Minnesota United will play three preseason friendlies at the Coachella Valley Invitational in February at the Empire Polo Club Indio, Calif.

The Loons will play Phoenix Rising, a club in the USL Championship, on Feb. 10, followed by Chicago Fire on Feb. 14 and Charlotte FC on Feb. 17. There are 12 clubs at this year’s showcase. The Loons were 0-3 in the event last season.

MNUFC will open preseason in early January. In previous seasons, the club has started work in Blaine before heading to Florida for a series of preseason friendlies later on in that first month.

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Erick Fedde’s pitch arsenal got the attention of the Chicago White Sox.

“There’s some real material differences with his stuff,” Sox general manager Chris Getz said Wednesday. “He added the sweeper, he got a better feel for his sinker, he changed his attack plan. And he more or less dominated over in the (Korea Baseball Organization).”

The Sox signed the right-hander to a two-year, $15 million deal on Tuesday. The move is pending a physical.

The right-hander was sensational in 2023, going 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 30 starts for the NC Dinos in the KBO. He pitched for the Washington Nationals from 2017-22.

“There’s been (KBO to the majors) success stories here recently, the Merrill Kellys of the world,” Getz said, referring to the Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher. “We talked to hitters over there, we talked to people that are around that league, and we felt he was the most feared pitcher in that league. And the numbers show it.

“We see a difference in his stuff. And for him to come back here, with that level of confidence and the ability, which is a difference from where it was before, we’re willing to take that bet, and we’re looking forward to giving him that runway here with the White Sox.”

As the MLB winter meetings wrap up, here are four takeaways from Tuesday and Wednesday.

1. The Sox liked the upside of Rule 5 pick Shane Drohan.

The Sox went the pitching route in Wednesday’s Rule 5 draft, selecting Shane Drohan.

The left-hander went 10-7 with a 5.06 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 27 appearances (25 starts) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in the Boston Red Sox farm system in 2023.

“We had some early spring training looks on him this year, and we liked what we saw, and during the season, as well,” Getz said. “In further evaluation analytically, there were some indications of some upside here.”

The 24-year-old is 24-19 with a 4.32 ERA and 372 strikeouts in 77 appearances (73 starts) during three minor-league seasons.

“It’s an opportunity to take a shot on an arm that we feel has the potential to have some survival skills at the major-league level, to begin with, and long term with a little bit of upside that could potentially be a rotation piece or a reliever of some sort,” Getz said.

2. Discussions continue for the best option in right field.

The Sox have 2023 Silver Slugger Award winner Luis Robert Jr. in center field. They have Andrew Benintendi, an All-Star in 2022, in left field.

They are discussing the best option for right field.

“We certainly have internal options,” Getz said on Tuesday. “Just like other areas around the diamond, defense is certainly something that we’re focusing on. And we’re having conversations — whether it be with other clubs or free agents — to find a way to improve, just like other positions as well. Certainly outfield is a priority, too.”

Internal options include Gavin Sheets, who made a team-leading 61 starts in right field in 2023. He’s a natural first baseman. Oscar Colás was next on that list with 59 starts in right field, but he’ll likely begin 2024 where he finished 2023 — in Triple A.

“I think the best thing for (Colás) is to be at Charlotte,” Getz said. “Do I see him being down there the whole season? Hopefully not. We know what he’s capable of doing.

“We’ve had Gavin Sheets out there and he’s shown production offensively. We’ve asked a lot of him to play outfield and he looks to be capable, but it doesn’t mean that we’re not going to go out there and find ways to improve our defense as a whole. We’re fortunate to have Luis Robert. Benintendi is a sound defender, we think he can get even better out there. Just to find a team of outfielders is something we’re set out to do.”

3. The Sox continue to weigh catching options.

Getz noted on Tuesday the Sox have time to sort through their plans at catcher.

“We do have some sound defenders at the catching position,” he said. “In terms of a veteran presence or someone who is a little more seasoned, that’s something we’re looking at.”

Korey Lee did a bulk of the catching down the stretch. He’s shown potential behind the plate, but went 5-for-65 (.077) after joining the major-league team in late August.

Monday, manager Pedro Grifol said the catching situation is “to be determined.”

“There’s a lot of unknowns still in this club,” Grifol said. “There’s a lot of unknowns in the rotation, behind the plate. So that’s something that’s going to take a little bit of time.

“It might take all the way to spring training. Who knows? I’m confident in my conversations with Chris and the front office that we’re going to get this right.”

4. Assistant GM Josh Barfield honors the past and eyes the future.

Josh Barfield is one of the former big-leaguers in line to participate in the Hall of Fame East-West Classic, which will pay tribute to the Negro Leagues in Cooperstown, N.Y., during Memorial Day weekend.

“This is huge and I think it will bring more awareness to the guys who came before us, which is awesome,” Barfield said Tuesday.

Barfield took part in a news conference Tuesday highlighting the event. He has also been busy at the winter meetings in the role of assistant general manager with the Sox.

