White Sox Winning Roadmap: How The Team Could Surprise in 2018

Now then for the last step of the equation – and here are where things get really interesting –if by the first of August the Sox are in the hunt, do they consider acquiring talent by the trading deadline and deal some of their young talent to make a run at the playoffs? I’m going to go out on a limb here: I would bet the Sox would pursue such a deal and direction. Throw a little red meat to the fans. Surprise those potential 2018-19 free agents on how close and ready to win the club is and what the franchise commitment is. I believe the likelihood is contingent on what the cost would be.

Just for the sake of the argument: imagine San Francisco fails to have a winning season in 2018 and the team is willing to trade pending free agent Andrew McCutchen near the deadline. As a rental player in the last year of his contract, a single pitching prospect might be enough to swing that deal.

If the Sox are in the hunt would they deal a Spencer Adams or similar minor league player for someone like McCutchen who could be plugged into center field? Again, this depends on what kind of year he is having and the young talent who would be dealt – but you get the idea.