Chicago White Sox: Three starting pitchers to trade away
The Chicago White Sox have a lot of bodies there that they can use in their starting rotation. They could move one of them in order to make room.
The Chicago White Sox seem to have a lot of options for their starting rotation in 2020. They are going to make sure that they come up with the best possible rotation to give themselves a chance to win enough baseball games to be in contention for the division title. There is potential for this starting lineup to be extremely dangerous so they just need pitching to back it up.
This could end up being a rotation that ends up looking a little bit different at the end of the season than it does at the beginning. There are some guys that will be looking to come back at different moments of the season from injury so that could also play a major factor in it all. The fact right now is that there are seven guys that will make up a five-man rotation. There is the possibility that they move two of them to the bullpen at different stretches but you never know how it shakes out. It is good to have depth, however.
There were too many times in 2019 that saw guys who don’t belong in the MLB pitching for the White Sox. That is less likely to be the case in 2020. There is plenty of depth there right now. They can, however, deal one or more of them from the organization. They can trade starters that are on the major league roster or ones in the minors if they so chose. If they wanted to trade from their starting pitcher depth, these three would be the best options to move:
Chicago White Sox. Reynaldo Lopez. 1. player. 128. . SP
The Chicago White Sox don’t really know what they have in Reynaldo Lopez. He was a fantastic pitcher on a bad 2018 White Sox team. He then was well below average on an improved 2019 team. They may have been even more improved if Lopez played better. He could be a guy that is moved to the bullpen if he struggles out of the gate.
The White Sox acquired Lopez with Lucas Giolito in the Adam Eaton trade with the Washington Nationals. They would be smart to give him another chance to show what he can do because we know there is some talent there. He has historically been good the first time through the opponent’s order before struggling the second time around. It makes it seem like he could be a solid bullpen addition.
With all of that said, it might be a good idea to trade Lopez if they don’t see him in their future plans. He is a good pitcher that might have something more to give to another team. There have been other guys and free-agent signings that just may have passed him bye. If the White Sox can address a different need with a trade involving Lopez, they shouldn’t hesitate.
SP. Chicago White Sox. Carlos Rodon. 2. player. 128.
Carlos Rodon has had an up and down career so far with the Chicago White Sox. He was at one point a solid number three behind Chris Sale and Jose Quintana. Those were White Sox teams that were trying to win but always fell short. He has been a very good young pitcher with a lot of upsides. By the time Chris Sale and Jose Quintana were gone, he was the de facto ace of the staff. He made the Opening Day start for the White Sox in 2019.
Rodon has dealt with a lot of injuries throughout his career with the White Sox so far. The most recent was the worst as he had Tommy John surgery during the 2019 season. He isn’t going to be ready at the start of the 2020 season but he should be good to go sometime during the season. He has a lot of talent but it just depends on how long it takes for him to shake the rust off.
Rodon might be the best fit to have a change of scenery. He has never been with the White Sox when they had a successful team. That all might change in 2020 if they do in fact keep him. It would be awesome to see him stick around but if a change of scenery is needed, it is what it is. The White Sox will surely do their due diligence to make sure that the Rodon story ends well for the team.
Dane Dunning. 3. player. 128. . SP. Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox got themselves some serious depth at organizational pitching in the Adam Eaton trade. Obviously, Giolito and Lopez are the most notable but Dane Dunning is also a very good prospect. He was not as highly touted as them but he has a chance to be a pitcher in the MLB one day. He could even end up bringing his talents to the Chicago White Sox someday if things work out in his favor.
Dunning could also end up being a trade piece for the White Sox. He is a guy who has had some injury trouble but he has a lot of talent. He was yet another pitcher in the White Sox organization that had Tommy John surgery. He is looking to come back and show his stuff which should be good for him.
A team that needs some prospect depth at the position might help the White Sox out in another position of need if they worked it out. They could use some more MLB talent at other positions and they also want to keep their own minor league system loaded. Either route they would go with could be beneficial. He might end up staying in the organization and playing well for it but he would be a guy that benefits from another change of scenery.
Hot. Paul Konerko is off of the MLB Hall of Fame ballot. light
There is a chance that one or two of these guys get traded but there is also a chance that none of them do. The White Sox are going to be that team that does whatever it takes to make their organization better. Rick Hahn has turned into an elite GM so no matter what he decides to do should be okay with White Sox fans until he proves otherwise. Hopefully, no matter what decisions are made, the White Sox get some good pitching in 2020 and beyond.