Why White Sox should take flier and trade for TJ Zeuch
The Chicago White Sox needs some help in the bullpen. Some big names like Craig Kimbrel, Ryan Tepera, and Ian Kennedy have been floated around but premium relief arms can be expensive this time of year. If the White Sox don’t want to give up valuable prospects or want to go after multiple relievers to help solidify the bullpen, then TJ Zeuch could be an option.
Let me get this out of the way. By no means should this be the only guy Rick Hahn goes after. It is far too risky. But Zeuch is a talented young arm that could provide insurance for the Chicago White Sox.
Zeuch is currently a member of the Toronto Blue Jays but FanSided insider Robert Murray expects TJ Zeuch to be traded soon. The former first-round pick was selected by the Blue Jays with the 21st overall pick in the 2016 draft. The Blue Jays envisioned him as a top-of-the-rotation starter but instead, he posted a 4.59 ERA in three seasons and the team decided to move on. He was designated for assignment on July 20th.
On the surface that does not sound like a guy you would want to take a flier on. But a change of scenery may do him some good. For starters, he was once considered a top prospect which means he has talent. In 2018, he was an EAS Mid-Season All-Star with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Zeuch is only 25 years old so there is plenty of time to revitalize his career. He has also only pitched in 13 games.
The Chicago White Sox might be interested in adding some help with the bullpen.
According to former coaches and teammates, he has all the intangibles to be a successful big-league pitcher. Blue Jays catcher Danny Jenson talked about him in an article in MLB.com.
“There should be a grade on your routine, there really should, because that’s the most important thing,” Janson said. “The mental side is all intangible, but you can see the tools.”
Zeuch has a good sinkerball and recently hit 97 mph. He also has a 50.5% ground ball rate according to FanGraphs. That plays well in a hitters park like Guaranteed Rate Field. With Ethan Katz’s magic, he could make a big jump.
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He would be a bit of a reclamation project but Rick Hahn would not have to give up a big haul. He could serve as an innings eater out of the bullpen. The White Sox are currently trotting out Codi Heuer and Reynaldo Lopez so he can’t be much worse. Zeuch could be worth taking a flier on. At the very least it wouldn’t hurt to have an arm with that much upside in the organization.