White Sox: 3 people or groups to blame for the struggles in 2022

Players

The White Sox players need to be better in almost every way going forward.

Once there is committed ownership and motivating management, the players must perform at a World-Series-contention level.

Some players are exempt from blame but it is not a long list. The biggest disappointment has been the highest-paid player in franchise history.

Yasmani Grandal signed a four-year 73 and half-million dollar contract in 2019. This signing shocked Sox fans making them think ownership took on a “by any means necessary” mentality.

Grandal was considered a top-five catcher in baseball and the signing sparked that momentum in 2020. A great season put him at the top for arguably the best catcher in baseball.

Fast forward to 2022 and the contract is starting to look like a flop which might make ownership even more hesitant in offering a big long-term contract in free agency. Grandal has not seen the ball well at all. His one thing is that he gets on base but not this year.

Another disappointment comes from the bat of Yoán Moncada. He was acquired to be part of the core but has not had an OPS above .790 since 2019.

His defensive efforts at third are gold-glove worth which makes him less of a disappointment than Grandal but his .581 OPS this year is just flat-out bad.

There are many underperforming players on this 26-man roster and the IL stents have made this year borderline unwatchable.

The players brought to this team for their ability and who have been underperforming need to be accountable. There are a few more than just Grandal and Moncada but a shift in ownership and management could motivate the players in the way they need to be contenders again.