Marco Paddy, the White Sox’s longtime head of international operations, is reportedly no longer with the organization. According to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Tribune, the team calls it a “mutual parting of ways”. The White Sox have yet to announce how they plan to fill the position.
Paddy had been with the organization for 12 seasons and is just two years removed from being named the 2022 International Scout of the Year. His fingerprints were all over Luis Roberts’s minor league contract worth $26 million in May of 2017. He also played a key role in bringing Jose Abreu from Cuba to the South Side in 2013. However, both Abreu and Robert were highly sought-after international talents. It didn’t take much scouting to realize they were going to be effective MLB players. The rest of his track record was underwhelming, to say the least.
Paddy played a role in signing 150 international free agents during his decade-plus with the team, with little to show for it. In recent years some of his high-profile international signings include outfielder Yoelqui Céspedes, Norge Vera, Micker Adolfo, and Yolbert Sanchez. None of them are currently still with the team.
Céspedes has yet to play an MLB game after signing a $2.05 million bonus with the team in 2021. At the time he was considered the No. 1 international prospect. However, things did not pan out for the half-brother of Yoenis Cespedes. He was DFA’d by the White Sox in March. The 26-year-old spent three seasons in the minor leagues but failed to make it past Triple-A Charlotte.
Vera was signed for a $1.5 million signing bonus in 2021 but is still working his way through the White Sox minor league system. The 24-year-old right-hander was released by the White Sox in May after posting a combined 3.31 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 35.1 innings during his three seasons in the White Sox farm system. During that time he pitched in Single-A, High-A, and Double-A. Vera threw just one inning for the White Sox Arizona Complex League team before getting released.
Adolfo inked a $1.6 million bonus in 2013. He played eight seasons in the White Sox organization but failed to reach the majors. He cleared waivers prior to the start of the season and proceeded to play 96 games for the Charlotte Knights. However, his career slash line of .246/.315/.431 and 80 home runs was not enough to attract another organization. He hasn’t played a game in the minor leagues since.
Sanchez signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves in January. The 26-year-old infielder was a top-30 prospect for the White Sox for three consecutive seasons, after signing a $2.5 million bonus in 2019. MLB Pipeline had Sanchez ranked as the White Sox No. 22 prospect in 2020, No. 23 in ‘21, and No. 15 in ‘22. He was released by the organization in September of 2023. In hit .289 in 363 games in the White Sox minor league system.
White Sox general manager, Chris Getz told MLB.com that the organization is working on improving their academy in the Dominican Republic in the hopes of building a stronger international base. White Sox director of player development Paul Janish added that the White Sox plan to send some of their American Players to the Dominican Republic to help them learn more about some of their teammates’ culture.
