[William Foster]

Free Agents Departing:
CL Mike Forkey - Our best reliever last year by far refuses to negotiate with us. We offer him arbitration anyway on the off-chance that he'll accept and to collect the compensation picks from his status as a Type-B Free Agent. If we can get him back from the open market then we likely will due to his huge popularity in the area.
SS Mike Mcann - While he was given an absolutely monstrous deal when we signed him he has done nothing but disappoint since being signed with it all culminating with last years .209/.295/.306 numbers in over 500 PA's. We decide not to offer arbitration to an overpriced 34 year-old Shortstop whose skills are deteriorating rapidly and is a career .257 hitter with several clubs.
LF Jeremy Delzell - He was originally signed to a 4 year/8,560,000 dollar deal back in 2016 but has done nothing but disappoint since. He was on pace for as many as 35 Homers in 2016 when the injury bug hit him and he has been grasping with the Mendoza line ever since. Given his deteriorating skill-set and lack of production this past season (He split 2020 between three minor league levels) he'll be let walk.

Arbitration Cases:
SP Ignacio Montenegro - This Argentinean righty was another disappointing signing from the current regime. He has failed to dominate at any level throughout his career and his 8.17 ERA at AAA Charlotte last season means that we're letting him test the waters rather then rewarding him with another 3.8 Million dollar salary.
C Josh Rice - Rice is excellent depth for an organization with absolutely awful catchers. While hes never hit higher then .261 in the Majors we'll offer him arbitration to keep him at a relatively cheap price.

Trade:
The Indians offered their 5th Starter, Cuban defector Val Perez to us for 20-Year Old Minor League Third Baseman Jesse Root. I accepted due to our complete dearth of pitching depth and our suspect scouting of Root.

Perez Headed to Chicago
25 Year Old Righty Joins Mediocre Chicago Rotation
By Scott LaMark, ESPN.com

The Hot Stove in Chicago is abuzz with activity after the White Sox completed a trade with their division rivals in Cleveland this morning. The trade, between the two bottom-feeders of the AL Central, sent 25 Year Old Cuban Defector Val Perez to the White Sox in exchange for 20 year old Third Baseman Jesse Root. The trade comes on the heels of the White Sox hiring of Assistant Darren Anderson who was rumored to be a key figure in these negotiations.

Perez, 25, was the Indians 5th Starter last year and posted a 7-11 record with a 5.65 ERA, however he had an abnormally high .331 BABIP pitching out of that spot for the Indians last season and the White Sox believe he can still turn his 96 MPH heater into a season like he had in 2019 (8-11, 4.51 ERA). Although Cleveland has lost confidence in him its clear that White Sox General Manager Kevin Thomas and newly imported assistant Darren Anderson still hold out hope.

Root, 20, was a third round pick by the White Sox in the 2019 First Year Player Draft. While he has failed to hit for any power despite some scouts hope that he would grow into his frame better he has showcased blazing speed and contact ability in a split year between Bridgeport (where he hit .341 with 19 SB in 200+ AB) and Kannapolis. He projects as a bench player/ starting middle infielder do to his inability to hit for any power as a corner-infielder.

The White Sox and Indians have little history of working together due to their status as inter-divisional rivals.