Every team makes dumb signings. The difference is how long it takes before you admit your mistakes. The White Sox have a level of arrogance that simply makes them take too long to admit something isn’t working. That attitude is coming from the ownership – again witness Jerry’s reaction to Hahn’s “mired in mediocrity” comment and even the stupid leak about “Robin can come back if he wants to.”

In the 2014 winter the White Sox chose to sign David Robertson to a 4 year, $46 million contract instead of giving 4 years and $36 million to Andrew Miller. This decision looks bad not only on the performance of each individual player, but the White Sox spent $10 million more on Robertson, perhaps because he already had closer experience(ugh), and more importantly, had to sacrifice a second round pick as Robertson was extended a qualifying offer where Miller was ineligible because of the deadline trade the year prior.*

The same White Sox who would not sacrifice a draft pick in the 2015 winter to sign, in all likelihood, much more impactful players than a relief pitcher, not only did so for a worse roster the previous year, but paid $10 million more to do it.

The White Sox decision making in the past several years has been absolutely atrocious and I think it’s far more likely that Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn are grossly outclassed by their peers than the common refrain that they are handcuffed by ownership. Maybe I’m wrong, but imagine standing by an organization that has been incapable of reaching 81 wins with peak Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, and Adam Eaton. Yuck.

*Robertson was the first QO player signed that off-season, Melky Cabrera was signed a week later.