But for everything taketh from our Top 100 Prospects, something is given back
Last week, the White Sox made an interesting trade, acquiring veteran (more on that to come) southpaw reliever Cam Booser from the Boston Red Sox for DSL starter Yhoiker Fajardo.
Let’s take a look at the full, copyedited White Sox release:
WHITE SOX ACQUIRE CAM BOOSER FROM THE BOSTON RED SOX IN EXCHANGE FOR YHOIKER FAJARDO; DESIGNATE COREY JULKS FOR ASSIGNMENT
CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have acquired left-handed pitcher Cam Booser from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor-league right-hander Yhoiker Fajardo. To make room on the 40-man roster, the White Sox designated outfielder Corey Julks for assignment.
Booser, 32, was named [Boston’s] 2024 Tony Conigliaro Award winner after going 2-3 with a 3.38 ERA, one save, six holds and 43 strikeouts in 43 relief appearances with the Red Sox, his first major-league season. He made his major-league debut on April 19 at Pittsburgh at age 31 years and 351 days, becoming the oldest Red Sox player to debut since Tommy Fine in 1947 (excluding those who had previously competed in Japan).
In September, Booser was recognized as the organization’s Lou Gorman Award winner, given annually to a Red Sox minor league player who has demonstrated dedication and perseverance in overcoming obstacles while working his way to the major-league team.
Booser, 6´3´´ and 225 pounds, has pitched in seven minor-league seasons in the Minnesota (2013-17), Arizona (2022) and Boston (2023-24) organizations. He also pitched for the Chicago Dogs of the independent American Association in 2021. Booser, a native of Seattle, originally was signed by the Twins as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 12, 2013.
Fajardo, 18, originally was signed by the White Sox as an international free agent on Feb. 20, 2024. He went 1-4 with a 3.91 ERA and 64 strikeouts over 13 starts with the Dominican Summer League White Sox last season.
Julks, 28, batted .214 with seven doubles, three home runs and 14 RBIs over 66 games with the White Sox in 2024 after being acquired from Houston on May 15 in exchange for minor-league pitcher Luis Rodríguez.
With the moves, the White Sox 40-man roster remains at 40.
Understandably, the White Sox release ignores a key element of Booser’s story, namely that he was out of baseball soon after testing for cannabis in 2017 and being handed a 50-game suspension for illegal vibing. The lefty spent five years away from the game, working as a carpenter and youth pitching coach.
Now, this is a minor deal that doesn’t make any sense getting up in arms about, but it’s still a puzzling one. Fajardo has scant pro experience (50 2⁄3 innings) but also just turned 18. He was REALLY good in the DSL, and while cynics might liken that level of play to prime American Legion ball, well, you can only play against your competition. And at nearly two years younger than league average, Fajardo dominated. He, in fact, was tabbed as South Side Sox’s No. 67 prospect this year — in fact, the most promising player to come out of the DSL in 2024.
We’re not sounding Fernando Tatís Jr. bells here, but the need for a 32-year-old southpaw in the pen of a team destined to lose in triple-figures again in 2025 is ... curious. Booser costs the White Sox only a minimum salary and will absorb some innings, possibly even absorb them well. And then, in July, the South Siders can flip him for a prospect ... who’s maybe as good as Yhoiker Fajardo.
Chris Getz Masterclass: back in session.
However, there is some good news on the transactions front, namely that a player was signed who can sort of slide into Fajardo’s spot in the Top 100 (he’s a Zach Remillardesque guy, so don’t get too psyched): Andre Lipcius.
Lipcius was a Tigers third-rounder in 2019 who caught on with the Dodgers after a 2024 DFA. L.A. likewise DFA’d Lipcius a week ago, and the utilityman fell right onto the White Sox roster after barely finding time to dispose of all his blue cleats.
With Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2024, Lipcius was a primary first baseman (hence the Remillard comp, because no matter how versatile you are on defense if a club is plugging you in primarily at first base you are not a priority in the org or an overwhelming defender) but also saw time at second and third base. He played a buff 140 games, with 25 homers and 89 RBIs, swiping 10 bags, slugging .458 and ending up with an OPS north of .800. All told, no sure thing, but also not necessarily a mere Remillard or Danny Mendick.
For the moment, not to give the entire Top 100 away, but Lipcius slots in as our No. 53 White Sox prospect.
For GM Getz, the jury remains out.
