WHITE SOX SIGN JESSE CRAIN TO MINOR LEAGUE DEAL

White Sox sign reliever Jesse Crain to a minor league deal. He's now a year and a half away from surgery. Coop excited for the move.

— Doug Padilla (@ESPNChiSox) January 22, 2015

We're getting the band back together!

I like this move. Crain needed surgery and there's no telling how he'll perform in the future, but when he was good with the Sox, he was very good to have around. If the Sox can get even a whiff of the old Crain in 2015 it'd be a big boost to the bullpen.

WHITE SOX SIGN GEOVANY SOTO TO MINOR LEAGUE DEAL

Former Cub catcher Geo. Soto signs minor league deal with Chicago White Sox
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) January 22, 2015

He'll get an invite to spring training, and considering the other catchers on the Sox roster, he has a pretty good chance of breaking camp with the team.

GOODBYE, MAX SCHERZER

If you missed the news last night, Max Scherzer signed a seven-year deal with the Washington Nationals, which is good news for the Nationals and for White Sox fans as well.

The Tigers got a little bit worse, and that's a good thing.

Scherzer has made 23 career starts against the White Sox, and in those 23 starts he's put up an ERA of 2.54 in 156 innings with 165 strikeouts and only 36 walks. Scherzer has pitched only one complete game in his entire career, and it was against the White Sox.

Goodbye, Max Scherzer. You will not be missed.

EMILIO BONIFACIO WAS A BETTER OPTION THAN BEN ZOBRIST

Now don't get getting that headline confused with me saying that Emilio Bonifacio is a better player than Ben Zobrist. He's not. I just think he's a better option for what the White Sox need right now than Zobrist.

First of all, according to reports out there, Bonifacio is coming to the Sox on a one-year deal for only $4 million (apparently it's a one-year with a club option for 2016 according to Levine. He'll get $3 million in 2015 and $4 million in 2016 unless the Sox buy him out for $1 million. So $4 million for 2015 in all probability). While Zobrist only has one year left on his contract for $7 million, it's not just the money you'd have to pay for him, but at least a decent prospect as well. So by signing Bonifacio over Zobrist you're saving a lot more than just $3 million.

But none of us sign the checks, so the money shouldn't be that important. How it affects the White Sox as a team in 2015 does.

TIME TO GET BACK TO ENJOYING OURSELVES

The excitement is back. I've sat here at my laptop for a while now getting ready to write a post breaking down the moves the White Sox have made, but it all feels so secondary. I've already shared my thoughts on the money they're giving David Robertson, and they haven't changed.

I don't like spending that much on a closer. Never have, never will. But I can live with it because I understand it.

As for the Samardzija trade, how can any reasonable fan be anything other than thrilled? You get a great starter you can slot between Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, and you don't have to give up any top prospects to do it. If the Sox can't sign Shark long term you get the draft pick when he leaves next winter. A draft pick that replaces the second round pick you lose by signing Robertson.

There. That's the analysis. Let's get to the emotions.

THE WHITE SOX HAVE SIGNED TONY CAMPANA

I have no idea why, and I have no idea if it's a Major League deal or a minor league deal (Update: it's a minor league deal with a spring training invite), but based upon this tweet it looks like the White Sox have signed Tony Campana.

Excited for the new opportunity with White Sox organization!
— Tony Campana (@Tcampana_24) November 28, 2014

Campana has made a career out of being tiny, fast and not very good at hitting the baseball. I sincerely hope he helps the Charlotte Knights win an International League title.

WHITE SOX SIGN ADAM LAROCHE

The White Sox offseason continues to take shape as it was reported Friday night that the Sox had signed free agent Adam LaRoche. The White Sox are yet to officially announce the deal, but it was reported by Bob Nightingale that LaRoche received a two-year deal worth $25 million.

And that's fine.

Two years isn't going to hamstring the Sox, even if LaRoche is now the second-highest paid member of the team, sliding in behind John Danks.

As for what the signing means to the Sox next season, my initial reaction was a bit trepidatious. Maybe I'm just put off by the idea of signing a left-handed slugging first baseman from the Nationals considering what happened with Adam Dunn, but that's stupid. LaRoche isn't Adam Dunn. At least I hope he isn't.

What we know about LaRoche is that he's coming off a pretty good season with the Nationals. He hit .259/.362/.455 in 140 games with 26 home runs and 92 RBI. He was worth 2.2 WAR. That's not bad at all. What isn't great is that LaRoche just turned 35 a few weeks ago, so he's not exactly coming to Chicago in the middle of his prime.