3 gifts the Chicago White Sox can give fans for Christmas
It’s Christmas time which means it’s the gift-giving season. The Chicago White Sox seems to be in the Christmas spirit.
On December 17th, the organization gifted one lucky family with a home makeover. Bo Jackson helped present Tanika Harmin and her three children with a truckload of gifts and a renovated home. Harmon was reduced to tears of joy.
The Chicago White Sox gave their fans plenty of gifts in the form of wins and a Central Division title during the 2021 season as well. They had nine thrilling walk-off wins including the first-ever Field of Dreams game. They also revived key contributions from Tim Anderson, Liam Hendriks, Lance Lynn, and Carlos Rodon, who all made the AL All-Star team.
But after another early playoff exit, White Sox fans are hungry for more. Carlos Rodon hit free agency so if Santa Clause could find a way to help the White Sox resign him it would go a long way. He posted a 13-5 record to go along with a 2.31 ERA and a .096 WHIP. He also logged 185 strikeouts and tossed a no-hitter in April. That’s Cy Young material.
It would be nice for the Chicago White Sox to give some good Christmas gifts.
In the past, the front office has gifted fans some timely free-agent signings around the holiday season. In 2019 they signed Dallas Keuchel four days before Christmas. They then added Edwin Encarnacion on Christmas.
The current iteration of the White Sox roster has plenty of needs to address. A White Sox fan’s wish list is an extensive one. Outside of resigning Rodón here are three gifts fans want for Christmas from the Chicago White Sox:
A Big Name Right Fielder
The Chicago White Sox needs a right fielder as bad as anything going into 2022.
Right Field has been an issue for the past couple of seasons. Usually, the front office finds a cheap band-aid solution to patch the hole with lackluster results. In 2019, they signed Jon Jay who missed the first half of the season with an injury. In 2020, they traded for Nomar Mazara who only hit one home run and provided little to no offense. In 2021, they signed was Adam Eaton who was released at the beginning of July.
The White Sox have been hungry for a high-profile free agent ever since the front office came up short in the Bryce Harper and Manny Machado sweepstakes. Luckily for the White Sox, there are plenty of good right-fielders still on the market. Kris Bryant, Nick Castellanos, Joc Pederson, Micheal Conforto, and Jorge Soler headline the class.
Kris Bryant is a long-time crosstown rival that was traded to the San Fransico Giants last season to help with their playoff push. The former MVP can play all across the diamond but has 109 games in right field under his belt. He also has a plethora of postseason experience including helping lead the Chicago Cubs to the World Series title in 2016.
Nick Castellanos is coming off an All-Star season that saw him slash .309/.362/.576 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs. While his defense could use some work, his bat would be a tremendous addition to the lineup.
Joc Pederson’s name has been linked to the White Sox for the past couple of seasons. He belted three home runs for the Atlanta Braves during their postseason run in 2021 boosting his total to 76 career postseason dingers. All of that postseason experience makes him very attractive to the White Sox front office as does his .832 OPS against right-handed pitchers.
Micheal Conforto slashed .274/.376/.499. from 2019-2020 with the New York Mets. In 2017, he made the National League All-Star team after posting a .279 average to go along with 28 home runs. In 2019 he hit a career-best 33 home runs.
Jorge Soler took home the World Series MVP in 2021. White Sox fans know him well from his time tormenting the AL Central while he was a member of the Kansas City Royals. In 2019, he hit a league-leading 48 home runs and accumulated a .922 OPS.
In a hitter-friendly park-like Guaranteed Rate Field there is no telling the damage he could do. Any one of these players would make a great Christmas present for White Sox fans.
MLB Lockout Ending
The Chicago White Sox can’t play unless there is a Major League Baseball season.
Around Christmas time two years ago, White Sox fans got an early Christmas present in the form of Dallas Keuchel. Unfortunately for baseball fans everywhere, there will be no such presents in the form of free agents.
When the MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement expired on December 2nd, free agency came grinding to a halt along with all other baseball operations. The lockout had been looming for a while but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. Before the work stoppage, fans were treated to an NBA-style free agent frenzy. On December 1st alone MLB teams dolled out a record-setting $1.4 billion in player salaries.
Not only can the teams not sign free agents but players can’t talk to coaches either. Lucas Giolito talked to Bleacher Report about not being able to communicate with Ethan Katz and the toll it has taken on him.
“Beyond baseball, he is a very, very close friend of mine,” Giolito said. “He was at my wedding; I was at his. And I just think it’s strange and unfortunate that because of the lockout, he’s being told he’s not allowed to talk to me or any of the other guys.”
Unfortunately, there hasn’t seemed to be any progress made. The lockout is not expected to end until around Spring Training in February. A great Christmas present for White Sox fans would be the lockout to come to a swift and free agency to resume.
A Solution At Second Base
The Chicago White Sox really needs to add a second baseman this offseason.
When the White Sox drafted Nick Madrigal, it looked like they found their second baseman for the next decade. But injuries and a need for bullpen arms forced the White Sox to change course. Now, Madrigal is wearing a Cubs uniform and the White Sox are back to square one.
Before the lockout, the White Sox signed Leury Garcia. While Garcia is a nice option as a utility player, fans were less than enthused about the notion of him taking over the full-time duties at second base.
Unfortunately, there is not much available in free agency. The cream of the crop is already off the board. Marcus Semien, Javier Baez, Chris Taylor, and Eduardo Escobar have all signed elsewhere. The trade market seems to be the best route for the White Sox.
Ketel Marte is an option as the Arizona Diamondbacks seem to be on the verge of a rebuild. Mike Moustakas is another possibility. The White Sox have seen their fair share of Moustakes during his days with the Royals. He is a former All-Star on a Cincinnati Reds team that seems to be ready to unload expensive veterans.
David Fletcher is an interesting name to monitor. He finished in the top-20 of the MVP voting in 2020. He is in the second year of a five-year contract and the Angels need pitching. Craig Kimbrel could be used as some trade bait.
The Phillies are another team looking for bullpen help and they have an All-Str second baseman in Jean Segura. Segura hit .290 with a .348 OPB in 2021 and would be a great addition to the White Sox lineup. White Sox fans will sleep much easier once somebody is definitively penciled in at second base.
Related Story. Michael Kopech wins a Pitching Ninja award. light