White Sox: Four game-changing Hot Stove trade ideas
The White Sox Hot Stove has been relatively quiet, but it shouldn’t be for very long now that it is clear the trade market is open for business.
With the Winter Meetings beginning on December 9, trades and free agent signings are on the horizon.
And, after the notable trade by the Yankees on Monday, it is clear that some clubs are open for business. As several teams are rumored to be selling rather than buying, I’d like to offer a few ideas for trades that would make the White Sox the team to watch in 2019.
These trades include some of the best players in baseball and wouldn’t come cheaply. But, since the ChiSox have money to burn and prospects to trade, these are not out of the question. After the disappointing 2018 season, fans deserve to have a team that is worth the price of admission. Adding these veterans to a team would only make the younger players better.
When it comes to trades, it is safe to say that a few are sacrosanct. Those include Michael Kopech, Eloy Jimenez, and Luis Robert. While these three prospects would net the Sox a load of top players, they are important for the future. However, if you are of the belief that parades are better than prospects, most of the minor league players the Sox have acquired recently are available for the right price.
The other considerations for trades are players that we, the fans, watched daily in 2018. The young squad is affordable, and will be for a few years, but they could be welcome additions to teams that are just beginning the process of rebuilding. Every team has to build a 25-man roster come Opening Day and players like Adam Engel and Yoan Moncada (flaws and all) could be valuable.
If the front office wants the Sox to contend, why not start now? With the open budget, this Hot Stove season could be the one where Rick Hahn spends like crazy.
One of the biggest needs that that Sox have is at the designated hitter position. In 2018, the White Sox DH was a rotating door and none of the players who walked through it was overly impressive.
Matt Davidson filled the position more often than not and his slash was an uninspiring .228/.319/.419.
In his place, I’d like to suggest a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s safe to say that the team will probably never officially rebuild, simply because its entire system is structured so well. But, there is an issue that could force the Cards to make interesting trades. That issue is finishing third to the Cubs and Brewers. Cardinals fans will not accept this for long.
So, the trade I’d like to propose involves an even swap of Jose Abreu for Matt Carpenter. The Sox need a DH and the Cardinals need a first baseman who can actually play the position. Carpenter belongs in the AL, simply because his defense isn’t that good.
Carpenter gave the Cards a slash of .257/.374/.523 with 36 home runs and 81 RBI. While his batting average wasn’t as good as Abreu’s, his on-base and slugging percentages were. Abreu hit .265/.325/.473. Abreu hit 22 home runs and had 76 RBI in 2018.
Carpenter’s experience in the post-season would be valuable to the Sox, who will soon be spending time there. He is a significantly better hitter than Davidson, who would then be able to spend in the bullpen on a regular basis.
This trade opens up a spot a first base. Davidson wouldn’t have to play there, because I’ve got other plans for this all-important position.
One team that is rumored to be selling in this Hot Stove season is the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they’ve got Paul Goldschmidt. Apparently, some teams have already begun talking with Arizona about acquiring the six-time All-Star.
#Astros, #STLCards are the two teams that have had the most meaningful discussions with the #DBacks about a trade for Paul Goldschmidt, sources tell The Athletic. No deal is close; talks not yet advanced.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 20, 2018
With the rotating interleague play, Sox fans haven’t been exposed to Goldschmidt. He’s had only four at-bats against White Sox pitching and he’s batted .500 against them. Goldie is the epitome of consistency. Despite his rough start to 2018, he still finished the season with a slash of .290/.389/.533 with 33 home runs and 83 RBI. He also stole seven bases and walked 90 times.
In eight seasons, his slash is .297/.398/.532. He has consistently hovered around .300 in his seven full seasons. He also manages to hit at least 33 doubles every single year.
On defense, he is consistently one of the best. He has three Gold Glove awards at first base. He’s consistently in the MVP discussion, finishing in the top three in three seasons. His lowest fielding percentage was .993 in 2014. In 2018, the average range for a first baseman was 8.66. Goldie’s was 9.44.
White Sox fans are used to seeing greatness at first base, but Goldie is better than Abreu. He’s also better than Paul Konerko (sorry, but it’s true). In eight seasons, Goldschmidt has a WAR over 40.1. Konerko’s career WAR is 27.7. Abreu’s is 18.7.
