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Pair of original MLS clubs to play for Cup titleMukul Agrawal Portfolio Stock: ICICI Securities Sees 74% Potential Upside; BUY PTC?
NEW YORK — Failed presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson announced Thursday that she plans to run for chair of the Democratic National Committee . Williamson, 72, is best known for her unconventional, long-shot presidential campaigns in 2020 and 2024 , both of which ended with her dropping out early. Prior to that, she penned a series of self-help books and ran as an independent for a congressional seat in California. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
NoneTitans kicker Nick Folk dealing with soreness so Tennessee added insuranceBeyond Bank Australia leverages Cognizant's expertise to modernize IT infrastructure and enhance operational resilience. SYDNEY and TEANECK, N.J. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH ) has announced a collaboration with Beyond Bank Australia , one of Australia's largest customer-owned banks, to help revolutionize the digital banking experience. The collaboration aims to enhance operational resilience, streamline processes and improve customer experience through the implementation of innovative technology solutions. Cognizant's engagement is expected to uplift Beyond Bank's End User Compute (EUC) teams, automate patching processes, enable self-service and extend the value of existing licenses. These initiatives aim to create an even more resilient and secure environment for Beyond Bank's operations. Additionally, this collaboration seeks to modernize the bank's IT infrastructure, establish a Security Operations Centre (SOC) and strengthen vendor assurance frameworks to help align with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) standards. Beyond Bank's digital transformation focuses on several key workstreams, including cloud and API architecture modernization and an enterprise-wide Windows 11 migration. These integrations will be designed to be flexible, scalable and secure technology ecosystems that enable the introduction of new products with enhanced speed to market, further preparing Beyond Bank for future growth. Cognizant will also help develop a comprehensive data and information management strategy for Beyond Bank. Leveraging AI, this strategy aims to optimize structured data from core banking systems and organize unstructured data from knowledge management sources for organization-wide insights, enabling more tailored services for its customers. Leveraging Cognizant's deep banking expertise, Beyond Bank will introduce new products and services designed to better serve a younger demographic, while simultaneously enhancing the overall service experience for all customers. "Our partnership with Cognizant is pivotal in advancing our digital transformation," said Stevie-Ann Dovico , Chief Information Officer, Beyond Bank Australia. "Their expertise allows us to modernize our IT infrastructure and enhance security, aligning with our values as a customer-owned bank. Cognizant's comprehensive approach makes them the ideal partner to help us better serve our customers." "Beyond Bank is a lighthouse client for us in the customer-owned banking sector," said Rob Marchiori , Australia Country Manager at Cognizant. "By enhancing their digital capabilities, we will help them provide better services to their customers and support paving the way for a resilient banking model that addresses current and future market demands." The customer-owned banking sector is navigating increased regulatory burdens, economic pressures, and the need for digital transformation. With increased cost-to-income ratios and net interest margins, banks need to modernize operations and enhance customer engagement through innovative technology. The collaboration between Beyond Bank and Cognizant highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in supporting innovation and maintaining service standards in the evolving financial sector. About Cognizant Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH ) engineers modern businesses. We help our clients modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences to stay ahead in our fast-changing world. Together, we're improving everyday life. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant. About Beyond Bank Australia Beyond Bank is one of Australia's largest customer-owned banks with branches and offices in New South Wales , South Australia , Western Australia , ACT and Victoria . We partner with more than 6000 community organisations around the nation to create and return value for our customers and communities. Beyond Bank is a B Corp, a business that is certified as meeting high standards of social and environmental impact, ensuring their practices benefit people, communities and our planet. To learn more, visit beyondbank.com.au For more information, contact: [email protected] SOURCE Cognizant Technology SolutionsTRB Rajaa CHENNAI: The state govt is in negotiations with industries to bring more investments and companies to south Tamil Nadu , industries minister TRB Rajaa said on Saturday. Speaking to reporters after the 80th-year celebrations of Alagappa College of Technology in Anna University here, the minister said, “It will ensure distributed growth, and people can get jobs near their areas, and companies can also get