Chicago White Sox: Three trades to make that replace Eloy Jimenez
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.
Mitch Haniger would make a solid replacement for the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox could use anyone to help them right now. It would be extra fun if they were able to get a semi-decent player like Mitch Haniger. Nobody can replace what Eloy Jimenez brings but Haniger might be able to help. He can play right field if they wanted to use Adam Eaton in left or they could try him in left if he was willing.
The Milwaukee Brewers made Haniger a first-round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. He never played with them as he ended up with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners via trade. In 2018, he was so good that he was an MLB All-Star and 11th place finisher for the American League MVP. In that season he showed that he had some power and could produce some runs.
Most of his career has come on a bad Mariners team so it would be interesting to see what he could do on a team like the White Sox. He didn’t play during the 2020 60 game season so you’d have to assume that he is fresh and ready to go at 30 years old. His help wouldn’t cost that much in a trade either as a couple of prospects should be able to get it done.
Nicholas Castellanos would be a perfect Chicago White Sox outfielder in 2021.
The Chicago White Sox has something that Nicholas Castellanos might want (besides a World Series contender). That is playing in the city of Chicago. When he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2019 from the Detroit Tigers, he went off. You can argue he was the Cubs’ best player down the stretch that season as he hit 16 home runs in 51 games (he only had 11 in 100 with Detroit).
His time with the Reds hasn’t been as successful so far so coming back to Chicago might help. He was also a “White Sox killer” when he was with the Tigers. He loved playing against them and seemed to do damage every time he was in their park. Based on the way he played with the Cubs and against the White Sox, you have to wonder if he just feels good about the city.
Giving up two lower-level prospects for him would be worth it right now. Micker Adolfo and Zack Burdi could go on to be great players but there isn’t much room for them on this roster right now. Castellanos would go right in for Jimenez and do an okay job in his place until he comes back. We have seen the numbers he is capable of putting up in the past and they are encouraging.
Eloy Jimenez vows to come back strong. light. Related Story
As mentioned before, we don’t know if the White Sox are going to make a trade for this or not. We do know, however, that they need to figure something out. There is too much talent to just let anybody play that position and have that spot in the lineup.