A trade for Goldie won’t be cheap. But he’s worth it. The D-Backs are on the hook for $14.5 million for him in 2019. He becomes a free agent in 2020, so if the Sox do decide to pursue him, it would be worth it to lock him up with a substantial contract. Considering that Abreu made $13 million in 2018 and will make more in 2019, the Sox could easily afford Goldschmidt.
Sox fans would enjoy seeing Paul Goldschmidt play on a regular basis. The Diamondbacks will need something in return for this future Hall of Famer. I’d suggest a ready-to-play outfielder (or two) – Adam Engel or Nicky Delmonico, or even Avisail Garcia, and a catcher like prospect Seby Zavala who conveniently also plays first base or even Omar Narvaez, who can play now.
Don’t worry about the White Sox outfield. I’ve got a suggestion for that, too.
With the James Paxton trade to the Yankees, it is clear that the Mariners are wheeling and dealing. The player that I’d like the Sox to pursue is Dee Gordon, but not as a second baseman – as an outfielder.
It’s safe to say that Eloy Jimenez will show up in the outfield and will man one of the corners. So, I’d like to put Gordon at whatever other spot is open – but preferably center field. I absolutely love Engel’s defense, but Gordon is a significantly better hitter. And, hitting wins more games than defense.
Gordon may not be a power hitter, but neither did Engel. Gordon’s career slash is .289/.322/.364. He’s had three seasons where he has hit over .300. It’s doubtful that Engel will achieve that mark. Gordon’s strikeouts (80) were up in 2018, but they were still lower than Engel’s 129.
Gordon also bats from the left side, which makes his speed even more valuable. Imagine him as lead-off hitter with Tim Anderson following him in the two-hole. The speed would be impressive. Then picture Goldschmidt batting third and Carpenter fourth. Life would be nice for Sox fans. Engel’s lack of power and low on-base percentage will keep him low in the batting order – he’s just not good enough at the plate to bat at the top.
Gordon has not done as well in Seattle as he did when he was in Miami and Los Angeles. Prior to joining the Mariners, he led the league three times in stolen bases. In Seattle, he led the league in getting caught. His drop in performance could be just what the Sox need to get him at a bargain price.
The Mariners still owe him $27.1 million and he’s got a nice option for the 2021 season that involves plate appearances. He’s still relatively affordable and he can be a game changer. The Mariners need starting pitching, so the Sox could trade one of the Dylans – either Dylan Covey or Dylan Cease (don’t worry – I’ve got pitching covered on the next slide). Hahn could also throw in another player, like a non-prospect minor leaguers like Joel Booker or Tyler Frost.
All three of the previous trade suggestions would be exciting for White Sox fans, but this one takes the cake.
The big rumor is that the San Francisco Giants are shopping Madison Bumgarner, according to Jon Morosi with MLB.com. Of course, the typical names are involved in the rumors – but it’s time for the White Sox to become a threat to those teams. And, an epic trade for Bumgarner would show the MLB that the ChiSox still matter.
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The Giants are overloaded with aging talent, so a trade for Bumgarner might involve having to take another old guy like Evan Longoria, Mark Melancon, Pablo Sandoval, or Jeff Samardzija. Whatever – it would be worth it – as long as some of the add-on player’s bloated contract was covered by the Giants.
The Giants are clogged everywhere with guys nearing 35. They need youth. And, the White Sox have more of that than 26 or 27 of the other MLB teams. It all depends on where you rank the Padres, Braves, and Blue Jays.
To get someone like Mad-Bum, the Sox would have to give up someone valuable. So barring Kopech, Jimenez, and Robert, the Giants could take their pick. Like the Goldschmidt idea, the Giants could take one of the Dylans – Cease or Covey. They could also have pitcher Manny Baneulos and possibly even an outfielder like Blake Rutherford. They have so many needs and the Sox could fill all of them.
The Giants owe Bumgarner $12 million for 2019. He becomes a free agent in 2020. Like Goldschmidt, he would be a player worth locking up if a trade is made. Bumgarner is only 29 years old and the left-handed pitcher has, also like Goldschmidt, been nothing but consistent. His career ERA is a jaw-dropping 3.03. And, he has proven himself to be outstanding in the post-season.
Next. Four free agent pitchers the Sox can afford. dark
The White Sox could use a marquee player (or several marquee players) to make a difference in the seats and in the standings. Rebuilding can only be tolerated for so long. Eventually, the GM has to make decisions to get into the game. This season could be the one where the Southsiders make it to the top of AL East. Every one of these four men could be player who helps get the Sox there.