Chicago White Sox: 3 big moves to consider this winter
Currently, all systems are a go on the south side of Chicago. Even though Lynn and Giolito are on the IL, Lynn is only supposed to miss one start and hopefully, Giolito will be back fully healthy in time for the postseason. The Chicago White Sox currently has as legitimate of a shot as any contender in the league to make a deep playoff run but the health of the rotation is of utmost importance if you’re Tony La Russa.
There is much to be said about the run the White Sox are having this season. In the midst of all the hype, it is easy to get caught up and forgot how much optimism there still is about the team getting even better than it already is.
Currently, the White Sox don’t have certain problems that other contending teams have. Looking at a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers, for example, they are currently 44 million over the luxury tax, and will have to pay a 17M penalty on top of it.
They simply can’t keep affording to keep signing huge names and building a super team. The Boston Red Sox are 4 million over the luxury tax. The Houston Astros are one small signing away from going over.
The Chicago White Sox have room to make a big move during the offseason.
The White Sox are still $32.4M under the current luxury tax threshold. Furthermore, they have 10.9M coming off the books due to impending free agents. You can tack on another 6M if the Sox choose not to pick up Cesar Hernandez’s option.
Therefore, you can pretty much bet your bottom dollar that the Sox are still planning to make a huge splash or two in free agency this winter. Let’s take a look at 3 routes the White Sox could go to further establish a championship team:
1. Get even better at second base
The Chicago White Sox could try to get even better at the second base position.
The fact is, Hernandez has fallen in the batting order simply due to underperforming in a White Sox uniform. I highly expect the Sox to not pick up his option and to look at a few guys to replace his of the all-star caliber. Of course, two names come to mind immediately. The first is Marcus Semien.
Semien has been playing 2B for Toronto all season and has done just fine there. Batting-wise, he is currently enjoying a slash of .266/.334/.530, while blasting a career-high 35 homers and 82 RBIs, ten off from his career-high in 2019 of 92.
Semien is knocking the cover off the ball and his WAR of 6.1 on the season is currently 3rd best among all major leaguers. In fact, the only two above him in Wins Above Replacement, are two pitchers, making him the #1 leader in terms of batting. Semien would be a fantastic pickup, and he has played for the White Sox before. It would be a return home and would further absolutely stack the batting order 1-9.
The other place the White Sox could turn if they want is Trevor Story. As reported, the Sox were in on Story at the deadline but the Rockies ultimately chose to hang on to him which didn’t make much sense at all for the Rockies since he is going to walk at the end of the year anyway.
Either way, Story is currently having a down year in Colorado while Semien is crushing it. Both, however, are all-star caliber players that can no doubt further help lead this Chicago White Sox team deep into October.
2. Pitching options
The Chicago White Sox could consider some options for their entire pitching staff.
On the flip side, should the White Sox not pick up Hernandez’s option, it would save money that could then be spent on other needs such as the question marks regarding Craig Kimbrel’s option and the possibility of resigning Carlos Rodon.
For one, Rodon has had a dominant break-out year and there really is no reason, due to his consistency this season, to think that he will just lose it all again. Therefore, the Sox could hypothetically resign or extend Rodon and get the starter they would need should he walk instead. Rodon would more than likely be cheaper than most of the free-agent pitching out there this winter.
By spending slightly less on Rodon, the White Sox can then pick up Kimbrel’s option and keep their super bullpen intact. Though Kimbrel has had a rocky start to his White Sox tenure, he is no doubt a future Hall of Famer with 372 saves and a career ERA of 2.15. Whatever is going on with him since being sent to the south side, when he figures it out again, the White Sox are going to want every piece of it. They need to make sure that he is back for 2022.
3. One more dominant starter
There is always room for the Chicago White Sox to add a dominant starting pitcher.
The last option, the Sox let Hernandez walk, let Kimbrel walk, say next man up for both, and go all-in on the very best starter they can possibly land in free agency. For those wondering, there are quite a few looking for a new home this winter. Notable names include Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Zach Greinke, and more.
Can you imagine a rotation consisting of Max Scherzer, Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, and Dallas Keuchel? Clearly, the biggest question mark in terms of what to expect moving forward here is Keuchel. Can he get back to his 2020 form posting a sub 2.00 ERA? If not, he will be moved to the bullpen to finish out the season next year. One thing is for sure and that is the fact that landing another top tier arm can only help and is worth every penny.
Landing one more all-star caliber starter to go with Lynn, Giolito, and even Rodon if they can swing it on an extension before season’s end would almost certainly make the White Sox favorites to win the AL next year. So, what is the best route to go if you’re Rick Hahn and Jerry Reinsdorf? Adding Rodon and another free agent starter would then pose questions about the likes of Keuchel and his role.
It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Sox don’t give Keuchel an ample amount of leash to figure it out based on the success he’s had in his career. More than likely, should he underperform, there could be a scenario of Keuchel starting in the rotation next season and being moved to the bullpen at the trade deadline where the Sox would then be forced to be aggressive buyers.
Realistically, the White Sox landing an arm like Scherzer is just as wild to think about as it was for the Dodgers landing him at the trade deadline. If you have the funds and the winning mentality needed to secure a top free agent, anything is possible when you are chasing a World Series.
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