Chicago White Sox: Three trade packages for George Springer
The Chicago White Sox needs a long term plan for right-field so trading for George Springer could lead to that problem being solved for a long time.
The Chicago White Sox need a long term right fielder. They have Nomar Mazara in the mix after a trade with the Texas Rangers but it is hard to tell if he will stick as the full-time guy. There are some great free agent right fielders coming up after the 2020 season. One of those guys is George Springer of the Houston Astros. He is up after this year but the White Sox might be smart to bring him or someone like him in a year early to give themselves a better chance to keep them.
Before we get going into detail, George Springer was a major part of the cheating Astros. They are all a part of one of the biggest cheating scandals in the history of sports. In fact, you can make the argument that no team has benefited from cheating in the history of sports more than the Astros from their sign-stealing scandal.
George Springer has been a phenomenal player throughout his career. It is, however, fair to wonder how much he was positively impacted by knowing exactly what pitch was coming every single night. It is also fair to wonder if he will still be an elite player now that it has been taken away from him. They all deserve to have the World Series title stripped from them but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a chance to prove themselves now after being punished.
Well, the league hasn’t punished any of the players individually. Nobody has been suspended and they are still recognized as World Series Champions. With that, the White Sox might be smart to take a chance on Springer during the season. He has time to prove he is a good player before acquiring him but the Sox could also just go after him after the season. If they did want to bring him in early to try and convince him to stay long term, these three packages might get it done:
Trade 1
The Chicago White Sox might be willing to give up some good players for Springer. He is certainly worth it if he remains as good as he was over the past few seasons. The fact that he is on an expiring contract is probably going to keep them from getting the normal four prospect return that most teams get for superstars which is a good thing for the White Sox.
Trading away Zack Collins and Blake Rutherford for Springer would be worth it. Getting Springer acclimated to playing with this team so they can make him an offer to stay would be smart. That is why they would give up some big-time prospects to get him if needed. Collins and Rutherford aren’t can’t miss prospects but they both, especially Collins, could make an impact at the MLB level.
Collins is a catcher that might not have a place in the White Sox lineup for a long time. Yasmani Grandal signed a big deal with them in November and James McCann is signed through 2020 as well. Even if McCann moves on, they also have some other young catchers around him like Seby Zavala and Yermin Mercedes who could step in.
Rutherford is a former New York Yankees prospect that came over in a trade that sent David Robertson, Todd Frazier, and Tommy Kahnle to the other way. He would go to Houston and have a chance at their lineup over the next few years.
Trade 2
The Chicago White Sox have already used Danny Mendick at the MLB level. He is a fine baseball player that can play a few different positions. He is listed on the White Sox current depth chart as a backup at multiple infield positions. He is a good utility infielder that can come in in different situations. He would be a good player off the bench on teams that are very deep. Well, the Astros would be considered one of those deep teams that could use a guy like him.
Micker Adolfo has yet to reach the MLB level. He has been with the White Sox organization for a long time now. He was 17 when he joined and now he is 23. If he is never traded, there is still a chance that he sees time in an impact role on this team. However, if they needed to move him to get a player like Springer, it would be totally worth it.
Mendick and Adolfo might have different ceilings but they would both be welcomed tools to a team like the Houston Astros that might need some extra help over the next few seasons. There are going to be some natural departures over the next season or two, especially after the scrutiny they have been dealing with in recent months.
Trade 3
The Chicago White Sox are loaded with prospects that haven’t gotten their proper shine. That is what happens when you have studs like Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito, Eloy Jimenez, Michael Kopech, and Luis Robert amongst others come up through the years. That has made Dane Dunning and Jake Burger appear to be expendable.
Dane Dunning came to the White Sox in a trade with the Washington Nationals for Adam Eaton. He is a starting pitcher looking to get to the Major Leagues someday. With the White Sox in the position that they are in right now, they could send one of those pitchers in their pipeline for a positional need. Dunning might be able to go and find success in Houston if given the opportunity.
Jake Burger is a former first-round pick. The White Sox drafted him with the 11th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Amateur Draft. He is a third baseman out of Missouri State University. The thing is, the White Sox moved Yoan Moncada to third base in 2019. He has been elite since the move so Jake Burger is also expendable. He also has a decently high ceiling still but some major injuries have slowed him down. The White Sox might need to give him a fresh chance with a new team.
Hot. May start could be a chance for the White Sox to grow their brand. light
The White Sox might be unlikely to acquire Springer but it is a fun concept to think about. He would be an amazing addition to this team if he is able to prove that he is a good baseball player without the Astros. Either way, the White Sox could be looking to move any of these prospects for MLB talent that can help them over the next few years.