White Sox: Players That Won’t Be A Part of Future Are Hurting Present Team

White Sox aren’t getting productive results from fringe players who normally wouldn’t be starters on winning ballclubs and it’s hurting the present team.

The Chicago White Sox are 1-3 through four games to start this season. That record could be much better if the team’s talented young players were surrounded with some average or above-average players.

However, the Sox are in the third season of their current rebuild and players that wouldn’t necessarily start with winning teams, are starters on a team that isn’t expected to contend. These same players have hurt the current Sox team through their first four games of this season. From committing errors at the wrong time to being unable to hold leads, fringe players are hurting the Sox.

Yolmer Sanchez, the class clown of the 2018 season is anything but funny this year. He’s had some unfortunate errors that proved to be costly for the Sox and his bat is currently missing in action. The move from third base to second base hasn’t helped Sanchez as he’s currently being overexposed yet again as a regular starting infielder.

With 2018 first round draft pick Nick Madrigal likely ready for the Majors next season, this could be Sanchez’s last year with the Sox. Sanchez is better suited as a utility player but the Sox currently don’t have many internal options to fill in as a starter at second base. Things could get uglier at second base before they get better this season. If Sanchez doesn’t improve throughout this year, expect him to get non-tendered this offseason.

Another fringe player that’s currently hurting the Sox is relief pitcher Dylan Covey. The 27-year-old has been given many opportunities to find his footing in MLB since being selected as a Rule 5 draft pick in 2016. Through two relief appearances to start the season, Covey has allowed two runs to score, one earned, along with allowing two walks and recording no strikeouts. He walked a batter with the bases loaded on Monday against the Cleveland Indians.

Although this a very small sample size, Covey hasn’t inspired much confidence in Sox fans to start this season. WIth his struggles as a starting pitcher, Covey can ill-afford to also struggle out of the bullpen. He won’t be a part of the future of this team going forward but his early struggles in 2019 are currently hurting the Sox

Lastly, Daniel Palka is another player that’s hurting the Sox. After hitting 27 home runs to go along with 67 RBIs last season, Palka has yet to record his first hit of 2019. Through 14 at-bats, Palka has walked once and has six strikeouts. He has also played a horrible right field for the Sox. Sadly, the Sox could have signed another veteran in right field but the front office did not even attempt to sign him.

Sox fans are likely going to sit through yet another long season on the south side. It’s frustrating for many fans as the past offseason brought so much hope only to see the front office miss out on many free agents. Fans can only hope things get better in the next few years for this franchise as more top prospects are promoted to the Sox.