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White Sox: Three biggest missed opportunities

By Joshua Finkelstein

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 26: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets follows through with a pitch in the first inning of their game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 26, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 26: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets follows through with a pitch in the first inning of their game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 26, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 10: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets pitches in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on September 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 10: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets pitches in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field on September 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

1. Zack Wheeler

The Chicago White Sox appeared to make the right-hander their top target from the get-go when it came to signing starting rotation help.

At one point, it appeared that the White Sox were the frontrunners for him and it was later revealed that they made the highest bid to sign him.

However, he chose to sign a five-year, $118 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies instead which left the White Sox scrambling to their fallback options.

Had the team signed Wheeler, he probably would’ve slotted in right behind Lucas Giolito in the rotation. That’s a spot in the rotation that Dallas Keuchel, at least as of right now, will call his home in 2020.

Wheeler, 29, was coming off a season with the Mets in which he had a 3.96 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 8.98 K/9, and 2.30 BB/9. His walk rate and fWAR (4.7) were the best of his career so far.

Long term, Wheeler seems like a good bet to continue improving and the fact that he threw 195 1/3 innings in 2019 suggests that his health issues of the past are behind him now.

Having an arm with the potential to breakout like Wheeler would have been really nice behind Giolito.

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