Chicago White Sox: 3 bizarre trade packages for Willson Contreras
The Chicago White Sox has been hurt by injuries badly in 2021. With that, they still managed to take care of business on the field with what they have. They have a very nice lead in the American League Central Division which is a testament to their players and coaches that are there contributing. One player that went down, however, that is missed is Yasmani Grandal.
Some people look at his batting average and wrongly think he is having a bad year. That could not be more wrong. He is having an incredible year. What he does to get on base is as good as any Major League catcher in the game. He also hits for tremendous power which is always a bonus coming from that position. We don’t know when he is going to be back but it should come before the end of the year.
The one thing that remains is the question as to whether or not he will actually get behind the plate when he comes back. He might be better off being a DH or playing some first base if his knee isn’t 100 percent. That means the White Sox could look for another catcher.
The Chicago White Sox might be in the market for another catcher right now.
Seby Zavala is a good defensive catcher but he isn’t good at hitting. Zack Collins has flashes of brilliance at both but there are times where it looks like he is better suited to be a backup. If the White Sox wants to acquire one, there is one across town that makes perfect sense. Willson Contreras is, like Grandal, one of the best two-way catchers in the world. These three trades might get something done:
The Chicago White Sox might be able to get Willson Contreras for lots of pitching.
The Chicago Cubs have been bad at developing pitching for a long time now. We have seen what the White Sox have been able to do with their pitching and the Cubs can only wish they were able to have that kind of success. Even when they won the World Series in 2016, the rotation was built on trades and free agency. Well, even though this would also be a trade, they might look to add lots of young pitching prospects if they were to deal their star catcher.
If the Cubs landed Jared Kelley, Jimmy Lambert, and Tyler Johnson for Contreras, they would be very happy with it. In the case of Kelley, they would be getting a very high-level prospect. Contreras has 2022 on his current deal which separates him from some of the other trade chips on the current Cubs.
We don’t know for sure what the ceiling is on guys like Lambert or Johnson but the Cubs would love to find out. If their core is going to be traded away for something, they might as well get a big need, which has been pitching for about a decade. Trading Contreras now before the offseason might be the best way to get the most for him, as we are seeing with Bryant, Rizzo, and Baez.
The Chicago White Sox could send away Zack Collins to land a better catcher.
The Chicago White Sox would love to upgrade their catching situation while Yasmani Grandal is out. Zack Collins and Seby Zavala can do their job well from time to time but neither of them feels like long-term answers at this point. Willson Contreras is that guy. Even when Grandal comes back, they would form the best duo in the league. There is also a good chance that Grandal would just be a DH or first baseman if this were to happen based on his injury.
The Cubs could take Zack Colling back in a trade if they dealt Contreras. Collins could very well reach his potential which is a very good player in the MLB. Collins getting to that level might also be easier on a team like the Cubs who have no pressure to win anytime soon.
Jake Burger and Micker Adolfo are also players who would make sense in this trade for both sides. The White Sox like both of them but each of them is blocked in the long term. Yoan Moncada is always going to be the third baseman over Burger which is okay because Moncada is a superstar. As for Adolfo, there is always a need for outfielders but there are clearly four or five ahead of him in the long-term depth chart. The Cubs could use as much help in all areas as they can get.
There are a lot of things that the Chicago Cubs could use from the Chicago White Sox.
The Chicago White Sox are already World Series contenders. However, they would be considered World Series favorites at this point if they added another bat like Willson Contreras. The fact that he is a borderline elite defensive catcher makes him even more interesting. In order to get players like this, however, you need to give up players of significance.
The White Sox love Gavin Sheets. He wasn’t even slightly in the plans for this season at the MLB level. His statistics at the AAA level almost forced the White Sox to call him up when they needed some help dealing with injuries. He has been so great for them and showcased his abilities for the world to see. If the Cubs added a kid like this, they would probably add him to their future plans right away.
As for Jonathan Stiever, he is another top-pitching prospect that the Cubs would love to have. Stiever has had his ups and downs as any young pitcher does but he has the talent to continue a very good development.
Yermin Mercedes would be the big story here. We all know about his story so far this season and how much of a roller coaster it has been. He might need a fresh start with a new team and we all know the Cubs have the room.
There are no rumors about the White Sox and Cubs making a trade or anything of that nature right now but they would be great partners in many ways. They aren’t even really rumored to be trading Willson Contreras as much as some of the guys on expiring deals but you never know. He will be in that situation sooner than later too. If it doesn’t come in the regular season, it could come in the offseason if no extension is agreed upon. He sure would fit in on the White Sox.
The Nelson Cruz trade is not a good thing. light. Related Story