1 player from each AL Central team for White Sox to trade for
Kansas City Royals
The Chicago White Sox could take a few different players from the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals finished with a 74-88 record last season but don’t let their record fool you they have some young talent. One of their talented young players is Adalberto Mondesi. If the right package is put together, Mondesi could be the White Sox solution at second base.
Last August, Royals president Dayton Moore openly doubted Mondesi’s ability to stay healthy for a full season. Nicky Lopez showed that he can be a viable replacement at shortstop and Whit Merrifield seems to be entrenched at second base after surviving trade rumors for the past couple of seasons.
Bobby Witt Jr, the Royals’ top prospect, is also expected to break into the infield rotation next season. Mondesi also has a very high strikeout rate. Add Mondesi’s high strikeout rate, Moore’s doubts, and the Royals infield depth and Mondesi becomes tradeable.
While it is true that Mondesi has had some injury troubles, he is a dynamic player with a rare combination of speed and power. Mondesi would give the White Sox a dynamic base stealer which is something they have been lacking the past couple of seasons.
He stole 32 bags in 2018, 43 in 2019, and then led the league with 24 in just 59 games in 2020. Mondesi’s best season came in 2018 when he hit .276 with 14 home runs and a .804 OPS. The following season he led the league with 10 triples.
His athleticism allows him to play an above-average shortstop. However, for the White Sox purposes, he would be used at second base. Mondesi is no stranger to second base as he started 40 games there in his rookie season and has appeared in 68 games at second base overall.
His athleticism and versatility also allow him to play third base so he can be plugged in anywhere in the infield. Mondesi is controllable through 2023 so he wouldn’t be a one-year rental for the White Sox and his projected 3.2 million dollar salary still gives them the flexibility to make other moves.
Because he has struggled to stay healthy, this would be a sell-low situation for the Royals meaning the White Sox could get him at a discounted price.