Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are paying homage to the city's NBA team this season.

On Monday, MLB revealed the American League Central club's City Connect uniforms for the 2025 campaign. The jerseys are black and red and inspired by the Chicago Bulls' colors:

The White Sox also released a hype video that celebrated the Bulls' rich history:

"Pinstripes aren't just lines here," the video said. "They're the coordinates to greatness. Now reborn into a love letter to what's next. Chicago, more than letters across your chest. This is our city on full display, and right where it should be.

"Black and red. Colors bred by the dreams of every kid idolizing our greatness. We took flight and never backed down from a fight. The diamond meets the court. Our court meets our diamond. And Chicago, we know what's next. Because, man, our legacy isn't just born here. It's bred here. And this is our monument to more."

The White Sox and Bulls share more than a city.

Jerry Reinsdorf is the owner of both teams, which surely helped facilitate what Anthony Gharib of ESPN noted is the first on-field jersey that combined elements from a team from both leagues.

Chicago will first wear the jerseys on Friday against the Houston Astros.

The Bulls first wore the pinstripe uniforms during the famed 1995-96 season when they won a then-record 72 regular-season games before winning the championship. It was the first title of what would become the franchise's second three-peat during the Michael Jordan era.

Having Jordan leading arguably the best team in NBA history with the pinstripe jerseys in their first season made them instantly iconic, and the White Sox are tapping into that history with this crossover.

Both franchises would surely like to rediscover some of that previous history, as the Bulls haven't won a playoff series since the 2014-15. The White Sox are coming off an abysmal 41-121 season and are once again off to a poor start in 2025 at 7-21.

A Chicago icon will be throwing out the first pitch on MLB's Opening Day on the South Side this year.

The Chicago White Sox announced Derrick Rose will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before they host the Los Angeles Angels at Rate Field on March 27. They revealed as much Thursday with a video that showed the former Chicago Bulls point guard standing on a bullpen mound covered in rose petals:

Rose is from Chicago and played for the Bulls for the first eight seasons of his NBA career.

While injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2008 NBA draft was a three-time All-Star with the Bulls and took home the 2010-11 NBA MVP and 2008-09 Rookie of the Year.

His explosive speed in the open court made him a fan favorite and nearly impossible to stop, and the Bulls honored him during Derrick Rose Night on Jan. 4 this season during a game against the New York Knicks.

As part of the celebration, the Bulls also announced they will retire his No. 1 jersey during the 2025-26 campaign.

That will make him the fifth player in franchise history to receive such an honor, joining Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Jerry Sloan and Bob Love.

Given his stature in the city of Chicago, Rose has thrown out the first pitch at a White Sox game in the past. He and his son, P.J., also previously threw the first pitch together at a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field on the North Side.

But this time he is taking the mound for Opening Day after he was recently celebrated for his contributions to Chicago sports and the community, and there will be no shortage of eyes on him as he kickstarts the season for the White Sox.

Veteran outfielder and first baseman Joey Gallo was released by the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.

Per Merkin, Gallo asked for his release and Chicago granted his request.

The two-time All-Star agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the White Sox on Feb. 13, which included a non-roster invite to spring training.

Gallo reacted to the news on social media, claiming that he'll transition to pitching.

He previously appeared in 76 games with the Washington Nationals during the 2024 season.

The 31-year-old struggled mightily at the plate with Chicago throughout spring training, recording just one RBI in nine games to go along with a .100/.143/.100 slash line.

Gallo, a two-time Gold Glove winner in the outfield, has seen his defensive prowess decline as of late and fits better at first base.

It still appeared to be unlikely that he would be able to carve out a bench role on a White Sox team that already has several expected contributors at his positions, though.

Andrew Vaughn and Luis Robert Jr. are projected to start on a daily basis at first base and center field, while Mike Tauchman and Andrew Benintendi should also receive heavy playing time at both outfield corners (h/t Nick Deeds of MLB Trade Rumors).

While Gallo's power at the plate is well-known, his uneven production combined with his tendency to strike out likely contributed to his release. Since the start of the 2022 season, he's racked up 50 home runs as well as 407 strikeouts in 1,002 plate appearances.

If Gallo seriously pursues pitching, it'll be a position that he hasn't played since high school. He was previously named the Nevada Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in 2012, posting a 1.85 ERA to go along with 17 strikeouts in just over 11 innings of work at Bishop Gorman High School.

Following Gallo's release from the White Sox, taking the mound appears to be an option for the veteran.

After a historically bad 2024 season, the Chicago White Sox's over/under for wins in 2025 is embarrassingly low.

Chicago's win total is set at just 49.5 wins next season, via DraftKings Sportsbook, just 8.5 more wins than the White Sox recorded in 2024.

Chicago has +3000 odds to make the playoffs, +25000 odds to win the division and +40000 odds to win the World Series.

In 2024, the White Sox set the modern record for the most losses in an MLB season, surpassing the 1962 New York Mets, who went 40-120-1. The Mets were in their first year as a franchise when they set the record for the most losses, which is understandable. Chicago, however, didn't have the same excuse.

The White Sox also had the fifth-worst winning percentage since 1900 at .253.

