1 player from each AL East team for the White Sox to trade for
We wrap up our tour of possible trades the Chicago White Sox can make with the American League East. The AL East was the most competitive division’s in baseball last season. Three of the five teams made the postseason.
The Tampa Bay Rays continued their recent success by winning 100 games and taking the division. The Boston Red Sox finished second with 92 wins and met the New York Yankees in the AL Wildcard game.
In that game, the Red Sox manhandled the Yankees 6-2 and rode that momentum to the ALCS before falling to the Houston Astros in six games.
The fact that the Yankees made it was astonishing considering the horrible start they got off to. They decided to go all-in at the trade deadline acquiring Joey Gallo, Anthony Rizzo, and Andrew Heany. The Yankees then went on a tear, finishing the season 7-3 to slip into the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are knocking on the door with a young and up-and-coming team. They missed out on a wildcard spot by one game.
The Orioles are the eyesore in the division. They were trotting out Matt Harvey and Rougned Odor which would have been exciting six years ago but now it is just sad.
The Chicago White Sox could make a trade with a couple of AL East teams.
With so many contending teams, the market for Craig Kimbrel’s services should be good in the AL East. The Orioles are rebuilding so the White Sox could poach some valuable pieces from there as well. Overall, the AL East is ripe with trade partners for the Chicago White Sox.
Here is one trade they can make with each team in the division:
Tampa Bay Rays
The Chicago White Sox could land a really nice piece from the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Tampa Bay Rays have a depth chart full of outfielders. One such outfielder is Kevin Kiermaier, whose name has surfaced in trade rumors for years.
The Rays seem to be on the cusp of dealing him when the lockout ends. They already have Josh Lowe lined up as a replacement. Lowe is ranked as the 44th overall prospect by Baseball America. Lowe also torched Triple-A pitching posted a 142 wRC+.
Kiermaier turns 32 in April and has already put together a solid career as the Rays’ center fielder. The nine-year veteran has accumulated three Gold Gloves and one Platinum Glove. For a team that has struggled defensively, Kiermaier would be a great addition to the White Sox outfield.
If the White Sox moved him to right field, they could possibly have the best defensive outfield in the American League when you combine Robert and Kiermaier’s range. At the very least, his presence would help overcome Eloy Jimenez’s defensive shortcomings.
Kiermaier is owed $12 million this year with a $13 million club option in 2023. The control would allow the White Sox to have a serviceable right fielder while they wait for their prospects to develop.
New York Yankees
The Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees becoming rivals would be perfect.
Gleyber Torres could be a name the Yankees seriously considered trading once the lockout ends, especially if it nets them a good bullpen arm. The Yankee’s weakness last season was their bullpen.
Once Aroldis Chapman went down with an injury, they were forced to use Zack Britton as their closer and the results were disastrous. Landing Kimbrel could provide the Yankees with the bullpen insurance they need.
Meanwhile, Gleyber Torres would provide the White Sox with an excellent option at second base. Torres is a two-time All-Star whose future with the club is uncertain. Torres’s career got off to a blazing start. He hit .271 with 24 home runs and a .820 OPS in his first MLB season. He finished third in the 2018 Rookie of the Year voting and earned his first appearance in the All-Star game.
He followed that up with an even better 2019 season. Torres returned to the All-Star game the following season and raised his average to .278. He also hit 38 home runs, drove in 90 RBIs, and increased his OPS to .871.
However, his numbers have taken a slight downtick the past couple of seasons. His batting average dipped to .243 in 2020. Because it was a shortened 60 game season, not too much stock was put into it. However, when he hit .259 with only nine home runs in 2021, questions began to emerge in the organization.
Torres ceiling is worth the investment for a team like the White Sox. Any guy that has the potential to hit 30 home runs in the middle of the infield is worth taking a gamble on. Especially for the team like the White Sox who are so close to getting over the top.
For the Yankees, Torres is moveable because DJ LeMahieu has second base locked down. Meanwhile, the Yankees have two young studs that can play shortstop in Oswald Peraza and Oswaldo Cabera.
Oswald Peraza blew through the Yankees farm system starting the 2021 season in high A then finishing the season in Triple-A. Peraza managed to hit .286 while he was in Triple-A so a call-up could be around the corner for the 21-year old.
Cabera is a switch hitter that batted .500 in his nine games in Triple-A. He is only 22 and like Peraza, seems poised to make the jump to the next level at some point next season. Once the lockout ends the White Sox should make a serious run at Torres.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox have made good trades before.
If the Red Sox wants to add some more bullpen pitching so a reunion with Craig Kimbrel could be a possibility. After making it to the ALDS last season, the White Sox are unlikely to be able to poach any good pieces off the Red Sox Major League roster.
However, they could still stock their farm system. The White Sox have a farm system that could use plenty of reinforcements. Brayan Bello is an arm that could do just that.
Bello made an appearance in the All-Star Futures Game. He has some nasty stuff with the ability to carve up opposing lineups.
The 22-year-old righty had a 3.82 ERA last season to go along with 132 strikeouts. In Double-A he struck out 87 batters in just 63 2/3 innings. He also owned a 7-3 record as a starter.
Bello has the potential to be a big-time starter in the MLB. With the Red Sox in contention mode, they may be willing to sell high on one of their prized arms if the White Sox throws in a sweetener. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities. It would not be the first time the Red Sox has sent the White Sox a high-profile pitching prospect.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox could have some intense battles soon.
The Blue Jays are in a similar situation as the White Sox but with slightly less talent. They are an up-and-coming team with a mix of exciting young stars and free-agent additions. Vladimir Guerrero Jr has already established himself as one of the MLB’s best players.
Bo Bichette has also turned into an All-Star caliber infielder. Meanwhile, Teoscar Hernandez and George Springer make up a powerful outfield duo that has made the Blue Jays fun to watch.
Their starting rotation is strong. Despite losing the reigning AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, the Blue Jays still have Jose Berrios and Kevin Gausman.
All they need is some bullpen help. Their bullpen was a reoccurring issue last season. They ranked 25th in the MLB in fWAR. Craig Kimbrel would provide the playoff experience and late-inning closer that they desperately need.
It will be tough for the White Sox to trade for someone on the Blue Jays major league roster. However, Otto Lopez could be an option. Lopez can play multiple positions including outfield and second base.
He would also allow the White Sox to shed salary by unloading his contract onto the Blue Jays. Lopez hit .315 with 22 stolen bases in Triple-A last season so he could be an interesting player to keep an eye on.
Baltimore Orioles
The Chicago White Sox could take advantage of the Baltimore Orioles rebuilding.
The Orioles fanbase has not had much to cheer about the past couple of seasons. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Austin Hays, Trey Mancini, and John Means have emerged as legitimate candidates to make up the future core of the team.
However, that does not mean the Orioles will not try and flip some of their other assets. One player for the White Sox to go after is Cole Sulser, especially if they cannot resign Ryan Tepera.
Sulser is inexpensive with three more years of team control. Last season he posted an excellent 2.70 ERA in 60 appearances. Sulser specialty is left-handed hitters. Lefties hit just .143 with a .464 OPS against Sulser.
And that has been big for Sulser, who was lights out last year against He also showed a knack for high leverage situations locking down eight saves and six holds. His 1.12 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 don’t hurt either.
His career ERA is 3.18 which will play in any bullpen. Lined up with Aaron Bummer, Garrett Crochet, Kendall Graveman and Liam Hendriks the White Sox would figure to boost one of the most fearsome groups in the AL.
The Orioles have no need for good relievers so Sulser will be one of the first names on their trading block.
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