Chicago White Sox can still add one of these three relievers
The Chicago White Sox have a phenomenal bullpen on paper. Some people on the outside looking in might see a bunch of names that they don’t recognize and see it as underwhelming but those who follow this team know how good they are. Guys like Matt Foster, Garrett Crochet, Jace Fry, Evan Marshall, and Codi Heuer aren’t household names yet but they are all very good and should compete for innings this year. Add Liam Hendriks, who is widely considered the best reliever in the world and you have yourself a great bullpen.
It would be smart for the Chicago White Sox to consider making more additions.
This is a good bullpen that is going to protect a really good rotation. There are going to be guys like Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Dallas Keuchel, and Dylan Cease while guys like Carlos Rodon, Michael Kopech, and Reynaldo Lopez compete for the fifth spot. The ones who don’t win the job are likely going to be in the bullpen, depending on how they perform.
We also know how impressive the starting lineup is going to be. They were one of the best in 2020 and should get even better as the young guys get even better. If they are going to score that many runs this year, it would be wise to make sure that they have a bullpen that can protect a lead.
As good of a bullpen as it looks like it is going to be, adding to it would be smart. Not only could it help their depth, but it can also keep some of their biggest rivals from bolstering their bullpens. These are three relievers still out there that they can go for:
44. player. 6. . RP. Philadelphia Phillies. Brandon Workman
Brandon Workman is a relief pitcher that started his career as a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox that also had a few appearances as a starting pitcher. He remained in that type of role for 2013 and 2014 before missing all of 2015 and 2016. By the time 2017 started, he was a full-time relief pitcher. He played for the Red Sox up until the 2020 season when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in the middle of the year. Now, he is a free agent looking for a new home in 2021.
The Chicago White Sox should take a look at him. He didn’t play very well with Philly late in the season but he was okay with the Red Sox before that. Throughout his career with Boston, he was a really good reliever at times. As recently as 2019, the last full season, he was one of the best in the entire league. That year, he had a 1.88 ERA, a 1.033 WHIP, and 104 strikeouts over the course of 71.2 innings. He also had 16 saves when many guys on that team closed games so he can be the closer in a game that Hendriks needs a day off.
In addition to all of that, he brings something that you can’t just find anywhere and that is experience. Workman has been with some great baseball teams and some really bad baseball teams. In 2013 and 2018, he won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox so that type of knowledge might really be able to help some other relievers on the team. He is definitely someone to consider late in the offseason.
17. . RP. Atlanta Braves. Shane Greene. 19. player
Shane Greene would make a great addition to this current edition of the Chicago White Sox. He is 32 years old so a one or two year deal would be perfect for a guy like this. He would bring plenty of veteran experience to this young bullpen and team in general. He started his career as a starter with the New York Yankees before moving to the Detroit Tigers in a three-team trade that landed the Yankees Didi Gregorious. He stayed with the Detroit Tigers for parts of the next five seasons before being traded again. He landed with the Atlanta Braves in 2019 and stayed there through 2020.
That 2019 season that he was traded in was his best. He was so good that he was an all-star. He had a 2.30 ERA, 1.005 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 62.2 innings. In 2020, he and the Braves made a very deep run in the playoffs. They were one game away from a National League title before blowing a 3-1 series lead. Greene has to have the fuel to come to a contender and win.
He had a very good year in 2020 as well so the White Sox would be wise to consider him. He knows how to pitch in the postseason after 2020 and the White Sox plan on making a similar run. He would be a great piece in the middle of this outstanding bullpen.
. RP. San Diego Padres. Trevor Rosenthal . 47. player. 127
If the Chicago White Sox landed Trevor Rosenthal, that would really be a treat for this fanbase. A team like the San Diego Padres wanted him in 2020 so they acquired him mid-season. That is pretty telling about his play because the Padres seem to only do smart things these days. Before going there, he had made stops with the Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and St. Louis Cardinals.
After playing for Detroit and Kansas City for a bit, he does have a bit of experience with the American League Central Division. The White Sox going back to some of these familiar places would be nice for Rosenthall if he likes that sort of familiarity. Most of his career was spent with the Cardinals as well so he definitely knows Chicago well.
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In 2020, he was brilliant. He had a 1.90 ERA, 0.845 WHIP, 38 strikeouts, and 11 saves during the 60-game short season. When you have a 1.2 WAR over a 23.2 innings stretch, you know you had a great year. We don’t know for sure if the White Sox are done this offseason, but Rosenthal would be a fantastic late addition. The White Sox might want to add one more veteran reliever and all three of these guys can help, especially Rosenthal.