Unsurprisingly, the awful year for Chicago led to the team firing manager Pedro Grifol in August after just two seasons at the helm. Along with Grifol, the White Sox parted ways with bench coach Charlie Montoyo, third-base coach Eddie Rodriguez and assistant hitting coach Mike Tosar.

Shortly after the conclusion of the regular season, Chicago hired Will Venable to be its next manager. Venable will have the tall task of changing the course of the White Sox franchise as he tries to avoid breaking the team's record for the most losses.

Venable brings 18 seasons of experience with him as a player, executive and coach. The former outfielder has been a coach for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and, most recently, the Texas Rangers. He helped lead Texas to a World Series victory in 2023.

The bar is low for Venable after Chicago's forgetful season, but he'll still try to have a productive year in 2025 and make bettors regret taking the under on the White Sox's win total.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet's name has been included in trade rumors since last season. A deal didn't materialize before the 2024 deadline, but now those talks have fired up again during the hot stove.

However, it appears the White Sox aren't really pressed to make a move now, per an executive to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

"I'm not sure they really want to make a deal," the exec said. "There seems to be more and more pitching on the trade market that teams are motivated to move at this point."

That executive referenced "Chicago's asking price" for the 25-year-old southpaw. In June, Bob Nightengale of USA Today said that asking price was "exorbitant."

The New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox are all in the mix for Crochet, per Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. The duo added that the Mets and Yanks were considered the "most aggressive suitors as of Monday" but that "no deal with any club was considered close."

Crochet is under team control for two more years before being eligible for free agency in 2027. Last season, he went 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA (1.07 WHIP), most notably striking out 209 hitters in 146.0 innings. It was an incredible turnaround for a player who missed all of 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2023, pitching 13 games out of the bullpen to a 3.55 ERA.

Crochet arrived in Chicago with much fanfare after being selected as the No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft out of the University of Tennessee. He was called up to the bigs that same year, making six appearances for the White Sox.

The southpaw was sensational out of the bullpen in 2021 with a 2.82 ERA and 10.8 K/9 rate in 54 games for the AL Central champions.

However, the White Sox have fallen on hard times since then, bottoming out with an MLB-record 121 losses. So there's much incentive to rebuild, and Crochet is clearly the team's top trade asset. There's also a need for position players, as general manager Chris Getz mentioned in November.

Per Bruce Levine of 670 The Score:

"We are focusing on position player return," Getz said. "That is our primary focus in any trade talks. The right players have to be there. We can't force anything. We certainly need to improve our offense. That is very clear. That is what we need to do in any trade or free-agent acquisition."

For now, though, it doesn't appear as if Chicago is in a rush to trade Crochet. The White Sox certainly have time to wait for the best deal here, especially with Crochet under contract for two more years. But the interest is clearly there if and when the White Sox want to make a move.

There's no shortage of interest in Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet on the trade market, but two teams appear to be standing out.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the New York Mets and New York Yankees are the "most aggressive suitors" for the pitcher, with the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox also among the suitors.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi also reported on Monday that the Milwaukee Brewers are one of the teams "still engaged" with the White Sox on Crochet.

On Sunday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com listed the Yankees and Red Sox as possible landing spots, with the Cincinnati Reds are viewed as a "real threat" to land Crochet as well.

The 25-year-old could be on the move soon, as Morosi reported on Sunday night that a trade involving the starter is "getting closer."

Milwaukee wrapped up an impressive first season under manager Pat Murphy in 2024, winning 93 games and securing a National League Central title. The Brewers made a postseason appearance for the sixth time in seven years.

Their season came to a rough end in the NL Wild Card Series, losing to the New York Mets in three games after holding a 2-0 lead through eight innings during the final contest of the series.

As the Brewers attempt to defend their status atop the division and go on a deeper postseason run in 2025, potentially adding Crochet would improve the top of their rotation.

He was one of the few bright spots on a dismal White Sox team last season, compiling a 3.58 ERA and 1.068 WHIP in 32 starts.

Crochet averaged an impressive 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings, allowing a mere 33 walks while striking out 209 total batters in 146.0 innings of work. He was also named an All-Star for the first time in his career after transitioning from a bullpen role.

He's arbitration-eligible for the next two seasons before hitting unrestricted free agency in 2027.

The opportunity for the Brewers to add Crochet to a rotation that already features Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff and Tobias Myers is enticing. Meanwhile, the Mets and Yankees are trying to load up on talent after falling short of the World Series last year.

The Mets already won the bidding war for Juan Soto over the Yankees, but the team clearly isn't finished adding to the roster.

They certainly aren't the only ones vying for his services in trade discussions, though.

The trade market for Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet is heating up, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi.

"Based on what I've been hearing today, the Crochet trade is getting closer," Morosi said on Sunday. "It's now increasingly possible that he'll be moved [at the Winter Meetings]."

Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com previously reported that the New York Yankees are believed to be in on Crochet and the Boston Red Sox are "just on the periphery" of trade talks. The Cincinnati Reds are also viewed as a "real threat" to land the starter.

