Chicago White Sox: Three players who have improved their trade stock

SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 03: Zack Collins #21 of the Chicago White Sox looks on against the Kansas City Royals during a spring training game on March 3, 2021 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise Arizona. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 03: Zack Collins #21 of the Chicago White Sox looks on against the Kansas City Royals during a spring training game on March 3, 2021 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise Arizona. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

The Chicago White Sox have had a strange 9-9 start. They, along with many other elite teams across Major League Baseball, have a whole season ahead of them to get things just right. The White Sox have some things to work on but there are some players who are having great starts. There are a few players who are surprisingly good so far and can be used as trade bait. These are three White Sox players who have improved their trade stock:

128. . RP. Chicago White Sox. Jose Ruiz. 66. player

The Chicago White Sox might be willing to trade a reliever for a bat later in the season.

The Chicago White Sox have a really good bullpen. They have nice advanced stats but some of the luck hasn’t really gone their way so far this season. The defense hasn’t been great behind them either to begin the year. Jose Ruiz, however, has been a really nice surprise so far. The hope is that he can keep it up for this team as they look to take the next step this season.

With some of the injuries that the White Sox have suffered so far this season, they might need to trade one of their good relievers to add something of need. If a team was willing to send the White Sox a Major League bat, Jose Ruiz would be a good reliever to send the other way if that is what the team wanted.

Jose Ruiz is probably the least recognizable name that the White Sox have in their bullpen but he has certainly been one of the best so far. That might be something to take advantage of as the season rolls along and they recognize a potential trade.

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

C. Chicago White Sox. Zack Collins. 21. player. 128.

The Chicago White Sox might be able to get something for Zack Collins.

The Chicago White Sox don’t have Jame McCann anymore so it might be hard to trade Zack Collins, but there are plenty of reasons to consider trading him. For one, it doesn’t seem like the Sox are fully in on him like they once were. He was really good in spring training but hasn’t been good so far this season.

They pay Yasmani Grandal a lot of money to be their primary catcher so it isn’t like Collins is going to be their catcher of the future or anything like that anymore. He has shown that he can hit the ball and get on base well but the White Sox could use him as trade bait. They seem to do a decent job these days of finding good catchers so if they can do that again at some point, trading Collins might be worth it.

You never know if a team is interested in a young catcher with offensive upside and is good defensively. Collins is both of those things. He caught Carlos Rodon’s no-hitter earlier in the season and was brilliant doing so. It would just be nice to see him start to get the bat going. Another team might see what he has done this year and take a chance.

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

20. player. 128. . INF. Chicago White Sox. Danny Mendick

Danny Mendick has been a great player for the Chicago White Sox so far.

The Chicago White Sox are seeing Danny Mendick turn into a pretty nice utility player. He can play anywhere on the infield at a high level. He is known for his play on the diamond defensively but his offense has been good to start this season. He is currently hitting .375 with two RBIs and two runs scored. It isn’t a large sample size but it is an encouraging sign.

Mendick didn’t make the Opening Day roster in favor of Yermin Mercedes. If Eloy Jimenez wouldn’t have been hurt, Mendick would have made it over Mercedes which is really weird to think about. Mendick got the call up when Tim Anderson went down with a short injury. He impressed with his play during that time enough to stay when Anderson came back.

His stats are good right now but we know he is truly there to be a defensive replacement. Any offense he contributes will be free money for the White Sox. If the White Sox wanted to add a bat to the mix, Danny Mendick is someone who has improved their trade value so far this season.

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There is a good chance that none of these guys get traded but they are all worthy of being sent to another team in order to get something that the team needs. Being on this list is somewhat of a compliment because that means they improved their trade value. Hopefully, the White Sox do whatever they need to do to become a better baseball team whenever it is needed.

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