Chicago White Sox: 3 former Chicago Cubs to consider in free agency
The Chicago White Sox were better than the Chicago Cubs in every way this year. The White Sox won their division with ease and the Cubs finished in 4th place with a record of 71-91. Being 20 games under .500 is a direct result of many mistakes made by the organization leading up to 2021. They won the World Series in 2016 and things have been horrible since that moment.
During the 2021 season, the Cubs let some players go. They made some cuts to key players during the offseason and traded away their entire core besides Willson Contreras. Now, they are looking to either extend Contreras or trade him before starting a rebuild. A lot will depend on how this upcoming offseason goes for them.
A lot of their core was out there playing for other teams this offseason. Not only were a lot of them in the postseason, but they were in the postseason playing at the top of their games. Many were doing things that they were unable to do with the Cubs since 2016 which is what led to their early demise.
The White Sox have some things to fix before the 2022 season gets underway. They have some spots to fill in the lineup and some things to change as far as their approach. There are two teams playing in the World Series right now (Houston Astros vs Atlanta Braves) that have some things to mimic if you are trying to get on that level.
The Chicago White Sox can look at some former Chicago Cubs in free agency.
Some of these former Cubs have the potential to help any team get over the hump. It is a very important offseason for the White Sox so no stone can go unturned. If they were to go for one or more of them, these are the ones to consider going after:
23. player. 40. . INF/OF. San Francisco Giants. Kris Bryant
Kris Bryant would help the Chicago White Sox in every way all over the field.
The Chicago White Sox has a lot of needs this offseason. They were elite in 2021 but there are still a few more moves to be made before they can be true World Series favorites. One of those moves would be to bring in a really good outfielder to play right field. Kris Bryant would be someone that is a perfect fit for that job. He would also provide help for the White Sox in many different ways.
Bryant was traded to the San Francisco Giants by the Chicago Cubs at the 2021 MLB trade deadline. It was a significant swing in the MLB as an elite player was joining a very good team. The Giants went on to have the best record and baseball before falling in a very close playoff series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. You can bet that they will be hard in their pursuit to bring Bryant back.
If Bryant did decide to go to free agency instead of resigning with the Giants, the White Sox would be an outstanding option for both sides. He is already familiar with living in Chicago so that is a big part of it. He would also be offered a very important role with a team that has a chance to win the World Series. Right field would probably be his natural destination with this team but he would play all over the place.
Boston Red Sox. Kyle Schwarber . 18. player. 14. . OF/INF/DH
The Chicago White Sox would be wise to bring in a big bat for the 2022 season.
The Chicago Cubs did not treat Kyle Schwarber fairly at all. They chose Joc Pederson in the regular season over him which is very funny because not only is Schwarber their guy who they have won with, he is also a better hitter than Pederson. He made the Cubs look terrible by having an awesome year in 2021.
He signed with the Washington Nationals during the offseason and had an All-Star first half with them. After it was clear that they were going nowhere this season, they decided to trade Schwarber to the Boston Red Sox. He was dealing with an injury at the time of the trade so nobody thought anything of it but it turned out to be one of the biggest acquisitions made this season.
Schwarber and Boston made it all the way to the ALCS after fighting so hard just to get into the playoffs. He was brilliant for them all season long. His playoff experience and ability to crush baseballs make him a perfect free-agent target for the White Sox this winter.
If they made a move like that, they would be adding a tremendous power bat to the middle of their lineup. Defensively, he could probably be a decent right fielder while also having him be the designated hitter from time to time.
An experienced champion like this could also do wonders for young power bats like Gavin Sheets or Andrew Vaughn. If he is willing to come back to the town that turned him into what he is today, the White Sox would be a great destination.
SS/2B. New York Mets. Javier Baez. 23. player. 3.
The Chicago White Sox could certainly use some flare at second base in 2022.
Javier Baez has had an up and down career so far. When he is down, he seems to be down badly. When he is up, however, he is an MVP-level player. He doesn’t hit for a high average much and his on-base percentage leaves a lot to be desired but his power numbers are always magnificent. He hits baseballs very far on a regular basis and that would be great in the White Sox lineup.
The Cubs traded Baez to the New York Mets at the trade deadline that also saw Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant move on as well. It was crazy to see all three of them go on the same day but that was the reality. Now, if the Mets aren’t able to retain Baez, the White Sox would be a great destination for him. They have an open position that he plays and he would help supplement a World Series level offense.
If Baez was on the White Sox, he would make a great middle infield pair with Tim Anderson. The flare there would make the White Sox one of the most exciting teams in the league. If Anderson ever has days off, Baez can also play shortstop as well. With Moncada and Abreu, it would form one of the best infields in the league.
Offensively, Baez can fit in many different roles. He can hit fourth and be the team’s primary offensive producer or they can move him down the lineup. Regardless of how that decision went, they would be a significantly deeper lineup that gets production from top to bottom.
All three of these guys may stay with their current teams and they all might move on. You would think that the teams would try and retain them after giving up assets to get them but anything is possible. Returning to Chicago on the other side of town is a really nice option for all of them as they look to continue winning in their careers.
Related Story. Garrett Crochet has been amazing so far for the White Sox. light