1 player from each NL East team for White Sox to trade for

The MLB officially postponed the first week of spring training games, meaning fans will have to wait a little longer for White Sox baseball to return. In the meantime, it’s time to continue our journey across the MLB in search of trade partners for the Chicago White Sox once the lockout ends. Today we visit the National League East.

The National League East presents the perfect mix of teams to trade with for the Chicago White Sox. Out of all the divisions in baseball, the NL East has the most viable trade market for them.

The Phillies need bullpen help, Washington is selling off their assets, and the Marlins and Mets have intriguing names available.

The only team that probably wouldn’t make a deal with them is the World Series Champion, Atlanta Braves. However, there are still trades that could be made with them as well.

The Chicago White Sox could look to make one big trade before we get going.

The NL East was one of the most interesting divisions in baseball last season. The Braves won the division with an underwhelming 88-73 record, despite being plagued with injures and bad luck throughout the season.

The Phillies pitching staff imploded wasting an MVP season from Bryce Harper to land them in second. The biggest storyline was the New York Mets who entered the season with lofty expectations only to go full-blown Mets and underachieve yet again. They added Javier Baez during the trade deadline in the hopes of making a late-season push to no avail.

The Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals rounded out the bottom of the divisions with a pretty pathetic sub 70 win season. They only had a combined 132 wins between the two of them.

Here is one trade candidate the White Sox could target from each team once the lockout resumes:

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox could be great trade partners.

Garett Cooper has quietly been one of baseball’s most underrated hitters the past couple of seasons. This is one of the many downsides of being stuck on a sub 70 win team. However, a change of scenery could give Cooper the recognition he deserves from the rest of the league.

Last season he hit .284 with a .845 OPS. The previous year he hit .283 with a .500 slugging percentage. In 2019 he batted .281 with 15 home runs. He has gotten better with age. Since the start of 2020, the 31-year-old has a 133 wRC+ in 383 plate appearances. Even better for the White Sox, he plays right field.

Cooper did suffer a left elbow injury that forced him to miss the second half of last season. However, he should be ready to go for the start of the 2022 season, assuming it starts on time.

Cooper has been in the thick of trade conversation for the past couple of seasons. The Marlins just added Avisaíl García who figures to take over the duties in right field. Garcia’s addition makes the Marlins’ outfield rotation crowded so it would make sense for them to finally move Cooper, especially if they add a center fielder after the lockout.

Cooper would give the White Sox some more offense and a stop-gap in right field while their prospects develop.

Washington Nationals

The Chicago White Sox could make another big trade with the Washington Nationals.

If the White Sox choose to go with a platoon between Andrew Vaugh and Gavin Sheets in right field they could make a major splash by adding Josh Bell to be their full-time designated hitter.

The Nationals are clearly entering a rebuilding phase and Bell is entering the final year of his contract, making him a prime trade candidate. Because he is in the final year of his deal the White Sox may be able to give up fewer assets to pry him away. However, doing so would mean eating his $10-million salary in 2022.

Bell would make the White Sox lineup more dynamic. He is a switch hitter who can get on base. During the second half of 2021, he drew more walks than strikeouts. He finished the year with 27 home runs, 88 RBIs, and a .823 OPS.

In 2019 he launched a career-high 37 home runs and tallied 116 RBIs. He was named an All-Star that year. You would have to figure in the White Sox ballpark surrounded by lineup protection he could post similar numbers.

Bell does not address an immediate need but he would instantly make the White Sox better. When you’re trying to win a World Series, sometimes that’s worth the investment.

New York Mets

The New York Mets have a lot to offer the Chicago White Sox via a trade.

Jeff McNeil would be a great target for the White Sox because he could simultaneously fill two needs. He plays both second base and right field. In fact, he may wind up as the Met’s starting second baseman if he is not traded.

McNeil’s career got off to a scorching start. He hit .384 with 23 home runs in 2019 then .311 in 2020. In his first 1,024 plate appearances, he posted a 140 wRC+. He would provide the White Sox with a much-needed left-handed bat in the lineup. He could also offer balance. McNeil is a contact hitter who does not strike out much. From 2019-to 2021 he owns the game’s tenth-lowest strikeout rate.

Defensively, he has played 182 games at second base including 79 last season. Overall, he owns a .984 fielding percentage. McNeil has also has played 46 in right field.

The reason he could be traded is that the Mets have lots of other infield options. Eduardo Escobar and Travis Blankenhorn are capable of playing second base. In the outfield, they have a crowded rotation that includes Mark Canha, Dominic Smith, Starling Marte, and Brandon Mino. They also felt the need to replace McNeil last season with Javier Baez at second base.

His at-bats dropped off the second half of last season and he dealt with a hamstring injury in May. However, McNeil’s three years of control could fetch a good price for the Mets which is why they may consider trading him. He is worth taking a look at for White Sox brass.

Philadephia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies could look for something big from the Chicago White Sox.

If there was a front runner in the Craig Kimbrel sweepstakes, it may be the Philadephia Phillies. Dave Dombrowski has a reputation for being aggressive and they were one of the first teams linked to Kimbrel when news broke that he was on the trading block.

The Phillies had the talent to make the playoffs last season. Bryce Harper took home National League MVP and Zack Wheeler put together a stellar season that landed him as a Cy Young finalist. However, their bullpen ensured their efforts went to waste.

The Phillies bullpen set a major league record for blown saves in a single season with a whopping 34. They lost the division by 6.5 games. Had they converted half of those they would have won the division. To add insult to injury, they ranked 25th in the majors in ERA and had the third worse bullpen in the MLB in terms of fWAR. Kimbrel would provide them a much-needed boost.

A possible return is Jean Segura. Segura is a two-time All-Star who is coming off a good year. He hit .290 last season with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs in 2021.

The White Sox traded away a second baseman that can hit for average in Nick Madrigal. Segura is a great replacement option because he can also hit for average with slightly more power. He has a lifetime average of .285. In 2016, he led the league with 203 hits. He has hit .290 or higher in five seasons and above the .300 threshold three times.

Segura has played the majority of his career at shortstop but he is more than comfortable at second base. He has logged 302 games there over his nine-year career. Add him in the White Sox lineup and he could do some serious damage in multiple different spots in the order.