3 former players the White Sox missed the most during latest failed playoff run
The Chicago White Sox weren't even close to being a playoff team in 2023. Their season was over after they ended April with one of the worst records in the league. From there, they were never able to get back on track.
There are a lot of reasons for that issue in 2023. It turned out to be one of the worst years in franchise history and a lot of different people deserve blame for it.
A few people left the White Sox over the last handful of years and they were missed deeply by the White Sox this year. It is a shame that the White Sox continue to let good players go.
These are the three players that the White Sox missed the most in their failed attempt to make the playoffs this year:
1. Jose Abreu
The Chicago White Sox missed having Jose Abreu a lot in 2024.
Of course, the first one on the list is Jose Abreu. He is one of the greatest players in franchise history and he left last off-season. His new team, the Houston Astros, came within a game of getting back to the World Series this year but fell just short.
Abreu isn't the same player as he once was but he was missed dearly in the White Sox lineup. They were down a big-time run producer right in the middle of their lineup. He also provides a lot of leadership in the lockerroom as well.
The vibes were just off without him this year. It is not surprising at all when you think about it that the White Sox had a bad year like this right when he leaves.
2. Dane Dunning
The Chicago White Sox would have loved to have Dane Dunning in 2023.
White Sox pitching was pretty bad in 2023. They had most of their starters and bullpen play poorly which makes them miss some of their former pitchers that had a good year this year.
One of those players is Dane Dunning who had an outstanding year for the Texas Rangers. He had a 3.0 WAR thanks to his 3.70 ERA and all of the great pitching that he supplied his elite team.
Dunning and the Rangers are still playing as the World Series is currently going on. He has been a big part of their team all year long and he provides them with multiple different skills.
Dunning has made starts and comes out of the bullpen for them. The White Sox would have loved to have a guy like that this year.
At the end of the day, he is in a much better spot but it is proof that the White Sox don't do things well. The Rangers did a good job developing him but now White Sox fans miss him.
3. James McCann
The Chicago White Sox could have used James McCann this season.
The Chicago White Sox had some terrible play from their catchers this year. Yasmani Grandal and Seby Zavala were both negative WAR players for them and got a majority of the starts between the two of them.
Neither of them can hit and neither of them was very good on defense which is the most important thing for a catcher. They needed an upgrade in every way and pretty much never got it.
The White Sox could have used old friend James McCann back this year. Looking back, he was missed by the White Sox a lot over the last few years but he was especially missed this year.
McCann wasn't anything special with the Baltimore Orioles but he would have been a serious improvement over what the White Sox had.
Things have slowly started to get worse for everyone since he left. It wasn't until 2023 that he was truly missed though. Hopefully, the White Sox get this fixed soon.
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