We do our best around here to sort through all the rumors each offseason and try to figure out which ones make sense, why certain things may be leaked and most importantly where they’re coming from.
Jim Bowden has some credibility because he used to be a GM in the big leagues first with the Reds and then with the Nationals. He writes for The Athletic, so he must be pretty reliable, right?
Not quite.
I’m not saying that Bowden makes up 100% of the things he says or writes, but let’s say most of it stinks of him just throwing shit against the wall and hoping it sticks. After last offseason you’d think White Sox fans wouldn’t drive themselves crazy, foaming at the mouth because of every little rumor that will surely come out again this offseason.
Just a quick piece of advice, if it comes from Jim Bowden, don’t believe it. In his latest article from The Athletic he says he reached out to all 30 teams and determined their goals and needs this offseason.
This isn’t to say that the White Sox shouldn’t go after Anthony Rendon, they definitely should, and hey they were in on Manny Machado last year, but who really expects Jerry to have a blank check for Rendon?
So that brings us to the latest White Sox rumor from Jim Bowden.
Via The Athletic.
Also, don’t be surprised if they make a run at free agent Anthony Rendon with the idea of moving Yoán Moncada back to second base and then trading second baseman and Gold Glove Award-winner Yolmer Sánchez.
But I have to give Jim credit here. See, some White Sox fans might take that blurb and immediately have plans to buy their Rendon White Sox jersey. However, all he says is “don’t be surprised if they make a run,” so even if the White Sox pop up one time this offseason in reports about being interested in Rendon, Bowden can say he was right. “See, they’re making a run for him!”
At the end of the day it doesn’t really matter until the White Sox finally sign a star free agent. Making a run is irrelevant if you keep losing the race.
Back to Jim. Believe him at your own risk.
Via the AP. (2009)
Jim Bowden abruptly stepped down Sunday morning after four seasons as general manager of the Washington Nationals, leaving under the cloud of a federal investigation into the skimming of signing bonuses given to Latin American prospects.
Hmm, seems like a real trust worthy guy.
By the way, a week ago Bowden wrote about the top 35 free agents and despite saying yesterday that he expects the White Sox to go after Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, he didn’t even mention the White Sox as good fits for any of the top free agents other than Jose Abreu and Edwin Encarnación.
So, believe Jim Bowden if you want, but don’t say we didn’t warn you!
And finally, how about actually surprising your fan base, White Sox.
