White Sox Rumors: Three targets at 2020 Winter Meetings
The Chicago White Sox have a lot of needs heading into the 2020 Winter Meetings.
The Chicago White Sox head into the Winter Meetings as a reigning playoff team for the first time since 2008. They are, hopefully, going into them believing that they are only a few pieces away from being a legit threat to win the World Series. There are so many good players there right now that have a chance to come together and do something very special. They, like most eventual championship teams, just need to add one or two more things to make themselves very successful.
So for those who might not know, what exactly are the Winter Meetings? In the pre-COVID-19 world, it was an event where all 30 teams met face to face in one central location. It is where signings, trades, and anything hot stove related had a chance to take place. Here in 2020 with the coronavirus complicating things, the entire event is going to be done virtually. They begin today (Monday) and will go through Thursday.
Although it is going to look a little bit differently this season, it is still one of the most important weeks on the MLB calendar. Not every single big free-agent will leave the event with a new home and not every big trade rumor will be resolved but there will certainly be some things. Hopefully, the White Sox are able to get the ball rolling on becoming even just a little bit better than they were in 2020.
If the White Sox were to do things right this year, they would address the three biggest weaknesses on the team. There are three positions that they have right now that could use a bit of help from management this week (or sometime during the offseason). These are the team’s three biggest needs headed into the Winter Meetings:
Right Field
The White Sox tried to address the right field position during the 2019 Winter Meetings. In fact, the biggest move that they made during the actual event was their failed attempt at fixing that position. They acquired Nomar Mazara from the Texas Rangers which looked like an okay gamble at the time. He was almost a lock to hit 20 home runs in a full season but he didn’t play that well in the short 2020 season.
However, even though Mazara wasn’t very good for the White Sox in 2020, they weren’t locked into him. He is already gone and they can now pursue another right fielder during the Winter Meetings. George Springer, formerly of the Houston Astros, is the biggest position-playing free agent on the market and the White Sox are sure to go after him. He may or may not choose Chicago but you can bet the White Sox would like to have him.
Springer isn’t the only guy out there capable of being the new White Sox right fielder. There are plenty of guys to consider both on the free-agent market and on the trade block. If the White Sox were able to land a good one, he would join an outfield with Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert which could form one of the best offensive outfields in all of baseball.
Closer
The Chicago White Sox may or may not bring back Alex Colome. They would really like to have him back for a few reasons. The first is the fact that he is just a really good player. He has earned a whole lot of saves in his MLB career and a lot of them have been over the past two seasons with the White Sox. The second is the fact that he is familiar with the organization. Bringing him back would mean that there would be no “getting used to a new environment” excuses for anything.
If the White Sox don’t bring back Colome, it would be a big blow to the team. They have a pretty nice bullpen set up with him at the end of it. If he chooses to go to another team, they would really have to push hard to either trade or sign someone who can fill the role going forward.
If all else fails, Aaron Bummer might be a good option for that spot. He could close ballgames that the White Sox lead in if he absolutely had to but it wouldn’t be the preferred role for him. He has been amazing for the White Sox as a setup man so if they could keep him there at all possible, that would be great. Either way, figuring out who is going to be the closer going forward is something that would be nice to see during the Winter Meetings this year.
Third Starter
The Chicago White Sox have a very interesting situation going on with their starting pitching. They have Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel at the top of the rotation and they form one of the best 1-2 punches in all of baseball. They reached finished in the top seven of Cy Young voting in 2020 because of how good they were. It is a duo that any team would be confident in going into an offseason.
After them, is a bunch of young players. Guys like Michael Kopech, Dylan Cease, Dane Dunning, and Garrett Crochet could all battle to be in the rotation but they all have a long way to go before they are considered starters that you are fully confident in. If they could add one more guy who is a lock to be a great starter for them, it would really help their chances in 2021 and beyond.
There are great free-agent starters out there with Trever Bauer leading the way. He is going to cost a lot of money and he may not make a deal more than a year long. The White Sox might take a shot at him but it feels like a long shot. There are also some great starters on the trade block like Blake Snell, Lance Lynn, and Zack Wheeler. The Sox may or may not find it important enough to trade away an asset or two but you never know. It is certainly something to explore because it would really help them.
Hot. Len Kasper is very excited about White Sox baseball. light
Obviously, these are three positions to address first and for most. With that said, the 2021 White Sox are going to be a great baseball team regardless of what they do. They are becoming a team that has so many great young players and anyone who is a fan of this team should be very excited.