cheap labour.” Rajaa said Sriperumbudur is attracting many industries. “The chief minister wants distributed growth across the state. Those who want to establish industries in A category districts will receive fewer incentives. Those who want to establish industries in B and C category districts will receive more incentives. There will be big announcements in the coming days,” he added. Earlier, speaking at the function, Rajaa said studying in institutions like AC Tech offers students a springboard to start their careers. “Institutions should focus on research and product development. There is a fear of failure among students and scholars. We need to give them a net in case they fail. If we offer that, Tamil Nadu will be a global leader in research and development,” he added. Highlighting the contributions of Tamil Nadu, he said 43% of women working in organised sectors in the country are from the state. “Up to 40% of auto parts that are manufactured in India are manufactured in Tamil Nadu. It is also an electronic superpower contributing 35% of exports in electronics,” Rajaa added. Highlighting the achievements of Alagappa College of Technology, department of science and technology former secretary T Ramasami said AC Tech is now contemplating establishing a centre for sustainability science. He urged the state govt to name it after M S Swaminathan. Alumni associations from different batches donated endowments to establish scholarships. Higher education secretary K Gopal, Alagappa College of Technology dean S Meenakshisundaram and others spoke at the event.
‘Haligi’ Earns Golden Globe Consideration, Spotlighting Filipino Resilience and Fatherhood
Stock Market Symbols GIB (NYSE) GIB.A ( TSX ) cgi.com/newsroom Merger strengthens CGI's position with Fortune 500 clients in St. Louis , Atlanta , Minneapolis , Chicago , Columbus , Dallas and New York ST. LOUIS, Mo. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (NYSE: GIB) (TSX: GIB.A) today announced the signature of an equity purchase agreement to merge operations with Daugherty, a St. Louis -based professional services firm specializing in artificial intelligence, data analytics, strategic IT consulting, and business advisory services for Fortune 500 clients in the financial services, healthcare, communications, retail and manufacturing sectors. The merger of operations brings more than 1,100 talented consultants to CGI, further strengthening the company's presence in multiple key U.S. growth markets, including St. Louis , Atlanta , Minneapolis , Chicago , Columbus , Dallas and New York . The parties entered into a purchase agreement on November 29, 2024 , and the transaction is expected to close in December 2024 , subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. For 39 years, Daugherty has been committed to driving innovation, growth and customer satisfaction while making a positive difference in the community. For CGI, the merger with Daugherty establishes significant combined geographic presence in targeted U.S. markets, deepens industry expertise and enhances strategic advisory services with offerings around digital engagement, technology modernization, cloud transformation, and FinOps and sustainability. The merger with CGI enables Daugherty clients to retain local relationships and expertise while gaining access to CGI's global capabilities, network of delivery centers, and breadth of end-to-end services and solutions. Daugherty has consistently been named as the Largest IT Consulting Firm by the St. Louis Business Journal along with several top workplace recognitions across its metro markets and a 'top five in the nation' distinction in 2024 for the Top Workplaces USA . "At the heart of our strategic vision is a dual commitment: to our clients and our teammates," said Ron Daugherty , Daugherty President and CEO. "We're forging a path with CGI that expands global capabilities, creates meaningful professional opportunities, and amplifies our collective potential to drive innovation and positive change in our communities." Giving back to the communities in which CGI and Daugherty live and work is also a shared commitment, as evidenced by CGI's commitment to support of The Daugherty Foundation which will provide access to education, mentorship and career opportunities for young people and underrepresented groups in technology. "The combined strength of Daugherty and CGI creates additional value for clients through deep industry insight and technology expertise, with a strong commitment and proven history of delivering trusted business outcomes," said Vijay Srinivasan , CGI President of U.S. Commercial and State Government operations. "CGI and Daugherty are a great cultural fit as both companies share a strong commitment to their people and communities, a dedication to management fundamentals and a passion for excellence in execution for clients." In the U.S., CGI has operations across 80 offices which are organized through a metro market proximity model and supported by the depth of the company's international presence, range of services, and insights to deliver value locally. About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 90,250 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2024 reported revenue is $14.68 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cgi-expands-operations-in-multiple-us-metro-markets-with-daugherty-302329421.html SOURCE CGI Inc.
