Chicago White Sox: Three trade packages for Yankees’ Mike Tauchman
The Chicago White Sox might be scrambling a little bit here. Eloy Jimenez is one of the most important players that the franchise has right now and he is down with an injury. He is going to miss the next 5-6 months recovering from surgery to repair a torn pectoral tendon. It is a tough thing that the White Sox have to deal with for a majority of the 2021 season.
The Chicago White Sox are going to try and replace Eloy Jimenez in the short term.
One team that might be able to help the White Sox replace Jimenez in the short term is the New York Yankees. Like the White Sox, the Yankees are going into the 2021 season with World Series expectations. There is a good chance that these two teams meet in the playoffs over the course of the next few years.
Right now, the Yankees are projected to be a better team but there is no reason that should be the case. Even without Jimenez, the White Sox lineup is more lethal and they are deeper on the mound. Gerrit Cole is the best pitcher on either team but Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, and Dallas Keuchel would be the Yankees 2-4 (Dylan Cease might even be their fifth) so the Sox are deeper there.
The Yankees are pretty loaded with Major League outfield talent so that is where they can help. They currently have six outfielders on their roster right now that are all good. We know for a fact that Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton aren’t going anywhere. Aaron Hicks and Brett Gardner are more than likely staying. That leaves Clint Frazier and Mike Tauchman.
Frazier is someone they seem to like so Tauchman is the odd man out in most scenarios. He is 30 years old and not a star player so it might not cost that much. If the White Sox like the upside that he could bring for one year, they might be willing to replace Jimenez with him using one of these three trade packages:
The Chicago White Sox could give up two young guys for some outfield help this year.
The New York Yankees are always looking for arms. They spend a lot of money on players year in and year out so a cheaper player that can help might be something they are interested in. Jace Fry could absolutely be that for them. He is a middle reliever that has tremendous upside. To be honest, seeing the White Sox trade him would be hard but they have other players in the bullpen that can replace his service.
The bullpen is a little crowded in Chicago too so it could benefit him on a personal level. The Yankees would probably give him a good amount of playing time if they acquired him. Taking relievers from the White Sox has worked out well for them in the past.
Bailey Horn is the White Sox number 30 prospect. That isn’t something to freak out about but the Yankees have seen players like him work out in the past. He is a left-handed pitcher that was just drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft so he is as raw as a prospect can be right now. Getting a decent replacement for Jimenez is worth a reliever and a fifth-round top-30 prospect.
The Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees could make another deal involving the same prospect.
The Chicago White Sox acquired Blake Rutherford amongst other prospects in the trade that sent Todd Frazier, David Robertson, and Tommy Kahnle to the New York Yankees. It was one that really hasn’t panned out for the White Sox as well as it has for the Yankees to this point. Blake Rutherford might still be a good player but he hasn’t taken the steps to the big leagues like we thought he would.
He has some quality tools to his game but if the Yankees wanted him back for Mike Tauchman in a one-for-one deal, the White Sox should do it. They currently have Rutherford listed as their number 12 prospect on MLB dot com but there are a lot of outfielders ahead of him. He isn’t an option to replace Jimenez so they might as well trade him in order to get that guy.
Rutherford was the Yankees’ first-round draft pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. Going back there might be something that is good for him and the Yankees but it would also be good for the White Sox to add Mike Tauchman to their current group. Giving up the team’s number 12 prospect for a left fielder at this point would look very smart.
The Chicago White Sox could give up a utility player to get a left-fielder.
The Chicago White Sox needs Mike Tauchman or someone like him. They aren’t going to have Eloy Jimenez until September at the earliest which is one of this team’s biggest nightmares come to life. He could provide a steady presence to the position while the team waits for their superstar offensive outfielder. Giving up something notable for him makes sense.
Leury Garcia is the longest-tenured Chicago White Sox player. He has been with the team for a while but he is significant because he can do it all. Outside of pitching, catching, and playing first base, he can pretty much play every position. If he was on a team like the New York Yankees, he could provide a lot of value off the bench. They deal with injuries more than any team in the league during most years.
Tyler Johnson is a pitcher that currently ranks 25th in the White Sox system. He has been getting a lot of work during the 2021 spring training season but he hasn’t impressed enough to be seen as an MLB player at this time. For the Yankees, he would go to their system and continue his progression there. It is hard to see him ever cracking this White Sox team but you never know. There might be more room in the Bronx.
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The White Sox might go the free-agent route and they might use someone within the organization. No matter what, they need to make sure that this team is put together as well as possible. If they are, they could compete for the American League pennant. Replacing Eloy Jimenez is impossible but getting someone serviceable until he comes back is.