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3 White Sox players you should be prepared to lose next season

By Mitchell Kaminski

CHICAGO - JULY 18: Carlos Rodon #55 of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Houston Astros on July 18, 2021 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. Rodon pitched seven innings of one-hit ball as the White Sox defeated the Astros 4-0. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
CHICAGO - JULY 18: Carlos Rodon #55 of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Houston Astros on July 18, 2021 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. Rodon pitched seven innings of one-hit ball as the White Sox defeated the Astros 4-0. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images) /
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Chicago White Sox, Carlos Rodon
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Chicago White Sox. Carlos Rodon . 55. player. 128. . SP

The Chicago White Sox might regret it if they lose out on Carlos Rodon this winter.

The White Sox extension of Lance Lynn is a signal that the White Sox may be moving on from Carlos Rodon. Both pitchers are throwing at a Cy Young caliber level, both represented the White Sox in the All-Star Game, and both went into the season set to hit free agency after the season.

The problem with Carlos Rodon is that he is unreliable. Heading into the 2021 season, Rodon had thrown over 100 innings just three times. He has yet to reach the 200 inning mark in his career. While he has been excellent this season, he has not been able to go deep into games. He is averaging under six innings per appearance and has only made it to the seventh inning or beyond four times in 21 starts.

He hasn’t even thrown enough innings this season to be considered a qualified MLB starter, otherwise, his 2.41 ERA would rank near the top in the AL. He also has dealt with a litany of injures. Rodon was placed on the injury list in 2016 because of a sprained wrist. In 2017, he was limited to just 12 stars because of bursitis in his left bicep then was knocked out for the rest of the season due to left shoulder inflammation.

In 2019, he made just seven starts before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery in May. He was only able to pitch in four games for the White Sox in 2020 due to left shoulder soreness and found himself back on the IL for a short stint in 2021.

If Rodon wasn’t so cheap this offseason, there is a very good chance that he wouldn’t be on the team. The White Sox non-tendered him at the start of the offseason only to pull him off the scrap heap. Even then, he wasn’t guaranteed a job. He was forced to compete for the final spot in the White Sox rotation during Spring Training.

Now that he is putting together a career year, he will be looking to cash in. Rodon’s agent is Scott Boras who is notorious for orchestrating huge deals. He should have no problem finding a team to overpay for a hard-throwing left-handed ace-like Rodon. After locking up Lynn, the White Sox may be looking to spend their money elsewhere.

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