Montreal Victoire sign D Catherine DaoustHomeland Security shares new details of mysterious drone flights over New Jersey A New Jersey lawmaker from part of the state where several mysterious drones have been spotted in recent week says the devices appear to avoid detection by traditional methods. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia was among state officials who met Wednesday with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security. She says lawmakers were told the drones have dodged detection by helicopters and radio. Fantasia says DHS described the devices as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights off. The Morris County Republican made the comments in a post on X shortly after she and several other state and local lawmakers met with state police and Homeland Security officials. Juan Soto gets free luxury suite and up to 4 premium tickets for home games in $765M Mets deal DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Mets agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. New York agreed to assist Soto’s family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed he gets uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses. Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL's relationship with music mogul, Goodell says IRVING, Texas (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won’t impact the NFL's relationship with the music mogul. Jay-Z's company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 amended the lawsuit Sunday to include an allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z says the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Ohio politician proposes make flag planting a felony after fight in Michigan rivalry game An Ohio politician has seen enough flag planting. Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. A fight ensued and police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield famously planted a flag in the middle of the field at Ohio State after the Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017. Gastineau confronts Favre in documentary for his 'dive' on Strahan's record-breaking sack Former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau confronted Brett Favre last year at a memorabilia show and angrily accused the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback of deliberately going down on a record-breaking sack. The tense exchange is shown in the new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “The New York Sack Exchange." It chronicles the Jets’ fearsome foursome defensive line of the 1980s that included Gastineau. Gastineau set an NFL record with 22 sacks in 1984, but Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan broke the mark when he sacked Favre in 2002 in a game between the Giants and Packers. Many have accused Favre of purposely taking the sack so Strahan could set the single-season record with 22 1/2. What happens next with Alex Jones' Infowars? No certainty yet after sale to The Onion is rejected Lawyers in the Alex Jones bankruptcy case are now in discussions on what could happen next after a federal judge in Texas rejected the auction sale of Jones’ Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet. The next steps remained unclear Wednesday as the judge ordered the trustee who oversaw the auction to come up with a new plan. Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston rejected the bid late Tuesday, saying there was too much confusion about The Onion’s bid. The bankruptcy case was in the wake of the nearly $1.5 billion that courts have ordered Jones to pay for calling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut a hoax. Sandy Hook families had backed The Onion’s bid. NFL and Nike extend their partnership with a 10-year deal, will focus on growing the sport globally IRVING, Texas (AP) — The NFL’s desire to become a global powerhouse is no secret. Nike is committed to helping the league continue expanding its worldwide reach. The league and the apparel giant announced Wednesday a 10-year partnership extension. The NFL and Nike will focus on working together to grow the game’s global reach, increase participation, develop new talent, and expand the football fan base. Nike, the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, has been the NFL’s exclusive provider of uniforms and sideline, practice and base layer apparel for all 32 NFL teams for 12 years. George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies at age 89 NEW YORK (AP) — George Joseph Kresge Jr., otherwise known to TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, has died at age 89. Kreskin’s friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, says he died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey. Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s and remained popular for decades, appearing with everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon. Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks — whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience. He also hosted a show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books. Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger Kroger and Albertsons’ plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history has crumbled. The two companies have accused each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through, and Albertsons pulled out of the $24.6 billion deal on Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after a federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington issued injunctions to block the merger, saying that combining the two grocery chains could reduce competition and harm consumers. Albertsons is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee, as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger says the legal claims are “baseless.” Keynote Selena Gomez spotlights prioritizing mental health during Academy Women's Luncheon LOS ANGELES (AP) — While surveying a room packed with Hollywood’s most influential figures, “Emilia Pérez” star Selena Gomez took center stage at the Academy Women’s Luncheon to spotlight a critical issue: Prioritizing mental health and supporting underserved communities often left behind in the conversation. The singer-actor has been public about her mental health struggles, revealing she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Gomez was the keynote speaker Tuesday at the event held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with attendees including Ariana Grande, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Pamela Anderson, Rita Wilson, Ava DuVernay and Awkwafina.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday enacted a law over the governor’s veto that would diminish the powers afforded to his successor and other other Democratic statewide winners in the Nov. 5 elections. In a 72-46 vote, the Republican-dominated House overrode Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto voted to do the same. Like during the Senate vote, opponents to the power-shifting bill sat in the gallery and disrupted the chambers’ floor proceedings. More than 150 people gathered on the third floor — more than the House gallery could seat. They chanted “shame” as the override vote completed and continued to yell as they were escorted out. After warning disruptors they would face arrest if they didn’t quiet down and leave the building, General Assembly police arrested one woman who refused to leave, said police Chief Martin Brock, adding that she would face charges of trespassing, resisting arrest and violating building rules. Many provisions within the 132-page law seek to diminish powers afforded to Gov.-elect Josh Stein, incoming attorney general Jeff Jackson, the next Democratic lieutenant governor and the schools superintendent. They all take office early next month. One of the most significant changes shifts the power to appoint State Board of Elections members from the governor to the state auditor, who will be a Republican next year. For decades, the governor has selected its five members, with the governor’s party usually taking three seats. The enacted law transfers that power to the state auditor starting in spring. This, in turn, means Republicans will likely hold majorities on the state board and the county election boards. The legislation also weakens the governor’s authority to fill vacancies on the state Court of Appeals and Supreme Court and prevents the attorney general from taking legal positions contrary to the General Assembly in litigation challenging a law’s validity. Several post-election deadlines will move up under the law after Republican complaints that counties took too long to count provisional and absentee ballots, especially in light of . The veto override took place in the final days of a lame-duck General Assembly session where Republicans hold exactly the number of seats necessary to override vetoes without help from Democrats. That won’t be the case much longer — barring a successful election protest that would flip a race’s result — after Democrats picked up one more House seat in the general elections. Despite ultimately succeeding in their override, House Republicans had some difficulty staying unified. Some GOP lawmakers from western North Carolina — where Hurricane Helene caused historic flooding — initially voted against the measure last month. But all three — Reps. Mike Clampitt, Karl Gillespie and Mark Pless — ended up voting to override the veto. Part of the criticism levied against the bill centered on the $252 million of Helene recovery funds attached to it, most of which can’t be spent until the General Assembly acts again. , Cooper called the bill a sham in which Republicans used Helene and “disaster relief” in its title to mask unconstitutional political power grabs — a message repeated by House Democrats and Stein. “It is despicable for the Republicans in the General Assembly to use folks’ incredible need for aid to cloak their political pettiness,” Stein said in a statement after Wednesday’s vote. Other opponents to the bill said at a Wednesday news conference that GOP lawmakers weren’t serving western North Carolinians and instead were undermining democracy. “Western North Carolina is not a toy to be played with. It is not an opportunity to exploit. It is not a place to be so violently disrespected,” said Sam Stites, a Transylvania County staff member from advocacy group Just Economics of Western North Carolina. Republicans point out they had already allocated more than $900 million to Helene relief since October, with plans for more funding next session. Caldwell County Republican Rep. Destin Hall, who is expected to be the House speaker next year, further defended the bill’s executive power shifts as the legislature’s constitutional right. “This body is entirely committed to helping folks in this state with storm relief,” Hall said. “So, in my opinion, what’s happened is political football has been made out of this bill.” It’s likely the new law will soon be mired in litigation — just like eight years ago, after Republicans passed laws weakening Cooper’s powers just before he took office. “Of course it’s going to go to court,” outgoing House Speaker Tim Moore, a congressman-elect, told reporters after the vote. “That’s just the way it is.” The House also secured for the November 2026 statewide ballot a proposed constitutional amendment to require all North Carolina voters show photo identification before voting. The constitution currently only specifies that it’s required for in-person voting. ID exceptions are afforded now and would continue with the amendment, and laws separate from the state constitution already direct voters to provide a photo ID copy when voting by mail.
The Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox agreed to the biggest trade of the offseason (so far) on Wednesday, closing out the Winter Meetings by agreeing to a deal that sends the All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet to Fenway Park in exchange for a four-player package. As is custom during the transaction-happy parts of the year, I'm here to give this particular deal the trade grades treatment. Below, you'll find instant analysis on both sides of the swap, as well as some bigger-picture thoughts and -- yes -- a letter grade that attempts to convey all of that wisdom and foolishness into a single character. Before we get to the reason you clicked, here is the trade in whole: Red Sox receive : LHP Garrett Crochet White Sox receive : C Kyle Teel , OF Braden Montgomery , INF Chase Meidroth, and RHP Wikelman Gonzalez Now, onward. Red Sox: A Back in November, I wrote about why the Red Sox should be all-in this winter . The short version is that they have a decent big-league core in place; they have several good prospects nearing their arrival (including Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell -- two of my three-highest ranked minor leaguers ); and they have the financial flexibility that was carved out over the years by former executive Chaim Bloom. The Red Sox tried to woo Juan Soto , Max Fried , and a few other top free agents who chose greener pastures (or, at minimum, greener paychecks). It looked like another winter of "we tried" was on the menu in Boston. Fortunately for Red Sox fans, though, top executive Craig Breslow was able to pivot and land Crochet, the top pitcher on the trade block, in a deal that absolutely qualifies as the kind of maneuver I had in mind last month. Crochet, 25, is fresh off a career redefining season. In his first year as a starter at the big-league level, he compiled a 3.58 ERA (115 ERA+) and a 6.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He did that across 146 innings, or precisely double the amount he had previously thrown in the majors over his first four big-league seasons. It's more than fair to have some questions about Crochet's workload moving forward -- not only what he can handle, but how well he can handle it. Simultaneously, there's ample reason why he was so in-demand . That begins with his cheapness ( he's projected to make $3 million next season ) and extends to him being under team control for two more seasons. There's also, as you may have suspected, his talent. Crochet has a nasty arsenal that he continues to refine. One of the revelations for him was the addition of a cutter that served as a bridge between his high-octane fastball and trademark sweeper. Crochet then fashioned a sinker late in the year to good returns, suggesting he could have four above-average (or better) offerings to employ heading forward. Combine that repertoire with above-average control (he walked two batters per nine) and an apparent capacity and yearning for improvement, and you have the makings of a front-of-the-rotation force -- for now and 2026. Garrett Crochet's new Sinker is gonna be a problem. 99mph with 19 inches of run. pic.twitter.com/ewpXnGgR3E Landing Crochet instead of Soto or Fried means that Breslow should have plenty of financial warchest remaining to make another splash move or two. And, while this trade wasn't cheap from a prospect perspective, Breslow managed to hold onto his three best youngsters (in my evaluation) and his most intriguing big-league trade chips -- think first baseman Triston Casas and outfielder Wilyer Abreu . There's certainly a non-zero chance Crochet falls victim to injury again, suppressing or outright eliminating the kind of impact this deal could have on Boston's fortunes. But that's the beauty and the agony of the future: it's unknowable and inaccessible. From where I'm sitting in time and space, this looks like a home run for the Red Sox, and the beginning of their return to the realm of high-competitive baseball. White Sox: B There aren't many teams who had a more eventful, topsy-turvy year with a single player than the White Sox did with Crochet. Their initial decision to use him as a starter was scoffed at -- not because of talent, but durability concerns. Their faith in him -- and, perhaps moreover, his body -- was rewarded when he put forth an All-Star-caliber showing. The White Sox