Chicago White Sox: 3 bold trade deadline predictions

White Sox Add Ian Kennedy

The Chicago White Sox could consider adding some bullpen help before the deadline.

The White Sox bullpen was supposed to be a strength of the team heading into the season. Aaron Bummer said the goal was to have an undefeated record when the team leads after six innings. Things have not worked out as planned.

Bummer has a 4.35 ERA. Codi Heuer has a 4.79 ERA. Reynaldo Lopez was called up to replace the struggling Matt Foster. Evan Marshall went down with an injury while others such as Zack Burdi and Jimmy Lambert have struggled.

The White Sox need someone to help bridge the gap into the ninth inning. Garrett Crochet and Michael Kopech can only do so much. That is where the Texas Rangers come in. They are 20.5 games out of first place and selling at the deadline. They signed Ian Kennedy to a Minor League deal in February and have turned him into a prized reliever.

Kennedy spent the majority of his career as a starter before being converted to a closer by the Royals in 2019. This season he has a 2.53 ERA with 12 saves and a 1.08 WHIP in 21 appearances. Because of his affordable $2.15 base salary, the White Sox should be able to pry him away from the rangers for relatively cheap.

Kennedy would be able to serve as a solid late innings man without having the pressure of closing games. A one-two punch of him and Liam Hendriks in the eighth and ninth inning would be lethal for the White Sox.