While several major league organizations announced changes to their minor league affiliates today, the White Sox did not make any. The club announced that it has invited the Charlotte Knights (AAA), Birmingham Barons (AA), Winston-Salem Dash (A+) and Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (A) to remain part of their developmental structure. All teams are expected to accept the invitations, leaving the White Sox minor league locations unchanged.
NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS
With the announcement, the biggest news is that there is no real news to report. The White Sox had already lost their rookie league affiliate Great Falls Voyagers as part of Minor League Baseball’s restructuring. The club will continue to operate their Dominican Summer League and Arizona League teams as well. With 180 players in a minor league system (not including the DSL), there would be room to operate a second AZL squad.
It seems unlikely that the White Sox will install a second team in Arizona. It does leave the question what the organization will do with their glut of low-level prospects who are not yet ready for a jump to Kannapolis. The lack of room in between the DSL and A-ball limits the organization’s ability to aggressively promote 17-year-olds Stateside. Adding a second team in Arizona, however, would go against MLB’s directive to cut minor league affiliates. That, combined with Jerry Reinsdorf’s history of not going above and beyond for the lowest minor league levels, it does not seem like a White Sox thing to do.
As it stands, the White Sox will go into 2021 with four affiliates. Whether those affiliates remain the same is yet to be seen. The White Sox would be the only organization in baseball to keep the same four affiliates the same from the previous minor league season.
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