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Will the Chicago White Sox trade Gordon Beckham?

By Stephen Forsha

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Jul 13, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham (15) throws to first base after forcing out Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) on a fielder

Let’s just get this out of the way right now … I want the Chicago White Sox to trade Gordon Beckham before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

I said it, it is out there and now let’s talk about why.

It isn’t that I don’t like the second baseman of the White Sox, it is just that I believe he can bring in a player at another position of need, plus the White Sox have some talented players in Triple-A who are the future of the ball club at second base.

I’m not so sure Beckham is going to be apart of the future of the White Sox when everything is said and done, so why not try and get another player for him?

This season, Beckham in 72 games is batting .238 with a .291 on-base percentage. In his time on the field he had scored 34 runs and totaled 67 hits, including 19 doubles and seven home runs.

Beckham has also tallied 28 RBIs, but has struck out 53 times in 282 at-bats. Compared to last season Beckham struck out 56 times all season in 103 games (371 at-bats).

I’m just not 100-percent Beckham is progressing at the rate he needs to for the White Sox, especially with Micah Johnson with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights waiting for his eventual opportunity with the White Sox.

Though Johnson (who is also ranked as the third best second base prospect on MLB.com) has just 38 games against Triple-A competition, his speed has been compared to that of Cincinnati Reds lead-off hitter Billy Hamilton.

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In 38 games with the Knights, Johnson is batting .297 (along with a .329 OBP) with 49 hits in 165 at-bats. He had scored 20 runs and has a total of nine extra base hits, including five doubles and three triples.

Johnson isn’t a power hitter (one home run with the Knights) and that’s fine, because the White Sox already have power hitters, but his speed has given him six stolen bases, and the White Sox could use some more speed in their lineup.

Basically, I believe Beckham is expendable because my guess is Johnson is on the roster full-time for the White Sox sometime in 2015. Maybe a team that needs a second baseman would be willing to trade a younger player for Beckham (a former first round pick), who has only been in the Majors since 2009.

What are you thoughts on Beckham? Do you want him to stay or be traded?

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