“We took a lot of time coming into this to prepare and get an idea of what we want our team to look like, not just next year but going forward, and trying to make moves that reflect that,” Barfield said. “We’ve had a lot of interest in a lot of guys, which is encouraging.

“The record might not have reflected that last year, but there is a lot of talent here. I think we’re going to have multiple options, depending on which way we go, to help improve the direction of next year’s team and beyond.”

Barfield joined the Sox in September.

“His evaluation of players is excellent,” Getz said. “When it comes to coaching hires, whether it be on the major-league side, the minor-league side, front office, his input has been very valuable. He’s experienced, both as a player and in the front office. He’s been part of an organization (the Arizona Diamondbacks) that had recent success.

“You talk about an organization that didn’t have many wins, and they climbed fairly quickly and obviously found their way to the World Series. His opinions and his evaluations and his input are very important to us based on what he was just able to do with the Diamondbacks.”

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The Chicago Bulls finally are picking up the pace.

Through the first quarter of the season, the Bulls have been the slowest team in the NBA. Their average pace of 96.61 — measured by the number of possessions in a 48-minute game — is nearly eight fewer than the Indiana Pacers, who lead the league with their up-tempo offense.

But that trend is beginning to change. The Bulls improved to a 98.85 pace in their last two wins entering Wednesday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center. If they played at that pace every game, they would be 22nd in the league. That still ranks in the bottom third — but it also keeps up with competitive teams like the Boston Celtics.

Even those who aren’t stats junkies probably noticed this difference. The Bulls didn’t take forever to settle into their half-court offense. They pushed the ball up the court to probe mismatches, then initiated action before the shot clock hit 15. And the result was two of the best offensive performances of the season.

What’s the main difference? Coach Billy Donovan says it’s simple.

“We’ve got to run,” Donovan said. “We’ve got to get down the floor and play with force. With the number of possessions in an NBA game — that’s a lot of running.

“And we’ve got to be able to sustain that. We’re not going to be this ultrafast team in the NBA, but we can do a better job of coming across half court with a little bit more of a thrust than we have.”

The first six or seven seconds on the shot clock is the most critical period for the Bulls to maintain their pace. During those seconds, Donovan wants the Bulls to advance the ball and dig into their half-court offense.

Failing to do so keeps the Bulls from settling into a more comfortable rhythm on offense, which often can lean into their tendency to overrely on isolated play from Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.

Pushing the pace early in a possession also takes advantage of the most disorganized window for the defense, giving Bulls guards a better opportunity to identify a center posting up on a guard or an opposing big man being forced to pick up a streaking wing such as Torrey Craig.

“We’re doing a good job of pushing the ball up even in instances where it’s not like we’re kicking ahead for shots,” Alex Caruso said. “The whole point is we’re getting into stuff quicker and staying in front of the defense. Playing faster doesn’t necessarily mean shoot the ball in the first seven, eight seconds of the shot clock. But get down there and be a threat.”

Every player on the Bulls roster says he likes to play at a faster pace — even the big men.

Backup center Andre Drummond relishes taking the ball full court and will attempt to moonlight as a point guard in transition whenever given the opportunity. And starting center Nikola Vučević feels the style fits better with his approach to the post.

“It fits my game,” Vučević said. “I like to play against other big men, especially ones like Jonas (Valančiūnas) or Brook (Lopez), use my speed and get them moving side to side. We have a team that can do that. Our guards enjoy that.

“What it’s about is when you’re moving at a quick pace, it’s much harder for a defense to react and recover, especially with the space nowadays in the NBA. The freedom of movement now, the way you’re able to utilize that to your advantage is huge.”

Why were the Bulls playing so slowly until now?

Again, playing with pace is hard. It means players don’t get a moment to settle. And while the Bulls aren’t a particularly big team, their roster also isn’t outfitted like the Pacers or Sacramento Kings, who can flat-out beat anybody in a foot race.

But the Bulls do have players who are willing and able to push the ball — particularly young guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, who sparked the offense in recent wins.

“The other responsibility and the sacrifice for the other four guys is that they’ve got to get down the floor too,” Donovan said. “It doesn’t really do a whole lot if Ayo and Coby are pushing the ball and we’ve got four guys behind the ball.”

Why has this pace picked up with LaVine on the sideline?

LaVine is built to play at full speed — he’s nimble in the open court and a devastating finisher at the rim when he can get opponents on the run. But when the Bulls get uncomfortable in a game, they too often allow both LaVine and DeRozan to slip into single-man scoring, which keeps the entire offense from getting involved.

If the Bulls can plug LaVine into the way they’re playing now, the offense would see an automatic boost. LaVine’s ability to slash to the rim and spray out to the 3-point arc would bolster players like White, who is on a hot streak.

Pace is the key for the Bulls to dig themselves out of a 7-14 hole. Identifying the source of their sluggishness — and stamping it out — will be the focus of the next quarter of the season.

