1 player from each AL Central team for White Sox to trade for
The Chicago White Sox won the division handily last season and have their eyes on a bigger prize. However, the division won’t come so easy this season as the Detroit Tigers have drastically improved and the Twins figure to be better than their pitiful showing in 2021.
Inter division trades do not happen often. Teams do not like strengthening their biggest rivals. However, that does not mean it can’t happen.
Last season, the White Sox landed Ceasar Hernandez from Cleveland. It did not work out as planned. They also traded for former All-Star Yonder Alonso in 2019 in the hopes of strengthening the middle of their lineup. Once again Cleveland got the better of them as Alonso was released midseason after hitting just .178 in 67 games.
The White Sox swung a trade with the Kansas City Royals in 2018 when they acquired Joakim Soria in a three-team trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soria did a solid job as the White Sox closer before being flipped at the trade deadline.
The Chicago White Sox may or may not be willing to trade within the division.
Detroit traded away Avisail Garcia in a three-team deal for Jake Peavy. Garcia had the makings of a star but was mostly disappointing aside from an All-Star campaign in 2017. The longest trade drought between any team in the division for the White Sox has been with the Minnesota Twins.
The White Sox were trying to make a playoff push in 2012 so they acquired Francisco Liriano for Eduardo Escobar. Escobar has carved out a nice nine-year career. Meanwhile, Liriano posted a 5.40 ERA in 12 starts and the White Sox missed the playoffs.
Here is one player the White Sox could try and trade for from each of their division rivals:
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox are becoming good rivals again.
The Minnesota Twins surprised a lot of people by finishing last in the AL Central in 2021. Many people figured the Twins would be the White Sox biggest competition in the division one year removed from taking the AL Central Crown but instead, they were out of the picture by June. At the trade deadline, they shipped out Nelson Cruz who had been one of the core pieces of their lineup.
It is easy to see them selling off more parts once the lockout ends. One position they have lots of depth at is catcher. The White Sox need a solid backup option behind Yasmani Grandal. Both Zack Collins and Seby Zavala floundered at the plate.
Ryan Jeffers and Ben Rortvedt handled the bulk of the catching duties for the Twins last season. Garver was sidelined for the majority of the season with a horrific-looking injury. Both Jeffers and Rortvedt are 24 years old while Garver is 31.
Jeffers is considered a very good defender and is one of the Twins’ top prospects. They represent the future of the franchise and will probably be given another chance to show what they can do in 2022.
When Garver was healthy, he raked. Last season he hit 13 home runs and slashed .256/.358/.517 in just 243 plate appearances. In 2019, he was one of the best offensive catchers in baseball mashing 31 home runs en route to a Silver Slugger Award.
He is controllable for two season’s which fits the White Sox contending timeline. Garver has had injury problems in the past so being relegated to a backup role may be a good way to keep him healthy. It would also give the White Sox the best offensive catching tandem in the MLB. On Garver’s off days he could easily be the DH as well.
The White Sox would likely have to part ways with a talented arm in their organization to acquire him but there is tremendous upside to adding a hitter like Garver.
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.
Detroit Tigers
The Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers are going to have some good battles.
The Tigers have pushed all their chips to the center of the table by going out and adding Eduardo Rodrigez to a five-year, $77 million contract and Javier Baez to a six-year deal worth $140 million.
The Tigers have a solid roster but they lack bullpen arms. Last season, they had an ugly assortment of options. Former White Sox pitcher Derek Holland owned a 5.07 ERA. Erasmo Ramirez had a 5.74 ERA, followed by Matt Manning who had a 5.80 had a 5.74 ERA.
Daniel Norris posted a 5.89 ERA, Buck Farmer had a 6.37 ERA and Bryan Garcia lead the pack with a 7.55 mark. Overall, it wasn’t pretty.
If the Tigers want to be serious contenders, they need a closer. If the White Sox want to be serious contenders they need a second baseman. Therefore Jonathan Schoop for Craig Kimbrel seems like a plausible trade.
Schoop was a borderline All-Star last season who was on the White Sox radar at the deadline. Schoop has been around the block a few times. The nine-year veteran was an All-Star in 2017 while he was with the Baltimore Orioles.
He has good power, hitting 35 home runs in 2017 to go with five seasons over 20. He is coming off a productive year that saw him hit 22 home runs, 84 RBIs, and bat .278. He is very reliable as well. He has played over 100 games in six of his nine seasons. One of the years he did not appear in 100 games was his rookie season when he only got 15 at-bats.
Schoop can also put the ball in play which is what the White Sox need. His career batting average is .262. He would be a great addition to the White Sox lineup and the most reliable second base option on this list.
Cleveland Guardians
The Chicago White Sox will play the new Cleveland Guardians in 2022.
The newly minted Cleveland Guardians did business with the White Sox last season sending Cesar Hernadez to Chicago. The Guardians are in a retooling phase as of late. They have already traded away Fransico Lindor, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger, and Carlos Carasco. The next candidate that could be traded is Amed Rosario.
Rosario arrived in Cleveland during the Francisco Lindor trade last offseason. He was a .268 hitter in four seasons with the Mets. He is not much of a power hitter but he can steal bases. He swiped 24 bags in 2018 and then 19 the following season.
The change of scenery did him some good. He posted a solid slash line of .282/.321/.401 in his first season in Cleveland. He also hit 11 home runs. His primary position is shortstop. However, by all defensive metrics, he is a very mediocre defender.
The Guardian’s have lots of infield depth. Their 40-man roster includes three-second baseman, six shortstops, and three third baseman. Some of these include talented prospects on the cusp of cracking the MLB roster. This makes Rosario expendable.
What the Guardian’s need is outfielders. That happens to be the one area of strength in the White Sox farm system. As for where Rosario would fit on the White Sox roster, he could be a candidate for right field.
He has played 19 games in the outfield, starting 14 in center field. His speed makes for good range. He is projected for a $5 million salary and is under team control through 2023.
The White Sox could use him as a right field stop-gap until Oscar Colas, Micker Aldolfo or Yolequi Cespedes is ready, then flip him at the deadline or keep him as infield depth.
Rosario has already shown he can put up respectable offensive numbers. If he is surrounded by the lineup protection the White Sox have, he could be in line for a big year.
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