Morosi also listed the Chicago Cubs as a "viable candidate" to acquire Crochet on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, USA Today's Bob Nightengale revealed on Nov. 25 that the Philadelphia Phillies held "extensive" negotiations with the White Sox regarding the lefty and have dangled third baseman Alec Bohm and outfield prospect Justin Crawford in discussions.

Crochet is coming off a career year with the White Sox, thriving after he transitioned from the bullpen to a starting role.

In 32 appearances, the 25-year-old finished with a 3.58 ERA and 1.068 WHIP while amassing 209 strikeouts compared to just 33 walks in 146.0 innings of work. He received his first All-Star nod for his efforts.

If Crochet were to be acquired by the Yankees, he'd immediately form one of the best starting pitching duos in the majors alongside Gerrit Cole.

The Red Sox have been searching for help on the mound throughout the offseason, as they reportedly attempted to land Shane Bieber in free agency before he re-signed with the Cleveland Guardians. If Boston landed Crochet, he'd immediately move to the top of the team's rotation.

As the White Sox attempt to bounce back from a dismal 41-121 season and build toward the future, they should be able to receive a hefty trade package by moving their lone All-Star in 2024.

It appears as though a deal could be agreed upon soon.

The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are reportedly in the mix to acquire pitcher Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in an offseason trade.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Cubs and Reds are both "viable candidates" to land the 2024 All-Star.

After serving exclusively as a reliever over his first three MLB seasons, the 25-year-old Crochet had a breakout year as a starter in 2024, emerging as one of the few bright spots for a White Sox team that was one of the worst in league history with a 41-121 record.

Making 32 starts, Crochet went 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 209 strikeouts over 146 innings pitched.

There was plenty of smoke regarding a Crochet trade leading up to last season's deadline, but once the White Sox decided to hang onto him, they put him on a strict pitch count for the remainder of his starts.

Despite limiting his pitches and innings, Crochet's 146 innings pitched last season were a career high by far. His previous career high at the Major League level was 54.1 innings, all of which came out of the bullpen.

The 2020 No. 11 overall draft pick missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery before returning to appear in 13 MLB games in 2023.

After showing last season that he could handle a larger workload—and now being another year removed from Tommy John—Crochet could be in line for a huge leap forward in 2025.

In 2024, the Cubs went 83-79 for a second consecutive season, and they have now gone four straight years without a playoff appearance.

Starting pitching was one of the Cubs' greatest strengths last season, as Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad all posted a sub-4.00 ERA.

The Cubs already signed Matt Boyd to a two-year, $29 million contract in free agency this offseason, so while starting pitching is far from a major need, Crochet would give them arguably the deepest and best starting rotation in the league.

As for the Reds, they went 77-85 last season and have missed the playoffs four years in a row, much like the Cubs.

The Reds have some young, high-end starting pitching talent with Hunter Greene leading the way, followed by Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Rhett Lowder and others.

While Cincinnati lost veteran starter Frankie Montas in free agency, it re-signed Nick Martinez with the apparent intent of making him a full-time starter, and it also acquired starter Brady Singer in a trade that sent infielder Jonathan India to the Kansas City Royals.

Greene, Singer, Martinez, Lodolo, Abbott, Lowder and Graham Ashcraft give the Reds no shortage of solid starting pitching options, but Crochet could provide an upgrade, especially if at least one of those pitchers is part of a trade package going back to the White Sox.

Crochet is young, has electric stuff and hasn't yet come close to reaching his potential, so while the Cubs and Reds are two teams that appear to be in on him, it is likely that there are several other contenders in the mix to make a deal for Crochet as well.

The Chicago White Sox are looking for a "meaningful piece," in return for center fielder Luis Robert Jr., according to The Athletic's Will Sammon, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal.

Potential trade partners seem to be seeking "something for nothing," according to the White Sox, with one executive stating, "I don't think they understand what his value is," per Sammon, Woo, and Rosenthal.

The White Sox aren't demanding multiple prospects for Robert Jr. but feel that teams are overreaching in trade negotiations for the 27-year-old.

According to one rival executive, the White Sox are also "rightly asking high" in trade discussions involving left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet, per Sammon, Woo, and Rosenthal.

It was reported on Nov. 25 that the White Sox would "love to unload" Robert Jr. before they trade away Crochet, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

The team signed Robert Jr. to a six-year, $50 million contract five years ago, expecting big things from the outfielder. However, the 27-year-old has struggled to meet those expectations.

"The guy is certainly intriguing, but they've got a really high price tag on him," one anonymous general manager said, per Nightengale. "You've got to hope he finally stays healthy and can be the player everyone envisioned all along. But the White Sox are acting like he's some big star center fielder and are asking for your top prospects."

Robert Jr. has spent all five of his professional seasons with the White Sox, recording 88 career home runs, 245 RBI and a .267 batting average. He also boasts a 2023 Silver Slugger Award and a 2020 Gold Glove Award.

The White Sox finished last season with a 41-121 record, ranking last in both the American League Central Division and the entire AL.

Robert Jr. finished the season with 14 home runs, 35 RBI and a .224 batting average while leading the team with 141 strikeouts in 100 games.