The Cubs' Morel was a bright spot when he came up from Double A in 2022, infusing the clubhouse with energy and charming his way into the good graces of Wrigley's heartiest skeptics. Kopech was a key to the White Sox rebuild after being acquired from Boston... six years ago next month was seen as an indication Rick Hahn's rebuild was succeeding.
But Morel's trade Sunday to the Tampa Bay Rays in the deal that brought back former Cubs prospect Isaac Paredes was an admission from Cubs president Jed Hoyer they could never find him a full-time position and needed to cut bait.
The departure of Kopech to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in a three-team trade that brought back an unproven shortstop in Miguel Vargas and two prospects was an admission by general manager Chris Getz that the Sox had given up on Kopech ever becoming a star.
When it comes to pitching, 'wash, rinse, repeat' has been the motto of White Sox management for several decades: Step One: Draft or acquire a prospect. Step Two: Develop him into a major-league pitcher...
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