When the Chicago White Sox loses a player as important to the organization as Eloy Jimenez, it always looks bleak. Well, they need to do whatever they can to try and not miss a beat without him. They can sign a free agent, they can promote from within, or they can make a trade. If the White Sox did go with the trade route, these are three packages that might help them in the short term:
The Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers make sense for a low-risk/high-reward trade.
Billy McKinney is the type of outfielder who just needs a shot. The White Sox are a team that has the room now to give him a chance. He wouldn’t be an everyday player if both Jimenez and Adam Engel were healthy but in the short term, he could help them and get his big chance. If it worked out, the White Sox could flip him again later when they get healthy again.
Sending away Tyler Johnson for McKinney would be a smart move for the White Sox. Even if McKinney doesn’t work out, Johnson hasn’t had that much success either. The Brewers do, however, need as many pitchers to try and mold as possible. They don’t have a lot of room in their outfield right now either so this trade would work out for both teams.
McKinney is a former first-round (24th overall) pick of the Oakland Athletics. He was also a prospect involved in the Jeff Samardzija for Addison Russel trade between the A’s and Chicago Cubs. Before he knew it he was traded to the New York Yankees in the Aroldis Chapman for Gleybar Torres deal.
He finally got some regular playing time with the Toronto Blue Jays when the Yankees sent him there in the J.A. Happ trade. The Brewers claimed him off waivers from Toronto because they clearly saw something in the former first-round pick. If he ever gets a slight chance, he may impress some people.