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Chicago White Sox: Three trade packages for Kyle Hendricks

By Vincent Parise

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Kyle Hendricks #28 of the Chicago Cubs delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 23, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Kyle Hendricks #28 of the Chicago Cubs delivers a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 23, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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Chicago White Sox Kyle Hendricks
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Trade Three

It might be hard for White Sox fans to be cool with the idea of them trading Michael Kopech. He has nasty stuff that not many in the world have. Kopech can throw the ball 100 miles per hour and get that speed to move across the strike zone. It is incredible to watch. Of course, his only issue has been availability. In 2018, he had Tommy John surgery which canceled the rest of his 2018 and all of 2019. Then in 2020, he opted out of the COVID-19 shortened season.

There are only a few scenarios where trading Kopech is smart. Getting a stud like Hendricks on a cheap multi-year deal is one of them. Kopech may or may not be elite but we know what Hendricks will bring. If they added him, they would have a four-headed monster that not many teams in the league can match.

Matthew Thompson is the White Sox number seven prospect so that is another two top-ten White Sox prospects (Kopech is number two) on the table. Blake Rutherford is the number guy and Yermin Mercedes is the number 21 guy.

Rutherford is ranked higher and he has a chance to crack a Major League lineup in 2021. He probably doesn’t have a chance on this White Sox lineup with their depth but the Cubs might be able to develop an opportunity for him. As for Mercedes, he was brilliant for the White Sox during the first Spring Training. The COVID-19 pandemic shut him and the team down and that was sort of the end of it. He might be able to get another chance if the Cubs (or someone else) acquired him. He can catch or play the outfield which might benefit the Cubs as well with some of their recent departures.

Four Chicago White Sox prospects are in the Baseball America top-100. light. Hot

Of course, anything to do with Hendricks is just speculation based on the recent moves for the Cubs. If they don’t trade him, it will be him as the ace of the staff with a bunch of question marks pitching behind him. If the White Sox acquired him, he would be joining a World Series caliber staff with a lethal starting lineup and bullpen.

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