Southside Showdown
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Players that the White Sox should take from rebuilding A’s

By Mitchell Kaminski

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 02: Matt Olson #28 of the Oakland Athletics and Matt Chapman #26 stand for the National Anthem before the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 02, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 02: Matt Olson #28 of the Oakland Athletics and Matt Chapman #26 stand for the National Anthem before the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 02, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Chicago White Sox, Craig Kimbrel
(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

As soon as the MLB lockout is over, teams could be heading to Oakland for the impending yard sale. The Chicago White Sox should be one of them. The Oakland A’s have fielded a solid team over the last several seasons. Since 2012, they have made the postseason seven times including the past four consecutive seasons.

The last time they had a losing record was in 2017. The A’s also won the AL West in 2020 and knocked the Chicago White Sox out of the American League Wild Card Series. But years of disappointing playoff exits look like they have taken their toll.

By all indication, Billy Beane and the rest of the Oakland front office have decided to blow it up. This strategy is not new in Oakland. In 2004 they traded Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder despite the fact they had won the division four years in a row. They got Dan Haren in return and two seasons later, he helped pitch them to the ALCS.

They tried to repeat this plan in 2008, trading Rich Harden and Joe Blanton. The prospects they got in return did not pan out so they tried again in 2011, dealing Trevor Cahill to Arizona. They also shipped out Gio Gonzalez. Two of the arms they acquired in the Cahill deal turned into Jarrod Parker and Ryan Cook who solidified their bullpen and helped them take the AL West Crown in 2012.

The Chicago White Sox could add some help from the Oakland Athletics.

In 2014 they sent Jeff Samardzija to the White Sox in a deal that brought back not only Marcus Semien but also current ace and trade bait Chris Bassitt.

This offseason they have been parting ways with all their assets. Yan Gomes, Mark Canha, Trevor Rosenthal, Khris Davis, Josh Harrison, Starling Marte, Jed Lowrie, Mitch Moreland, Sergio Romo, Jake Deikman, Mike Fiers, and Andrew Chafin have all elected to hit the open market. They also let manager Bob Melvin walk out the door. If you read the tea leaves, a rebuild seems imminent.

This Oakland team still fields plenty of other talent and if they are indeed trying to rebuild then some of their players could be ripe for the taking. If you haven’t heard already from White Sox Twitter, the White Sox still needs some pitching depth, a right fielder, and a second baseman. It just so happens the Athletics have a few viable solutions on their roster.

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