were poised at the deadline to convert that great season into some much-needed long-term help ... only to then be blindsided by his own reported demands; among them: a desired extension if he was to pitch into the playoffs. Four-and-a-half months later, the White Sox have finally traded Crochet. In return, they net whom I would categorize as three of Boston's top 10 prospects, including the Red Sox's two most recent first-round selections. Let's touch on each player now. Teel, 22, is an athletic backstop with a track record of being an above-average left-handed batter. He split last season between Double- and Triple-A, hitting .288/.386/.433 with 13 home runs. He combines a patient approach with above-average raw strength, though the latter is more likely to manifest in the form of doubles (rather than home runs) on account of his batted-ball tendencies. There is a swing-and-miss element to Teel's game that, paired with his aforementioned willingness to work counts, has reliably fueled a strikeout rate at or around 25% as a professional. Teel, whom I considered to be Boston's No. 4 prospect, has enough going for him to profile as a most-days catcher. He ought to make his big-league debut sometime this spring. Montgomery, 21, fractured his ankle during Super Regional play at Texas A&M, costing him the remainder of his collegiate career and delaying his pro debut. He's a former two-way talent that profiles as a switch-hitting right fielder with a big arm. Montgomery has above-average thump and is particularly adept from the left side. He boosted his stock by batting .322/.454/.733 after transferring into the SEC, or the proving grounds for collegiates. Scouts have reservations about his hit-tool projection, however, as he struck out in nearly 25% of his plate appearances during conference play. If Montgomery can rein in his swing-and-miss woes, he could develop into a cleanup hitter. Otherwise, he'll have to atone for a low average by walking and bopping. Meidroth, 23, spent the entirety of his second full professional season at Triple-A. He hit .293/.437/.401 while launching seven home runs, stealing 13 bases (albeit on 19 attempts), and walking 34 more times than he struck out. Meidroth isn't a dynamic athlete and he doesn't feature much power upside. He does, nonetheless, profile as at least a spare infielder (and perhaps more than that) thanks to high-quality on-base skills. To wit, he connected on more than 90% of his in-zone swings last season and he seldom goes fishing after waste offerings. The White Sox, who ranked last in MLB in on-base percentage by a wide margin, could do worse than putting Meidroth at or near the top of their lineup and seeing if he can grind out at-bats and walks alike. Gonzalez, 22, has a lively arm and more than 130 innings at Double-A to his credit. This past season, he appeared 24 times there (19 of them being starts) and amassed a 4.73 ERA that can be blamed on him issuing more than a walk every other inning. Gonzalez has a quality arsenal, including a few pitches that grade as above-average to plus. If I had optimism in his control improving, I would forecast him progressing into a mid-rotation starter. The White Sox owe it to themselves to try their hands with Gonzalez, but barring some mechanical magic, I think he's heading to the bullpen. It's fair to write the White Sox received some talented players back. The question is whether or not they'll be able to help them grow into legitimate big-league contributors. Mind you, this is an organization that hasn't done well in that respect in recent years, either with trade acquisitions ( Miguel Vargas flatlined after coming over as part of the Michael Kopech bounty) or internal projects (including Colson Montgomery ). There's enough variability present in each present player's profile, be it the swing-and-miss with Teel and Montgomery or the ceiling-restricting flaws of Meidroth and Gonzalez, that there's a real chance this package plays lighter than it looks. That would be a near-catastrophic outcome for the White Sox. One veteran talent evaluator I polled about the deal expressed belief that there had to be a better package out there for the White Sox to take. Maybe, maybe not. This is the trade the White Sox made, and it'll be on them to make the most of it -- they'll need to if they're to return to the right of relevance anytime soon.
