selection by Baltimore in 2010.
The other members of that group with Machado were Alonso, Jay, Albert Almora, Jr., Gio Gonzalez, Danny Valencia, and Sean Rodriguez.
Interestingly enough, the Chicago White Sox have needs for each of the remaining players that are not currently rostered outside of Machado.
The team could sorely use bench depth at the major league level, especially bench depth that could provide offensive value. Valencia and Rodriguez could both serve in that capacity. Neither had especially good 2018 seasons.
Valencia hit .263/.316/.408 with the Orioles in 2018 in 78 games with 9 home runs, released just a few weeks after the Orioles traded away his friend Machado to Los Angeles midway through the 2018 season. Rodriguez struggled even worse, hitting .167/.277/.313 with 5 home runs with the Pirates over 66 games. Rodriguez really has not been the same since he and his family were hit by a man driving a stolen police car in the 2016-2017 offseason and injured his shoulder.
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The final available member of the 305 Boys that also would make significant sense for the Chicago White Sox is free agent starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez. The White Sox have a definite need in the rotation, and after losing veterans James Shields, Hector Santiago, and Miguel Gonzalez to free agency.
Gonzalez has been a consistent pitcher for the last decade in the major leagues, making 30 starts all but one season since 2010. Last season with Washington and Milwaukee, he went 10-11 with a 4.21 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and a 80/148 BB/K over 171 innings. He was dominant over a 5-start stretch in the final month of the season after the Brewers acquired him, with a 2.13 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over the final 5 starts of the season.
Gio’s left-handed arm would also work well in the Chicago White Sox rotation that features just lefty Carlos Rodon as fellow southpaws.
Next. Could White Sox be pursuing Joc?. dark
While the acquisition of Almora from the Cubs is unlikely (though he would fit a need as well), the Chicago White Sox could help the team, whether or not Manny Machado signs with them, by bringing in more of the 305 Boys.