“If I had the answer, we’d be sitting at a better record,” Vučević said. “Hopefully we’ve figured it out now and we’ve realized what needs to be done and we stick to it. That’s the only way we’re going to become a better team; otherwise, we’re going to keep struggling.”

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The good news for Chicago Cubs fans is Shohei Ohtani remained unsigned late into the second day of the MLB winter meetings.

But whether the Cubs were still among the teams in the mix for the baseball unicorn was a question President Jed Hoyer repeatedly avoided, even after a social media report claimed the Cubs were out.

Hoyer said there was no news to report and he didn’t know where the rumor came from. He declined to talk about any discussions with free agents, though manager Craig Counsell said earlier he had not talked to Ohtani.

The notion that Hoyer feels some urgency to make a splashy signing for his new $40 million manager was downplayed. Hoyer said he sold Counsell on “where the organization was going.”

“It wasn’t a referendum on ’24 necessarily,” Hoyer said. “But more where we are as a franchise, an organization at this moment in time. I don’t feel any big need to justify that. Certainly, I have no doubt over the next few years we’ll be aggressive. If that’s this year, great. If that’s in future years … I don’t feel like we have to because of that.”

Actually, there has been little action thus far, and Hoyer said many teams’ representatives were leaving town early Wednesday and blowing off the last day.

There is no rule that the first domino has to fall for things to get done, but that seems to be the way this winter will shake out.

“Sometimes the dominos fall as you think,” Hoyer said. “But if you assume they’re going to fall that way you can get yourself in a lot of trouble waiting.”

I had a flashback to the 2012 winter meetings in Nashville, when Hoyer, then general manager, said he wasn’t worried about the lack of a signing or trade to appease fans.

“If the things we did here don’t lead to progress down the road, then it wasn’t productive,” he said in ’12. “But I don’t think you have to walk out of here with deer antlers.”

That line works just as well 11 years later. There is no prize for winning the winter meetings, and so the waiting game goes on even without deer antlers being dispersed.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was less secretive about their pursuit of Ohtani, telling reporters they met with him last week for 2-3 hours. The Dodgers have been considered the favorites since Day One of free agency, while the Cubs recently moved up the list on betting sites as runner-up.

One executive not in the mix said he thought the Dodgers would reel him in when all was said and done because they would be willing to outbid the rest, and money talks. Toronto, San Francisco and the Los Angeles Angels have been rumored as the other pursuers.

Without talking about a specific player, Hoyer conceded he is reluctant to hand out long-term deals because “you’re betting on human beings with bones and ligaments and all those different things.”

But he then added: “There are times when it makes sense to do it.”

Maybe now? Or maybe not.

Meanwhile, Counsell is learning about life on the other side of the fence, managing a team that at least is mentioned in free-agent rumors after nine years in Milwaukee.

At last year’s winter meetings in San Diego, Counsell was asked about the difficulty of trying to manage in a small market without the ability to spend on the big-ticket items.

“There are good players out there that aren’t at that level financially,” he told MLB Network. “It’s our job to find them.”

Now that he’s commuting south of the Mars Cheese Castle for a team that has financial flexibility, Counsell can dream of getting one or more of those players on his 26-man roster.

“Look, the names you’re discussing are different,” Counsell said Tuesday. “There’s no question about it, and the conversations you can be involved in are different. But, I will say the different ways that different markets have to look at it is helpful to provide new ideas, and hopefully idea generation of ways to get better still.”

The Cubs don’t care to play their hand to the media, which makes sense with so many rumors being spread about their interest in so many players in trades or free agency. Some of the rumors have been laughed off by team executives, but they still feed the beast of MLB Trade Rumors and various media outlets and aggregating sites.

Isn’t there some upside in having your name out there? People are talking about the Cubs much more than they have been in recent winters. Good for the organization, but a headache for Hoyer to be asked about players he has shown no interest in.

Hoyer almost misses the old days of the winter meetings, when front office executives learned about negotiating face-to-face. The meetings have an “anachronistic nature,” he said, thanks to modern technology.

“Frankly I wasn’t even here (Monday) and I did 50 phone calls from the airport in Newark,” he said. “No one knew if I was here or not. In that regard, it’s very different. With cell phones and Zooms people don’t even know where you’re making that phone call from. The Dodgers are staying off-site.”

Hoyer still prefers the old-fashioned way, even if nothing gets done here. One executive on Tuesday recalled doing a deal on a cocktail napkin in the bar at the winter meetings years ago. But drinking and signing is not advisable with the mega deals being discussed nowadays, and GMs are much more health conscious.

The only thing that’s remained the same is the secrecy of execs hoping to outmaneuver their rivals, as we’ve seen in the Ohtani sweepstakes.

“In this case, there is real secrecy but everyone knows there’s secrecy,” Hoyer said. “There have been others that have been real secrets that no one knew about, if that makes sense.”

Hoyer kept his pursuit of Counsell top secret and shocked the baseball world last month by hiring the most expensive free-agent manager in history.

What will he do for an encore?

Don’t hand out those deer antlers just yet.

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